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diff --git a/40681-0.txt b/40681-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6601004 --- /dev/null +++ b/40681-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,12707 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40681 *** + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + +The Third Part of The Greville Memoirs contains two volumes, of which +this is the second. The first volume is available from Project Gutenberg +at http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/40680 + +All spellings are as they appeared in the original text save for those +that were obviously printer's errors. + +All phrases that are in languages other than English have been +italicised for consistency. The oe ligature is replaced by the separate +letters oe. + +There are two styles of footnotes used in this work. Footnotes enclosed +in square brackets [ ] are by the editor. Footnotes not enclosed in +square brackets are by the author. + +1 [This note is by the editor.] + +2 This note is by the author. + + + + + THE + GREVILLE MEMOIRS + + (THIRD PART) + + VOL. II. + + + PRINTED BY + SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE + LONDON + + + + + _THE GREVILLE MEMOIRS_ + (_THIRD PART_) + + + + + A JOURNAL OF THE REIGN + OF + QUEEN VICTORIA + FROM 1852 TO 1860 + + + BY THE LATE + CHARLES C. F. GREVILLE, ESQ. + CLERK OF THE COUNCIL + + IN TWO VOLUMES--VOL. II. + + + LONDON + LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. + 1887 + + _All rights reserved_ + + + + + CONTENTS + OF + THE SECOND VOLUME. + + +CHAPTER XI. + +France and Prussia--The Emperor's Speech--Faint Hopes of +Peace--Favourable View of the Policy of Russia--Progress of the +Negotiations--Russia accepts the Terms of Peace--The Acceptance +explained--Popular Feeling in Favour of the War--Lord Stratford +and General Williams--Mr. Disraeli's Prospects--Meeting of +Parliament--Baron Parke's Life Peerage--The Debate on the +Address--Debate on Life Peerages--Report on the Sufferings of the +Army--Strained Relations with France--Lord Clarendon goes to the +Congress at Paris--Opening of the Conference--Sabbatarianism--Progress +of the Negotiations--Kars--Nicolaieff--The Life Peerage +Question--Blunders and Weakness of the Government--A Visit +to Paris--Count Orloff's View of the War--Lord Cowley on the +Negotiations--Princess Lieven on the War--An Evening at the +Tuileries--Opening of the Legislative Chamber--Lord Cowley's Desponding +Views--The Austrian Proposals--Bitterness in French Society--Necessity +of Peace to France--Conversation with M. Thiers--A Stag Hunt at St. +Germains--The Emperor yields to the Russians--Birth of the Prince +Imperial _page_ 1 + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Lord Clarendon's favourable View of the Peace--General Evans' Proposal +to embark after the Battle of Inkerman--Sir E. Lyons defends Lord +Raglan--Peace concluded--Sir J. Graham's gloomy View of Affairs--Edward +Ellice's Plan--Favourable Reception of the Peace--A Lull in Politics--A +Sabbatarian Question--The Trial of Palmer for Murder--Defeat of +the Opposition--Danger of War with the United States--Ristori as +an Actress--Defeat of the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill--Return +of the Guards--Baron Parke on the Life Peerage--Close of the +Session--O'Donnell and Espartero in Spain--Chances of War--Coronation +of the Czar--Apathy of the Nation--Expense of the Coronation at +Moscow--Interference at Naples--Foreign Relations--Progress of +Democracy in England--Russia, France, England, and Naples--Russian +Intrigues with France--The Bolgrad Question--The Quarrel with +Naples--The Formation of Lord Palmerston's Government in 1855--Death of +Sir John Jervis--Sir Alexander Cockburn's Appointment--James Wortley +Solicitor-General--Conference on the Treaty of Paris--Low Church +Bishops--Leadership of the Opposition--Coolness in Paris--Dictatorial +Policy to Brazil _page_ 35 + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +State of England after the War--Prussia and Neufchâtel--Sir Robert +Peel's Account of the Russian Coronation--An Historical Puzzle--The +Death of Princess Lieven--Mr. Spurgeon's Preaching--Mr. Gladstone +in Opposition--Tit for Tat--Difficult Relations with France--Lord +John in Opposition--The Liddell _v._ Westerton Case--Death of +Lord Ellesmere--Violent Opposition to the Government on the +China Question--Languid Defence of the Government--Impending +Dissolution--Popularity of Lord Palmerston--Despotism of +Ministers--Parliament dissolved--Judgement on Liddell v. +Westerton--Lord Palmerston's Address--The Elections--Defeat of the +Manchester Leaders--Fear of Radical Tendencies--The Country approves +the Chinese Policy--Death of Lady Keith _page_ 72 + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Results of the Elections--Defeat of Cobden and Bright--The War with +China--Death of Lady Ashburton--Lord Palmerston's Success--The Handel +Concerts--M. Fould in London--The Queen and Lord Palmerston--The +Indian Mutiny--The Prince Consort--Death of General Anson--The State +of India--Royal Guests--The Government of India--Temper of the House +of Commons--Debates on India--Royal Visits--The Divorce Bill--The +Divorce Bill in the House of Lords--Close of the Session--A Dukedom +offered to Lord Lansdowne--Death of Mr. Croker--History of the Life +Peerages--The Indian Mutiny and the Russian War--The Struggle in +India--Reinforcements for India--The Queen's Attention to Public +Business--Attacks on Lord Canning--Big Ships and Big Bells--Lord +Canning defended--Courteous Behaviour of Foreign Nations--The Capture +of Delhi and Lucknow--Difficulties in India--Depression in the +City--Speculations on the Contingency of a Change of Government--The +East India Company and the Government--Exaggerated Reports from +India--A Queen's Speech--The Bank Charter Act _page_ 104 + + +CHAPTER XV. + +Opening of the Session--Prevailing Distress--Lord John +reconciled--Ministerial Speculations--Contemplated Transfer of +India to the Crown--Military Position in India--Conversation +with Mr. Disraeli--Bill for the Dissolution of the East India +Company--Difficulties of Parliamentary Reform--The Relief of +Lucknow--Lord Normanby's 'Year of Revolution'--Brougham's Jealousy of +Lord Cockburn--Refutation of Lord Normanby's Book--The Crown Jewels +of Hanover--Labour in the French Colonies--The Death of General +Havelock--Gloomy Prospects in India--Inadequate Measures for the Relief +of India--Lord John Russell hostile to Government--Death of the Duke +of Devonshire--Mr. Disraeli suggests a Fusion of Parties--Marriage of +the Princess Royal--Weakness of the Government--Excitement in France +against this Country--Petition of the East India Company--Drowsiness +of Ministers--Decline of Lord Palmerston's Popularity--Effect of the +Orsini Attempt on the Emperor Napoleon--Opposition to the Conspiracy +Bill--Review of the Crisis--Lord Derby sent for by the Queen--Refusal +of the Peelites--The Catastrophe unexpected--The Defeat might have been +avoided--Mismanagement of the Affair--Ministers determined to resign +_page_ 139 + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +The Second Derby Administration--Lord Derby's first Speech--Lord +Clanricarde defends himself--The New Ministry--Coincidences--Lord +Derby's favourable Position--Opinion of the Speaker--Lord Derby's +Liberal Declarations--Dinner to Mr. Buckle--Instability of the +Government--Mr. Disraeli's sanguine Views--India--Prospects of the +new Government--A Visit to the Duc d'Aumale--Delicate Relations +with France--Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston--Irritation of +the Whigs--Marshal Pélissier Ambassador in London--The Peelites +and the Whigs--Failure of the India Bill--An Overture from Lord +John Russell--Dissensions of the Whigs--Lord Derby resolves to +remain in Office--Lord John Russell proposes to deal with the +India Bill by Resolutions--Mistake of the Whigs in resigning on +the Conspiracy Bill--Withdrawal of the India Bill--Policy of +the Whigs in Opposition--Lord Cowley on the Relations of France +and England--Strong Opposition to the Government--Lord Derby +on the State of Affairs--Disunion of the Whigs--Lord Canning's +Proclamation--Littlecote House--Vehemence of the Opposition--Lord +Lyndhurst displeased--Debates on the Indian Proclamation--Collapse of +the Debates--Triumph of the Ministry--Disraeli's violent Speech at +Slough--Lord Palmerston's Discomfiture--Prospects of a Fusion--Success +of the Government--Concessions to the Radicals--The Queen's Visit to +Birmingham--Progress of the India Bill--The Jew Bill--The Jew Bill +passed--Disturbed State of India--Baron Brunnow on the Russian War +_page_ 171 + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +Lord John Russell and Lord Stanley--Lord Palmerston's +Leadership--Dissensions in the Liberal Party--The Queen and her +Ministers--Lord Stanley at the India Office--The Queen's Letter to +the Prince of Wales--Reform Speeches and Projects--Lord Palmerston's +Confidence--Prosecution of Count Montalembert in France--Lord +Clarendon's Visit to Compiègne--The Emperor's Designs on Italy--The +Emperor and the Pope--Approach of War--Lord Palmerston's Prudent +Language--Lord Palmerston's Italian Sympathies--The Electric +Telegraph--Opposition in France to the War--The Emperor's +Prevarication--Opening of Parliament--Debates