MELBOURNE always feared the loss of office. As his government faced one
crisis after another, each of them threatening a final dissolution, he grew
adept at rationalizing a determination to stay in power. Duty to friends and
duty to country were invoked as justifications, as was the urgent need of a
young queen for stable government. He frankly admitted that he 'preferred
being charged with tenacity of office, than with a readiness to abandon the
government'. ¹ Yet, power and the manipulation of men and events gave him
little pleasure. As has been noted, he had little personal engagement with
most of the great issues of his prime ministership. What he looked for in pol-
itics was not influence, but occupation. A busy political day, amusedly watch-
ing others running after honours and recognition, filled hours that would
otherwise hang heavily. His sister, Emily, understood this point only too well.
Writing in 1834, she observed that, 'In some respects office is useful to Wm.
It employs his mind and makes him get up early, before he was in office I
was often more anxious about him than I am now. He used to lye in bed tll
12 o'clock and had got so fat and full and red.' ² From 1827 to 1841, politics
had given MELBOURNE's vigorous and restless intellect a focus. While always
approaching debate with such philosophical detachment that many contem-
poraries accused him of a lack of seriousness, he nevertheless had a deep, per-
sonal need of the political game.

On resigning as Prime Minister, he publicly expressed relief and a studied
calm. He enjoyed receiving expressions of thanks for his years of service, and
assured his sister that he was determined to enjoy 'the fun of opposition'. ³ It
was not a convincing performance. Colleagues were shown another face. On
1 September 1841, Lord Campbell called on his leader unannounced --
between twelve and one:

I found him shaving. This was his levée. I said I came to offer my congratulations on
his release from the cares of office, and that I hoped he was happy. 'Oh, very happy.'
He smiled, but 'in such sort . . .'.
In truth, he will feel it more than any of us. He not only loses the occupation and

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