William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne of no confidence initiated by Conservative MP John Stuart-Wortley, Melbourne's government fell, and he resigned as Prime Minister on 30 August 1841. After Melbourne resigned permanently in August 1841, Victoria continued to write to him; but eventually the correspondence ceased as it was deemed to be inappropriate. It has been observed that Melbourne's role faded as Victoria increasingly relied on her new husband Prince Albert. Though weakened, Melbourne survived a stroke fourteen months after his departure from politics. In retirement, he lived at Brocket Hall, Hertfordshire. He died on 24 November 1848 at Brocket Hall and was buried at nearby
William Lamb, 2nd Viscount Melbourne last time a British monarch attempted to appoint a government against a parliamentary majority. The next year, Melbourne was once again involved in a sex scandal. This time he was the victim of attempted blackmail from the husband of a close friend, society beauty and author Caroline Norton. The husband demanded £1,400, and when he was turned down he accused Melbourne of having an affair with his wife. At this time such a scandal would be enough to derail a major politician, so it is a measure of the respect contemporaries had for his integrity that Melbourne's government did not