on Foreign Affairs--Lord +Cowley's Mission to Vienna--General Opposition to the War--A +Reform Bill--Mr. Walpole and Mr. Henley resign--Duplicity of the +Emperor--Mr. Disraeli's Reform Bill--The Emperor denies his Warlike +Preparations--The Whigs oppose the Reform Bill--Anxiety to defeat the +Government--Lord Cowley returns from Vienna--War impending--Dishonest +Conduct of both Parties--Lord Cowley's Account of Cavour's Policy--His +Mission to Vienna--A Congress proposed--Indifference to Reform--Debates +on the Reform Bill--Defeat of the Reform Bill--An Emissary from Cavour +_page_ 208 + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +The Government determine to dissolve the Parliament--Apathy of the +Country--Hopes and Fears as to the War--The Congress a Trick--Disraeli +on the approaching Elections--War declared--Mr. Greville resigns the +Clerkship of the Council--Result of the Elections--Mistakes of the +Austrian Government--Policy of the Opposition--Reconciliation of Lord +Palmerston and Lord John Russell--The Reconciliation doubtful--Meeting +of the Liberal Party--Resolution of the Meeting--Debate on the +Resolution of Want of Confidence--Defeat of Ministers--Lord Derby +resigns--Lord Granville sent for by the Queen--Lord Granville does not +form a Government--Lord Palmerston sent for--Lord Palmerston's Second +Administration--The Queen confers the Garter on Lord Derby--Successful +Progress of the French in Italy--Causes of Lord Granville's +Failure--Lord John claims the Foreign Office--Lord Clarendon declines +to take Office--Lord Clarendon's Interview with the Queen--Mr. +Cobden declines to take Office--The Armistice of Villafranca--Peace +concluded--The Terms of Peace--Position of the Pope--Disappointment of +Italy--Conference of the Emperors--Alleged Sensitiveness of the Emperor +Napoleon--Details of the War--A Visit to Ireland--Irish National +Education--Dublin--Howth Castle--Waterford--Killarney--Return from +Ireland--Numerous Cabinets--A Dispute with China--Lord Palmerston and +Lord John Russell--Lord Clarendon at Osborne--Spain and Morocco--The +Duc d'Aumale--Perplexity of the Emperor Napoleon--The Emperor Napoleon +and the 'Times' _page_ 240 + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +Prospects of the Government and of the Opposition--Mr. Disraeli's +commanding Position--Preparation of a Reform Bill--A Congress--Death +of Macaulay--The Affairs of Italy--Policy of the Emperor Napoleon--The +Commercial Treaty with France--M. de Cavour resumes Office--Opening +of Parliament--Negotiation of the Commercial Treaty--The Emperor +a Free Trader--Perplexity of Italian Affairs--Moderation of Lord +Derby--Opposition to the Commercial Treaty--The Reform Bill of +1860--Tory Opposition to Reform--Mr. Gladstone's great Budget +Speech--Opposition to the Treaty and the Budget--Triumph of Mr. +Gladstone--The Italian Correspondence--Democratic Opinions of Mr. +Gladstone--Introduction of the Reform Bill--The Annexation of Savoy +and Nice--Annexation of Tuscany to Piedmont--The Dénouement of the +Plot--Complete Apathy of the Country as to Reform--Lord Derby declines +to interfere--Lord John's adverse Declaration to France--Consequences +of Lord John's Speech against France--Our Position in Europe--Anecdote +of the Crimean War--Designs of the Emperor Napoleon in 1858--Lord +Palmerston's Distrust of Napoleon III.--Lord John's Indifference +to his own Reform Bill--Mr. Gladstone's Ascendency--Designs of the +Emperor and Cavour--Unpopularity of the Reform Bill--Correspondence +of Lord Grey and Lord John Russell--Reaction against Mr. Gladstone's +Measures--Opposition to the Repeal of the Paper Duties--Coolness with +France--Garibaldi's Expedition--Lord Palmerston attacks the Neapolitan +Minister--The Paper Duties Bill rejected by the Lords--The Reform +Bill withdrawn--Lord Palmerston adjusts the Difference between the +two Houses--Mr. Gladstone supported by the Radicals--Mr. Senior's +Conversations in Paris--A Letter from the Speaker--Mr. Cobden's Faith +in the Emperor Napoleon--Conclusion of these Journals _page_ 275 + + +INDEX _page_ 317 + + + + + A JOURNAL + OF THE + REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA + FROM 1852 TO 1860. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +France and Prussia--The Emperor's Speech--Faint Hopes of +Peace--Favourable View of the Policy of Russia--Progress of the +Negotiations--Russia accepts the Terms of Peace--The Acceptance +explained--Popular Feeling in Favour of the War--Lord Stratford +and General Williams--Mr. Disraeli's Prospects--Meeting of +Parliament--Baron Parke's Life Peerage--The Debate on the +Address--Debate on Life Peerages--Report on the Sufferings of the +Army--Strained Relations with France--Lord Clarendon goes to the +Congress at Paris--Opening of the Conference--Sabbatarianism--Progress +of the Negotiations--Kars--Nicolaieff--The Life Peerage +Question--Blunders and Weakness of the Government--A Visit +to Paris--Count Orloff's View of the War--Lord Cowley on the +Negotiations--Princess Lieven on the War--An Evening at the +Tuileries--Opening of the Legislative Chamber--Lord Cowley's Desponding +Views--The Austrian Proposals--Bitterness in French Society--Necessity +of Peace to France--Conversation with M. Thiers--A Stag Hunt at St. +Germains--The Emperor yields to the Russians--Birth of the Prince +Imperial. + + +_January 1st_, 1856.--Intelligence arrived yesterday that Esterhazy +had presented the Austrian proposal to Nesselrode on the 28th, who +had received it _in profound silence_. Yesterday morning the 'Morning +Post,' in communicating this fact, put forth an article indecently +violent and menacing against Prussia; and as it contained a statement +of what the Emperor Napoleon had said to Baron Seebach, which was +exactly what Persigny had told Clarendon, this alone would prove, +if any proof were required, that the article was inserted either +by Palmerston or by Persigny. The 'Morning Post' derives its only +importance from being the Gazette of Palmerston and of the French +Government, and it is not very easy to determine which of the two is +guilty of this article. These are the sort of manifestos which make us +so odious all over the world. + + +[Sidenote: MISCHIEVOUS RESULTS OF THE WAR.] + +_Hatchford, January 2nd._--The speech which Louis Napoleon addressed +to the Imperial Guard the day before yesterday when they marched into +Paris in triumph, gives reason for suspecting that the manifesto +against Prussia in the 'Morning Post' was French, for there is no small +correspondence between the speech and the article. In the article +Prussia is openly threatened and told, if she will not join the allies +in making war on Russia, the allies will make war upon her; in the +speech the Guards are told to hold themselves in readiness and that a +great French army will be wanted. Nothing is more within the bounds of +probability than that the Emperor may determine, if he is obliged to +make war, to make it for a French object, and on some enemy from whom +a good spoil may be taken, a war which will gratify French vanity and +cupidity, and which will therefore not be unpopular. He may think, +and most probably not erroneously, that in the present temper of +this country the people would be quite willing to let him do what he +pleases with Prussia, Belgium, or any other part of the continent, if +he will only concur with us in making fierce war against Russia. But +though this I believe to be the feeling of the masses, and that their +resentment against Prussia is so strong that they would rejoice at +seeing another Jena followed by similar results, the minority who are +elevated enough in life to reason and reflect will by no means like to +see France beginning to run riot again, and while we have been making +such an uproar about the temporary occupation of the Principalities +and the crossing of the Pruth by Russia, that we should quietly +consent to, nay, become accomplices in the passage of the Rhine and an +aggression on Germany by France. The very possibility of this shows +the necessity of putting an end to a war which cannot continue without +so many and such perilous contingencies. Nothing in fact can exceed +the complications in which we can hardly help being plunged, and the +various antagonistic interests which will be brought into collision, +creating perplexities and difficulties which it would require the +genius of a Richelieu to unravel and compose. The earth under our feet +may be mined with plots; we know not what any of the Great Powers are +really designing; the only certainty for us is that we are going on +blindly and obstinately spending our wealth and our blood in a war in +which we have no interest, and in keeping Europe in a state of ferment +and uncertainty the ultimate consequences of which it is appalling to +contemplate. Clarendon showed me a letter from Francis Baring from +Paris the other day, which told him that the Emperor wished to make +peace, because he knew that France, with all her outward signs of +prosperity, was unable to go on with the war without extreme danger, +that she is in fact 'using herself up,' has been going on at a rate she +cannot afford. + + +[Sidenote: NEGOTIATIONS FOR PEACE.] + +_Hatchford, January 4th._--I was in London yesterday, where I saw +George Lewis, who was very low, sees no chance of peace, and everybody +thinks it hopeless since the Russian Circular has