[Footnote 9: Sir Robert Peel's Administration was composed as follows: First Lord of the Treasury Sir Robert Peel Lord Chancellor Lord Lyndhurst Lord President Lord Wharncliffe Lord Privy Seal Duke of Buckingham (and, on his retirement, the Duke of Buccleuch) Chancellor of the Exchequer Right Hon. H. Goulburn Home Secretary Sir James Graham Foreign Secretary Earl of Aberdeen Colonial Secretary Lord Stanley Secretary at War Sir Henry Hardinge (and, on his departure for India, Right Hon. Sidney Herbert) Board of Control Lord Ellenborough (and, on his departure for India, Lord FitzGerald--on his death, Earl of Ripon) Board of Trade Earl of Ripon (and subsequently Mr. Gladstone) Duchy of Lancaster Lord Granville Somerset Postmaster-General Lord Lowther First Lord of the Admiralty Earl of Haddington Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland Earl de Grey Woods and Forests Earl of Lincoln] [Sidenote: CONVERSATION WITH THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.] _September 6th._--Yesterday I called on Melbourne and told him what had passed between Peel and myself. We had a great deal of talk about things and people connected with the Court, about the appointments and the exclusions which were producing so much heartburning. The woman the Queen would prefer for her Mistress of the Robes is Lady Abercorn. She said Peel was so shy, that it made her shy, and this renders their intercourse difficult and embarrassing, but Melbourne thinks this may wear off in time. I said it might be eased by his cultivating the Prince, with whom he could discuss art, literature, and the tastes they had in common. After a good deal of loose talk, we parted, he saying that if anything else occurred to him he thought desirable to communicate, he would send to me. So here am I strangely enough established as the medium of communication between the present and the past Prime Ministers, and have got the office of smoothing away the asperities of royal and official intercourse. If I can do any good, and prevent some evil, above all destroy the effects of falsehood and malignity, and assist in making truth prevail, I shall be satisfied.