appeared. It is +difficult to understand the motive of the Russians in publishing such a +proposal, when they must know it would not and could not be accepted, +and were also aware of the terms the Western Powers were going to offer +to her. Lewis says our financial prospect is very bad, a declining +revenue, rising prices, a large loan wanted which will be got on bad +terms, and more money to be lent to Sardinia and Turkey. He thinks, if +the Russians propose to negotiate, that Palmerston will never consent; +but though he will no doubt resist, if France presses it I have no +doubt he will give way and that the majority of the Cabinet will be +for doing so. Everything looks as black as possible, and the Emperor +Napoleon's speech to the Imperial Guard following Persigny's article in +the 'Morning Post' wears a very menacing aspect. It is possible indeed +that he may have held this language in order to frighten us into a more +pacific disposition, but so far from being alarming or unpalatable to +the majority here, they will hail with satisfaction any intimation +of his resolution to make war on Prussia; and if Louis Napoleon will +only go on fighting against Russia, they will be quite willing that +he should take whatever he pleases from any other power which will +not join us in our present crusade. I often wonder what the Duke of +Wellington would have said and thought if he could have lived to see +this day, and the madness of this nation. + + +_London, January 9th._--I came to town on Monday and found when I +arrived that there was a fresh glimmering of peace. Austria had sent +word she was inclined to believe that Russia intended to accept the +terms. I went to Lewis, who told me this was true, but he did not +know on what ground their opinion rested more than that ten days had +elapsed during which no symptoms of a flat refusal had appeared, and +Lewis himself thought there was no doubt they were considering whether +they should accept or what reply they should make. Colloredo called on +Clarendon the other day, and, after some unimportant talk, asked him +if he had ever heard, or had reason to believe, that Russia had made +a communication to France to the effect that if France had a mind to +take the Rhenish Provinces and make peace with her, she should not +oppose such a design. Clarendon replied that he knew nothing of it, but +thought it not at all improbable. + +Bernstorff had a conversation with Reeve the other day in which he told +him that he was much put out at the isolated condition of Prussia, +and gave him to understand that he should like the King to join the +alliance, but he did not think anything would induce him to do so. It +might perhaps be prudent, but it would be enormously base if Prussia +were to come _au secours des vainqueurs_, and, now that Russia is in +exceeding distress, to join England and France, to whom she certainly +is under no obligations, in crushing her. But then it would only be +prudent for the moment and to remove an immediate and impending danger, +for in the more comprehensive view of the balance of power and with +referance to general policy, it would be far wiser to leave the power +of Russia undiminished. Germany has nothing to fear from Russia, for +the notion of her being eternally animated with designs of conquest in +every direction is a mere chimæra which the people who propagate it do +not themselves believe. The part she has played for many years past +has been that of a pacificator, and her only intervention has been to +appease quarrels, and resist the progress of democracy and revolution. +In 1848 it was the authority of the Emperor Nicholas which prevented a +great war between Austria and Prussia which would have made all Germany +a scene of havoc and bloodshed. Our Government now evidently expect a +proposal from Russia to negotiate, and are living in hopes that it may +be rejected _in limine_ by Esterhazy, and that they shall be able to +prevail on the Emperor Napoleon not to consent to any overture that may +be made to him through any other channel. + + +_January 15th._--I came to town yesterday morning and found on my +arrival the Russian answer, which was pretty much what I expected. +I suspect our Government will have been disappointed that so much +was conceded as to make a peremptory rejection so monstrous as to be +hardly safe. However, Esterhazy has been ordered to withdraw on the +18th, unless everything else is conceded. Granville fancies they are +not unlikely to do this, but I am persuaded they will not. It remains +to be seen what the French will do, for all depends on them. I asked +Granville what he thought would be the end of it; he said _on the +whole_ he was rather disposed to expect it would lead to peace; he said +Austria did not mean to go to war with Russia in any case, he thought +she had played her cards with considerable dexterity, and made herself +a sort of arbitress, and, what she most desired, had got a decided +lead of Prussia, the object of her hatred. I asked him if Prussia was +terrified at the menaces contained in the Emperor's speech and other +things against her, and he said he thought she was irritated but not +frightened, and he inveighed against the folly of such speeches, and +especially such articles as Persigny, if it was he, had put into the +'Morning Post.' + + +_January 16th._--So far as I can as yet discover of public opinion, +it is in favour of accepting, or at all events of negotiating on, the +Russian proposals. The 'Times' has an ambiguous article on the subject. +Nobody will approve of the continuation of the war merely to obtain an +Austrian object, which the cession of Bessarabia is, and the article +about Bomarsund, which has nothing to do with the avowed object of the +war. I have not the least doubt one half of the Cabinet, at least, are +in their hearts of this opinion, but I am afraid they will not have the +courage to stand forth, avow, and act upon it. + + +[Sidenote: TERMS OF PEACE ACCEPTED BY RUSSIA.] + +_January 17th._--I saw Lewis yesterday and for the first time saw +something approaching to _a certainty_ of peace. His information was +curious: the 'Morning Post,' in the statement inserted by Persigny, +said that the Russians had rejected the conditions about Bessarabia, +and about Bomarsund and had accepted the rest. In the counter +proposition of Russia there was no mention of Bomarsund, and for this +very good reason, that no such proposal was made to them. When the +terms of Austria and France were sent here our Government objected +to that article which said the allies reserved to themselves to make +_other_ conditions, or some such words. They said it was not fair, +and that they should at once say what they wanted, and _all_ they +wanted, and the additions they proposed were that Bomarsund should not +be restored, that Consuls should be admitted to the Black Sea ports, +and that 'something' should be done about Georgia and Circassia. +This was their answer, and our allies agreed to these additions, but +for what reason has not as yet appeared. They sent the terms to St. +Petersburg in their original shape and without our articles, so that +in fact no condition about Bomarsund was made to them. The Cabinet +met yesterday to determine what answer should be sent to Paris, the +French having notified that they would make no reply to the counter +proposal till they were apprised of our sentiments thereupon. Lewis +said he had no doubt that both governments would be willing to enter +upon negotiation on these terms, France and Austria being anxious for +peace and our Government not averse, for they begin to perceive that +there is a rapidly increasing disposition to put an end to the war, +and particularly that nobody will desire to continue it merely to +obtain an exclusively Austrian object, which the cession of part of +Bessarabia would be, especially as Austria has no thought of going to +war. The Russian Government have written in a very conciliatory tone +to Paris, which is known, though the letter has not yet arrived. The +King of Prussia had written a private, but very pressing letter to the +Emperor of Russia entreating him to make peace. Though very private, +the French Government contrived to get a copy of it, and Cowley sent +this copy home. It is said to be a very able letter written in a most +confidential style. Such being the state of affairs and all parties +apparently being agreed in a disposition to put an end to the war, it +seemed to me quite certain that the negotiations would be established, +and that they would lead to peace. In the evening I asked Granville +if he did not think we should now certainly have peace, and he said +'I think so, but there are still a great many complications,' and +he said Cowley and Walewski were on such bad terms that they hardly +spoke. The fact is that Cowley is a gentleman and a man of honour and +veracity, but he is sensitive and prone to take offence; the other +is an adventurer, a needy speculator, without honour, conscience, or +truth, and utterly unfit both as to his character and his capacity +for such an office as he holds. Then it must be owned that it must be +intolerably provoking to Walewski or any man in his situation to see +Cowley established in such strange relations with the Emperor, being at +least for certain purposes more his Minister for Foreign Affairs than +Walewski himself. + +[Sidenote: TERMS OF PEACE ACCEPTED BY RUSSIA.] + +_12 o'clock._--Payne has just rushed in here, to say that a telegraphic +message, dated Vienna, ten o'clock last night, announces that 'Russia +accepts _unconditionally_ the proposals of the allies.' The consequence +of this astounding intelligence was such a state of confusion and +excitement on the Stock Exchange as was hardly ever seen before. The +newspapers had one and all gone on predicting that the negotiations +would lead to nothing, and that the war would go on, so that +innumerable people continued to be 'bears,' and they were all rushing +to get out as fast as they could. It remains yet to be seen whether it +is really true; if it is, the Russians will be prodigiously provoked +when they find that this concession was superfluous, and that the +allies would have accepted _their_ terms. + + +_January 18th._--Though the account in the 'Times' was not exactly +correct, it proved substantially so. The right message came from +Seymour soon after. There was such a scene in the Stock Exchange as +was hardly ever witnessed; the funds rose three per cent., making five +in the last two days. The Rothschilds, and all the French who were +in the secret with Walewski, must have made untold sums. I have been +endeavouring to account for what appears the extraordinary conduct of +Russia in accepting the Austrian terms purely and simply, and this +strikes me to be the solution of it, and if my idea is correct it +will account for the exceedingly bad terms which Cowley and Walewski +are on. The conditions offered to Russia contained none of the points +insisted on by our Government. I believe that the French and Austrians +believed, very likely were certain, that if they had been sent Russia +would have refused them, and, being bent on peace, they resolved to +leave them out, and excuse themselves to England as they best could; +they therefore simply presented their proposal as it originally stood. +Russia replied with a qualified acceptance, and then Esterhazy was +obliged by the compact to say that he could only take yes or no; then, +finding them not inclined to give any other answer, that he or somebody +else told them the true state of the case, viz., that he had kept back +the conditions _we_ had demanded, and that unless they accepted his +proposition, it must of necessity fall to the ground, and that nothing +would then prevent the English points being brought forward and made +absolute conditions of any fresh preliminaries. This was very likely to +determine them to accept the proposals as put before them, for although +by so doing they accepted the fifth condition, which exposes them to +further and not specified demands, the especial points on which we +insist can only be brought forward as points for negotiation, and will +not form part of those conditions to which by their acceptance they +stand completely and irrevocably pledged. + + +[Sidenote: POPULAR FEELING FOR WAR.] + +_London, January 22nd._--I went to Trentham on Friday, and returned +yesterday. Granville is very confident of peace, fancying that Russia +will make no difficulties, and will agree to our additional demands, +which may be so, but seems to me far from certain. The intelligence of +peace being at hand, or probable, gives no satisfaction here, and the +whole press is violent against it, and thunders away against Russia +and Austria, warns the people not to expect peace, and incites them +to go on with the war. There seems little occasion for this, for the +press has succeeded in inoculating the public with such an eager desire +for war that there appears a general regret at the notion of making +peace. When I was at Trentham, I asked Mr. Fleming, the gardener, a +very intelligent man, what the general feeling was in that part of +the world, and he said the general inclination was to go on with the +war till we had made Russia, besides other concessions, pay all its +expenses. It appears to me impossible the _entente cordiale_ with +France can go on long if the war goes on, when the people here are +passionate for war, and in France they are equally passionate for +peace. If the Emperor goes on with the war he will be very popular +here, which does not signify much to him, but give deep offence to +his own countrymen, which will be of vital importance to him, and no +wonder, for their disgust will be intense at being compelled to carry +on a war at a ruinous expense, merely because it is the pleasure of +the English to do so. This seems so obvious that I do not believe, +after having gone so far, and excited such strong hopes of peace, +that he will dare to disappoint the expectations of the country. What +the people of England would really like would be to engage France to +continue, and to issue a joint declaration of war against Austria and +Prussia. + + +_January 23rd._--Telegraphic news yesterday that Austria positively +refuses to send our supplementary conditions to St. Petersburg. +France backed us up, or at least pretended to do so, for it is quite +impossible to know what she really does. Baudin is come over here, +supposed to be for the purpose of explaining and apologising for +Walewski's not having sent the conditions originally. I do not know +what excuse he makes. Lewis thinks as I do, that the real reason was +his fear lest they should endanger the acceptance by Russia of the +conditions. Our Government believe, or at least pretend to do so, that +the Emperor was innocent of this _ruse_ and that Walewski is alone +guilty; but I doubt it, for I cannot believe Walewski would dare to do +such a thing without his master's knowledge and consent, and should not +be surprised if the whole thing was the Emperor's doing. + +There is a tremendous clamour got up by the press against Lord +Stratford on account of his neglect of General Williams at Kars and +leaving his appeals for aid unattended to. Stratford has sent home +a defence of himself, and, I hear, a skilful one. I do not think +they will remove him, because they say he is now acting _bonâ fide_ +according to his instructions, and exerting all his influence to +smooth any difficulties that may arise at Constantinople in adjusting +the terms of peace. But it is likely that the Turks are now very +anxious for peace, as they are exceedingly sick of their protectors, +by whom their dignity and independence are quite as much compromised +as by their enemies, while the process of exhaustion is going on at a +constantly increasing ratio. + + +[Sidenote: LORD DERBY AND MR. DISRAELI.] + +_January 26th._--Yesterday morning Disraeli called on me, and after we +had discussed some private affairs, he began talking politics. He is +very triumphant at his pacific views and expectations having turned +out so true, and at the 'Press' newspaper having proved to be right. +He said, he had never stood so well with the _best_ men of his party +as he did now, that he is to have forty-five men, the cream of the +Conservatives, to dine with him on Wednesday next. He then talked of +Derby and the blunders he had made in spite of all the advice he had +given and the remonstrances he had made to him, that he had written to +him and told him what he knew from undoubted authority must and would +happen about peace, and implored him not to commit himself to the +continuance of the war, but that Derby with all his great talents had +no discretion, and suffered himself to be led and influenced by some of +the weakest and least capable men of his party. So instead of listening +to what Disraeli said to him, he writes a long, reasoned reply to his +arguments in the same way he would have replied to a speech in the +House of Lords, and when he went to Scotland he had the folly to go +to some meeting got up for the purpose, and then to make a violent +war speech. I asked him how Derby and Stanley got on together, and he +said that they were so much attached to each other, and Stanley had so +profound a filial veneration for his father, that personal feelings +silenced all political differences, and nothing would induce Stanley +to take any public part adverse to his father's policy and opinions. +It was evident that there is little political cordiality between Derby +and Disraeli, and a considerable split in the party. If Disraeli is to +be believed, the best of the Conservatives are disposed to go with him +rather than with Derby, but I own I much doubt this. However, it will +soon be seen what the state of that party is. + +No further advance has been made towards the arrangements, but it +is clear peace will be made. George Grey told me so yesterday, and +intimated as much as that small difficulties must and would be got +over. France, Austria, and Russia are resolved on peace, and England +cannot alone make herself an obstacle. I suppose it will end in some +compromise upon the points remaining in dispute. + +Macaulay has retired from Parliament, where he had done nothing +since his last election; he hardly ever attended and never spoke, or +certainly not more than once. It is to be hoped his life will be spared +to bring down his history to the end of Queen Anne's reign, which is +all that can possibly be expected. + + +_January 31st._--Parliament meets to-day. Who would have thought a few +weeks ago that the Queen's Speech would announce the preliminaries of +peace? Who would ever have thought that tidings of peace would produce +a general sentiment of disappointment and dissatisfaction in this +nation? There are, however, sundry symptoms of an approaching change +in the public mind. The press is much perplexed; the newspapers do +not know what to say. They confidently predicted that there would be +no peace, and urged the people to go on clamouring for war as long as +they could; but since they have seen that their noise is ineffectual, +and that peace is inevitable, they have nearly left off inveighing +against it, because doing so without any result only exhibits their own +impotence, which is just what they most wish to avoid. They therefore +now confine themselves to a sort of undergrowl, muttering abuse against +Russia and Austria, calling out for more stringent terms, and still +indulging in a desperate hope that some unexpected difficulty may +occur to break off the negotiations and plunge us into war again. The +Opposition are as much perplexed as the press, and do not know what +course to take, or what is the most vulnerable part of the Government, +and they are not agreed among themselves. + +So in the meantime they seem disposed to vent themselves in a fierce +attack on Baron Parke's Life Peerage. This peerage has excited great +wrath even in many who are friendly to the Government, and probably in +all who are unfriendly. Amongst those who most vehemently resent it are +Lord Campbell, Lord Lyndhurst, and, as I am told, Brougham. There is +much to be said about it either way, and it will probably give rise to +some good debates and not uninteresting. + +As one of many other proofs of the difficulty of getting at truth, and +therefore of having history correctly written, I must record a fact +not very important in itself. Lewis distinctly told me that it was +_France_ (i.e. Walewski) who kept back our conditions when the Austrian +propositions were returned to Vienna; now Granville tells me it was not +France, but Austria, who is responsible for their not having been sent +to St. Petersburg, and that Walewski did send them to Vienna. The truth +probably is that he gave notice to Buol that we wanted these things, +but did not incorporate them with the propositions, and that Buol, +though apprised of them, did not choose to insert what France had not +chosen to insert herself. It is quite impossible to believe that they +can make any serious difficulty; it is time to make peace with Russia +when our relations with America are assuming a very unpleasant aspect. + + +[Sidenote: MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.] + +_February 3rd._--Parliament opened very quietly, and there was no +disposition evinced to find fault with the Government, or to throw +obstacles in the way of making peace. A great change has certainly +come over the country within the last fortnight or three weeks, not +that people are not still sorry to see the end of the war, and rather +inclined to view the peace with suspicion as well as dislike, but they +have no grounds for complaint, they see that it is inevitable, and they +are disposed to acquiesce. + +Derby came down full of opposition but rather puzzled how to vent +it, so he criticised the Speech, which was a very poor and bald +composition, made a great stir about Kars, and announced a fierce +attack on Baron Parke's Life Peerage. + +In the House of Commons everything was very _piano_, and Disraeli quite +moderate. The Government are much puzzled about this unlucky Life +Peerage. The thing is done, and now they find themselves condemned by +a large majority which includes all the Law Peers. If any vote can be +taken on it in the House of Lords, they will be beaten. + +The Conferences will begin in about three weeks, and probably be very +soon over, for it is the object of all parties to put an end to the +enormous expense which, every day that the war lasts, is increased, and +no doubt is entertained by the well-informed that Russia is in earnest, +and will go through with it firmly and sincerely. The most unpleasant +incident is the difference with America, which has a bad aspect, but +when they learn that we are going to make peace with Russia we flatter +ourselves the Americans will become reasonable.[1] If a war should +ensue it would be still more insane than the Russian war, for we should +be fighting absolutely for no object whatever, and merely from the +collision of the proud and angry feelings of the two nations. Neither +would gain anything if the other were to give way and concede all that +is in dispute as to the Central American question. + +Footnote 1: [Differences had arisen between the British and the +American Governments in consequence of the enlistment of American +citizens in the British army during the war, and also with reference to +the British possessions in Central America.] + + +_February 7th._--Nothing can be more extraordinary than the lull here, +after so much sound and fury, while the negotiations and question of +peace or war are pending. There is evidently a complete acquiescence in +the coming peace, though if the terms are not as stringent as people +expect, there will be a great deal of grumbling and abuse of the +Government. + +The case with America looks bad, but nobody can seriously believe that +war between the two countries can possibly arise out of such questions +as those now pending. It will probably end in the return of Crampton, +and the return of Buchanan, suspension of diplomatic relations for a +time, then fresh negotiations and a reconciliation, but no war. + + +[Sidenote: THE LIFE PEERAGE QUESTION.] + +_February 9th._--The debate in the House of Lords on the Wensleydale +Peerage was interesting but inconclusive. Lyndhurst made, as usual, +a wonderful speech for his age. He contrived with much dexterity to +avoid the question of legality, which he evidently thought he could +not disprove; Campbell and St. Leonards boldly pronounced it illegal; +Brougham admitted the legality; all the lawyers but the Chancellor are +dead against the Life Peerage. Out of the House, Lushington is clear +for it; Pemberton Leigh against; both of them have been offered and +have refused peerages. The result appears to be that the patent is not +illegal, but that there was no sufficient cause, and therefore that it +was a great folly to deviate from the usual course in Parke's case. It +is awkward, and both the Opposition and the Government seem very much +puzzled what to do. The best course on the whole seems to be (and it +probably will so end) to confer on the Baron an hereditary peerage, and +let the question of life peers stand over for the present, to be better +considered and discussed hereafter when circumstances may require such +a measure. + +Palmerston made a very good speech last night on the American +questions, judicious and becoming, and it was very well received. +According to present appearances the Government is in no danger of +being turned out, and if they make a peace which satisfies, and bring +in and pass some good measures, they may actually become strong. + + +_February 15th._--While the world is waiting with tolerable patience +for the opening of the negotiations, it has got two subjects to +occupy and interest it, and to give rise to plenty of discussion and +dispute. The first is the Life Peerage question, which is become very +embarrassing to its opponents and its advocates. There is a great +majority of the lawyers against it, but more on the score of its being +improper and inexpedient, _perhaps_ unconstitutional, than that it is +absolutely illegal. The highest authority in favour of it seems to +be Dr. Lushington, who refused to be made a peer when a peerage was +pressed upon him. The Government are determined to fight it out, and on +no account to give way. Nobody knows with whom the project originated, +but there is a very general idea that it was with the Prince. General +Grey, however, told his brother, the Earl, that the Prince had nothing +to do with it, and that His Royal Highness knew nothing of the matter +till after it had been settled. I cannot see how it can be _illegal_, +and neither the danger nor the inexpediency of making Life Peers is +quite apparent to me; but I think it has been a blunder, and that so +great a novelty ought not to have been suddenly sprung upon the world +without any attempt to ascertain how it would be regarded, and Derby's +argument it is very difficult to meet. He says that when a certain +prerogative has not been exercised for 400 years, such long disuse of +it, if it does not amount to an abrogation of it, at all events throws +such a doubt upon it as to make the exercise of it now exceedingly +questionable, and it appears by the precedents that in every case of +a Life Peerage it was done _consensu procerum_, or _consensu procerum +et communitatis_, that is, by consent of the Lords, or by Act of +Parliament. The whole question is so obscure and uncertain, that it is +impossible to come to any satisfactory conclusion drawn from precedents +and usage. In spite of the resolution of the Government, I doubt +whether they will not be compelled to give way in some manner, for the +Opposition appear to be equally resolved not to let Baron Parke take +his seat. + +The other subject is Sir John McNeill's report,[1] which has already +elicited violent articles in the papers, and will occasion hot debates +in the House of Commons, perhaps in both Houses. The report furnishes +a strong _primâ facie_ case against Airey and Gordon, Q.M. and A.Q.M. +Generals, and _par ricochet_ against Hardinge himself, also against +Lucan and Cardigan. The accused parties vehemently complain, and +insist upon being allowed to vindicate themselves. Probably in the +course of the discussions a good deal of the truth, but not all, +will come out. It may be doubted whether there is any part of our +military administration, as well as of our military operations during +this war, on which it is possible to reveal and explain everything +without showing up the French, and this has been the reason why +all investigations and explanations have had such imperfect and +unsatisfactory results. If the charges of McNeill are true, it seems to +me that the man most to blame was Raglan, who was supreme, omnipotent, +and responsible, and who ought not to have allowed the evils, which +were notorious, to go on accumulating, without applying those effectual +remedies which, according to the report, were abundantly at his +disposal; but of course everybody will shrink from casting the blame +posthumously upon him. The 'Times' has now found that the losses and +sufferings of the army were erroneously and wrongfully attributed to +the Government at home. McNeill has brought back with him notes of +conversations with Raglan, in which Raglan told him that most if not +all of the things he had been so bitterly reproached for were all +owing to the opposition and contradiction he met with from the French, +Canrobert especially. + +Cowley, who called on me the day before yesterday, said he should be +very glad to have peace concluded, in order that our intimate connexion +and dependence on each other might be at an end, for the difficulties +arising therefrom, and the impossibility of placing any reliance on the +French Ministers, were a perpetual source of annoyance. He thinks the +Emperor honest and true, but that he is surrounded by a parcel of men +every one of whom is dishonest and false. The Emperor knows this, and +knows what is thought of his ministers, but he says 'What am I to do? +and where can I find better men who will enter my service?' + +[Sidenote: THE CONFERENCE IN PARIS.] + +Clarendon came here to-day to take leave of me on going to the +Conference in Paris. He talks despondingly, but less about making peace +than about making one that will be acceptable here. He augurs well +from the choice of Russian Plenipotentiaries who are both personally +agreeable to him, for he knows Orloff very intimately. When he took +leave of Brunnow three years ago he said to him, 'If ever you see a +good chance of peace, let me know,' and now Brunnow has sent him a +message reminding him of what he had said, and telling him he now saw +it. It was Clarendon who fixed on Paris for the Conference, everybody +else being against it, especially the Emperor Napoleon and Palmerston, +but Clarendon thought the advantage of having personal communication +with the Emperor himself outweighed every other consideration, and he +is right. Louis Napoleon will be the arbiter, and the struggle will be +between England and Russia to get possession of him. Brunnow arrived at +Paris to-day, the first arrival of the Plenipotentiaries, and he was +received with great acclamations and manifestations of joy. Clarendon +is dissatisfied at Brunnow's having got there first as if to steal a +march on him, but this is unreasonable, as no particular day was fixed +for their coming at once, and Clarendon might have been the first if he +had chosen it, and Cavour is to be there to-day or to-morrow. + +Footnote 1: [Sir John McNeill had been sent to the Crimea and +Constantinople to investigate the causes of the sufferings of the +troops in the winter 1854-55.] + + +_February 21st._--A week has passed since most of the Plenipotentiaries +arrived at Paris, and we hear nothing of what has been going on amongst +them; at least I hear nothing except that Clarendon writes word he +is quite satisfied with the Emperor--the Hollands, that all sorts of +intrigues are rife, Brunnow, Morny, and Madame de Lieven closeted +together for hours, and Madame de Lieven writes to me in melancholy +mood, saying she anticipates many difficulties, and complaining of +the _exigeances_ which she hears of as probable, and how ungenerous +as well as impolitic it is to make no allowance for the difficulty +of the Emperor's position _vis à vis_ of his own people, and to bear +so hard upon him. From all this I infer that the Russians have been +informed that the Emperor Napoleon has engaged to back us up in our +_exigeances_, the principal of which is probably the dismantling of +Nicolaieff; this may be inferred from what has appeared in the French +press. The 'Journal des Débats' published an article saying we had no +right to demand this, to which the 'Siècle' replied asserting we had a +right, and the article in the 'Siècle' was copied into the 'Moniteur,' +which was tantamount to a recognition and approval of it. There are +rumours afloat here that matters are not going on satisfactorily at +Paris, and, taking all these things together, it looks as if the +horizon was a little overcast, but as Orloff was only to arrive at +Paris last night nothing essential can as yet have passed. Meanwhile +this country remains in the same passive and expectant state, so far +behaving very well that there is not the least stir or any attempt to +make peace more difficult, not a word said in Parliament, no meetings +or petitions, the 'Times' nearly silent, and only an undergrowl from +time to time from the Radical or malignant journals. But all who have +had any opportunity of testing the state of public feeling agree that +the peace, be it what it may, will be taken with regret, and that if +Clarendon were to return having broken off the negotiations, and to +announce that the war would go on, he would be hailed with the greatest +enthusiasm, and the ardour for war would break out with redoubled force. + +While this lull has been going on upon the great question, the world +has been less passionately moved and interested by the affair of the +Wensleydale Peerage, and nobody has talked of anything else for the +last ten days but this and the Crimean Report. The general feeling +amongst the lawyers and in society is against the Life Peerage, but the +Government are very reluctant to give way and to own themselves beaten +upon it. To-night is the great, and, it may be hoped, final struggle in +the House of Lords upon it, when nobody doubts that the Government will +be beaten. + +Last night the Evangelical and Sabbatarian interest had a great victory +in the House of Commons, routing those who endeavoured to effect the +opening of the National Gallery and British Museum on Sunday. The only +man of importance who sustained this unequal and imprudent contest was +Lord Stanley. At this moment cant and Puritanism are in the ascendant, +and so far from effecting any anti-sabbatarian reform, it will be very +well if we escape some of the more stringent measures against Sunday +occupations and amusements with which Exeter Hall and the prevailing +spirit threaten us. + + +[Sidenote: LORD CLARENDON IN PARIS.] + +_February 24th._--A letter from Lady Clarendon, who says 'the report +about things going ill is false, and as yet things have hardly begun. +The Emperor in feelings and opinions is everything that Clarendon could +desire.' Madame de Lieven received Clarendon _à bras ouverts_, but said +very little to him. This morning I called on George Lewis, and had a +long talk about the prospects of peace. He said Palmerston, according +to his ancient custom, was doing all he could to extort as much as +possible from Russia, writing to Clarendon in this strain constantly +and urging him to insist on more and more concessions; but Lewis thinks +notwithstanding this that Palmerston has quite made up his mind for +peace, and that he makes demands very often with the expectation of +being refused, and the intention of not insisting on them if he finds +a very determined resistance. One point of difference is Kars; the +Russians not unfairly wish to have some equivalent for surrendering +it, and Palmerston insists that they are not entitled to any. In the +preliminaries it was settled that we were to restore all our conquests, +and they were in return to give up part of Bessarabia. At that time +Kars was not taken, and now they say the relative positions of the +parties are altered, and 'if we are to restore Kars, that ought to +be set against the restoration of Kinburn, the part of the Crimea +you occupy, &c., and having got an equivalent in Kars, you ought to +relax your demand for Bessarabia.' To this Palmerston replies that +the Russians are to guarantee the integrity of the Turkish dominions, +of which Kars is a part, and therefore their restoration of it is a +matter of course for which no equivalent is necessary. This argument is +not logical, and no arbitrator would admit it. It is a good point to +wrangle upon, and if the Russians knock under it will be because they +are resolved to submit to any terms rather than not have peace. + +It is much the same thing about Nicolaieff, as to which the Emperor +appears at present disposed to back us up. Lewis disapproves of our +_exigeances_ and Palmerston's tone. He thinks on both points the +Russians have good cases, and that Palmerston and Clarendon are only +fighting for them in order to have a more plausible and showy peace +to set before the country. He says we never thought of demanding +the destruction of the docks of Nicolaieff _at first_, and that our +demanding it now is a mere afterthought, and in pursuance of the plan +of starting as many demands as we can to take the chance of what we +can get. Lewis disapproves of this course, and urged me to encourage +Clarendon not to lend himself to exigencies unjust in themselves, but +to do what he really thinks right and necessary without fear of the +consequences. + +[Sidenote: DEBATE ON LIFE PEERAGES.] + +When we had done talking of this matter he said he wanted to speak +to me about the Peerage question, which had assumed a shape which he +thought menaced great embarrassment, if not danger. The Government, he +said, would not give way, and he was himself opposed to their doing +so; but what was to be done? I said I did not see what the Government +could do, nor why they should not give way when they had resolved to +fight and had been fairly beaten; but he thought they should stultify +themselves by acknowledging they had been wrong, and that such a +course would oblige the Chancellor to resign. I controverted these +propositions and said they would stultify themselves much more, if from +motives of vanity and pride they chose to let the House of Lords remain +without that assistance to obtain which was the pretext for Parke's +creation. On the whole, Lewis seemed to think the least objectionable +course would be to pass a bill enabling the Crown to make a certain +number of Life Peers, but he overlooked the fact that this would be as +much a confession of error, and an acknowledgement that the Queen had +no such prerogative, as to make Lord Wensleydale an hereditary Peer. My +advice was to make him an hereditary Viscount. I was obliged to go away +and had not time to talk it out. In the afternoon, I spoke to Campbell +and Lyndhurst about it, and asked what they proposed, and how the +difficulty was to be got over. They naturally want the Government to +knock under and give up the hereditary peerage; they both scouted the +idea of Parke coming down to the House of Lords and insisting on being +admitted and making a scene. Lyndhurst to-night is to give notice of +motion for a Committee to consider the Appellate Jurisdiction. + + +_February 27th._--The debate in the Lords on Monday night affords +a prospect of an amicable termination of the Peerage case, but the +Government still have a lingering hope that by some management and +contrivance they may avoid the necessity of submitting to their defeat +and acting accordingly. There is to be a Committee on the Appellate +Jurisdiction, and they think they may obtain some report which may +enable them to get out of their scrape, but the only way I can make +out by which they think of doing this is to lay the foundation of a +bill to enable the Crown to make a limited number of Life Peers. This +would, however, be a more formal acknowledgement of error, and that the +Queen does not possess the prerogative, than any other course. I expect +they will at last be driven to adopt the course I recommended, that of +making Parke a Viscount, hereditary of course. + +Last night, Disraeli made a bitter attack on the Government, to which +Labouchere replied with a spirit for which nobody gave him credit. The +Opposition displayed great warmth, and a disposition to show serious +fight on any occasion they could find. Certainly the Government cuts a +very poor figure, and it is difficult not to think that as soon as the +all absorbing question of peace or war is decided, they will be much +put to it to defend themselves, unless they conduct affairs much better +for the future than they have done up to the present time. Hitherto +they have presented a series of blunders, failures, and exposures. +First of all the Peerage question; then, much worse, in the House of +Commons, Lowe's Bill on Shipping Dues, which Palmerston was obliged +to withdraw last night, not at all creditably, and the failure of +which was in a great measure attributable to Lowe's very injudicious +speech, which, as he is the organ of the Board of Trade in the House of +Commons, was in itself a great evil and misfortune. George Grey's Bill +on County Police meets with such opposition that though it is a very +good measure he will probably not be able to carry it. But still worse +than these are the case of the Crimean Report with all its incidents, +one blunder after another, and the wretched exhibition of Monsell in +moving the Ordnance Estimates, amounting to a complete break-down. +All these things, one after another, place the Government in a very +weak and contemptible position, and show that in spite of Palmerston's +having recovered a good deal of his personal popularity in the House of +Commons, his Government has no strength, and his being able to go on at +all is only owing to the peculiar circumstances in which the country is +placed, and the extreme difficulty of any other Government being formed +which would be palateable to the country, more efficient, and therefore +stronger and more durable than the present. + +To-morrow I purpose going to Paris to see and hear what is going on at +this interesting moment. + + +[Sidenote: A VISIT TO PARIS.] + +_Paris, March 1st_, 1856.--I left London on Thursday with M. de +Flahault and my brother. We slept at Boulogne, and after a prosperous +journey in all its stages, found myself in my old quarters at the +Embassy yesterday evening at seven o'clock. I had hardly arrived +before a card came from Morny, who gave a great evening party with +two _petites pièces_ and music. I went there with Lady Cowley. The +crowd was so great that I saw nothing whatever of the spectacle, but +was pretty well amused, for I met some old acquaintance, made some +new ones, and was presented to some of the celebrities of the day. +I was much struck with the ugliness of the women, and the extreme +_recherche_ of their costumes. Nature has done nothing for them, their +_modistes_ all that is possible. The old friends I met were La Marre +and Bourqueney, whom I have not seen since he was Secretary of Embassy +to Guizot, when we had so much to do together about the affairs of the +East. I made acquaintance with Fleury, the Empress's _Grand Écuyer_, +renewed it with Bacciochi, and I was presented to Cavour and the Grand +Vizier, as little like the _beau idéal_ of a Grand Vizier as can well +be imagined, but by all accounts a Turk _comme il y en a peu_. He is a +very little, dark, spare, mild-looking man, speaks French perfectly, +and exceedingly clever, well-informed, enlightened, and honourable. He +was Grand Vizier once before, and owes his present elevation to his +great personal merit. He accepted the post with reluctance, feeling +sure Stratford would torment him to death and get him turned out again, +but it seems as if his high qualities, and the general respect with +which he is regarded, would enable him to maintain himself against all +intrigues, and even against Stratford's predominance. I met Clarendon, +but had hardly any opportunity of talking to him, as he was every +moment interrupted by people come up to do civilities to him. He had +just time to tell me that matters are going on very slowly, and that he +sees no reason why he should not be kept here for the next six months. +Orloff had met him _à bras ouverts_ and renewed their old Petersburg +friendship. Brunnow he is disgusted with, and says he has made a bad +impression here. He told me he had said to Brunnow: 'You were in +England long enough to know what a special pleader is; well, if all +other trades should fail you, take to that.' + +Orloff spoke very frankly about the war, and the conduct of the late +Emperor, which he had always regarded as insane in sending Menschikoff +to Constantinople. If he had sent him, Orloff, instead, he would +answer for it, there would have been no war. Then marching into the +Principalities, and finally not accepting the modifications of the +Vienna Note. After this, Orloff said, he had declined to have anything +more to do with those affairs, and had retired in disgust. He thought +Nicholas's mind had undergone a change after he had reached sixty years +of age. + +Clarendon said he was delighted with the Emperor and liked him +better and better every time he saw him. I met Walewski, who said he +wanted to talk to me, when he expressed great anxiety to know the +state of opinion in England, and talked of the chances of peace, +and particularly wished to know if I thought Palmerston really and +sincerely desired peace. I told him the exact truth as to opinion in +England, and said I believed Palmerston was now sincere in wishing +to make peace, but that it was in his nature to be _exigeant_, and +he thought it necessary to be so now because it was of great moment +to him to present to the country a peace with as many concessions as +possible from Russia. I said it depended on France after all, and then +I found that while they thought Bomarsund ought to be an indispensable +condition, Nicolaieff ought not; and so we parted, and I promised to +dine with him on Monday. + +[Sidenote: LORD COWLEY ON THE NEGOTIATIONS.] + +This morning after breakfast I had a long conversation with Cowley. +He did not speak despondingly of the peace, but he dilated on the +difficulty of coming to satisfactory terms, and such as Clarendon could +consent to, which he attributes principally to the French, who, having +gained all the glory they want for the satisfaction of their national +vanity, have no longer any desire to go on with the war, and we are +placed by them in a fix. 'If,' he said, 'our army was in Asia Minor +he should not care, because then we might say to them, do just what +you please, make peace if it suits you, we shall not resent it or have +any quarrel with you, but we will carry on the war on our own account. +As it is, if we insist on renewing the war, the French _cannot_, and +would not abandon us, and leave us to be attacked by superior Russian +armies; they would therefore very reluctantly go on with the war, but +it would be well known that we were dragging them on with us, and the +exasperation against us would be great and general, and, say what we +might, a quarrel between France and England would infallibly ensue.' +He said all the objections he had entertained against Paris being the +place of conference had been more than realised, and that the thing to +have done would have been to have it in some dull German town, where +there would have been no amusements and occupations, and no intrigues, +and where they would have applied themselves vigorously to their work +in order to get it done as quickly as possible. I have not, however, as +yet made out what intrigues there are, but there is of course a vast +deal of _commérage_ going on. + +The conferences take place every other day, beginning at one, and they +generally last about four hours. Walewski presides, and, they say, +does it pretty well; M. Benedetti, the _Chef de Département in the +Foreign Office, is the _Protocollist and Rédacteur; the manner of it is +conversational, but they occasionally make speeches, Walewski told me. +I asked Clarendon in the evening how they were going on, and he said he +thought they were making a little progress, but that the French did all +they could to render it impossible. + +I called on Madame de Lieven in the morning, who did not seem to know +much beyond what lies on the surface. She is craving for news and eager +for peace. Orloff has kept aloof from her, to her great mortification, +and rather to the malicious satisfaction of her enemies, but he went +to see her at last the day before yesterday, and, I suppose, accounted +for the delay, for she spoke of him as if they were friends, though +of course she would take care not to say a word of complaint or to +have it supposed, if she could help it, that he had neglected her. +She complained that in our _exigeance_ we did not make allowance +enough for the difficulties of the Emperor of Russia's position, for, +however necessary peace might be to Russia, there is a very great +party there who from pride and obstinacy would carry on the war at all +risks and hazards. She talked much of the enormous faults that had +been committed throughout the whole of the Eastern Question, and of +the severe retribution the pride of the late Emperor had drawn down +on his country, and remarked, which is quite true, that this would +be the first time in the history of Russia in which she had made a +disadvantageous peace; for even in her wars against Napoleon, when she +had suffered defeat after defeat, she had still concluded peace with +a gain of territory. I saw the Hollands, Guizot at Madame de Lieven's +door, called on Lady Clarendon, and then went to ride with Lady Cowley +in the Bois, and so the evening and the morning were the first day. The +weather is cold and gloomy, and I don't think I shall stay here long. + + +_March 3rd._--Went about visiting yesterday, and at night to the +Tuileries, an evening party and play, two small pieces; the Emperor +was very civil to me as usual, came up to me and shook hands; he +talked to Orloff and to Clarendon, then the Grande Maîtresse told him +the Empress was ready, when he went out and came back with her on his +arm, Mathilde, Princess Murat, and Plon Plon following. As the Emperor +passed before me, he stopped and presented me to the Empress. I was +introduced to Orloff, and in the course of the evening had a long talk +with Brunnow, who said _they_ had made all the advances and concessions +they could, and it was for us to move towards peace, and not to advance +one step and then retreat two. + +This morning I went to see the opening of the legislative bodies, and +hear the Emperor's Speech. It was a gay and pretty sight, so full of +splendour and various colours, but rather theatrical. He read his +speech very well and the substance of it gave satisfaction; it was not +easy to compose it, but he did it exceedingly well, and steered clear +of the ticklish points with great adroitness and tact. It sounded odd +to English ears to hear a Royal Speech applauded at the end of each +paragraph, and the shouts of _'Vive l'Empereur'_ from the Senators and +Deputies. + +After Cowley came home he began talking over the state of affairs, +and the peace we are going to make, about which his grief and +disappointment are overflowing. He says the Emperor had the best +intentions, but has been beset with men who were determined on peace +for their own ends, and whom he could not resist. What he blames him +for is not having at once said that he would go so far with us and no +further, and not have allowed us to delude ourselves with expectations +of support from him that were not to be realised. He says it is now all +over, the matter decided, it will proceed rapidly, and all be finished +by Easter. + + +[Sidenote: A DINNER AT COUNT WALEWSKI'S.] + +_At night._--I have been dining with Walewski, a very handsome dinner +to the Sardinians, and a party afterwards. Knowing none of the people, +it was a bore; I found nobody to converse with but Cavour and Flahault; +talked over the state of affairs with the latter and our discontents. +He said the Emperor could not refuse, and when Clarendon came over +and found His Majesty's conversation so satisfactory, he was misled +by it and fancied he should obtain his support to all our demands; +he owned that it would have been better if the Emperor had been more +explicit. When I got home I found Cowley, who was engaged in drawing up +a statement of the comparative state of Russia, as to her aggressive +power against Turkey before the war and now, after peace has been +made. He is doing this for Clarendon and to assist him in making his +case good in Parliament when the peace is attacked, as he says it is +quite certain it will be. I asked him what were the points on which the +Russians made the most difficulty. He said on _all_ except Bomarsund. +He is quite convinced that Walewski has played false, and that he has +made known to Orloff exactly what he must give up, and when he may be +stout. + + +_March 5th._--Little to record; Cowley continues talking to me of the +state of affairs as it is and as it might have been, and is excessively +dejected and disgusted at the idea of the peace he is about to sign; +he thinks it neither creditable nor likely to be durable, but we start +from such different points of view that it is impossible for us to +agree. He harps upon the evil done by having the Conference here, and +certainly the advantage Clarendon promised himself from having it here +has proved null, for the Emperor does not send for him, having no +mind to talk to him, and he will not ask an audience of the Emperor, +though Cowley urges him very much to do it. He acknowledges, however, +that it would be now too late, and that nothing more can be done; he +thinks Clarendon will bring himself with great reluctance to sign such +a Treaty; but he must swallow the pill, however bitter. The bitterness +proceeds from having had such vast pretensions and having encouraged, +if not held, such lofty language. + +It is no wonder that this Government want to get their army home when +typhus is raging there, and they have by their own account 22,000 +men in hospital, while ours is quite healthy. We took all sorts of +precautions, and strongly advised the French to do the same, and to +adopt a sanitary plan we imparted to them; they held it cheap, did +nothing, and here are the consequences. It is said that while those who +have been in the Crimea and have distinguished themselves are eager for +peace, those who have not yet earned medals are averse to peace, and +that there will be a good deal of jealousy between the regiments. + + +_March 6th._--We talked yesterday morning about the origin of the +Austrian proposals, and Cowley said he had never been able exactly to +make out whether the scheme had originated at Vienna or here, but he +was inclined to believe that the first hint was given by Austria, and +that Walewski then put the thing on paper, which was sent to Vienna and +returned thence in the shape of a proposal. Bourqueney first brought it +from Vienna, Buol having obtained his Emperor's consent to it. Cowley +told me Buol had been all along willing to join us in the war, but the +Emperor never would consent to it. Cowley's notions are that we never +ought to have listened to any intervention, nor to any proposals for +peace but from Russia herself, that we should have made her sue for +peace. He would have had our demands from the first stated distinctly, +and have allowed of nothing but acceptance or refusal; he would never +have agreed to the article for the cession of Bessarabia, nor have +asked for territory at all. If it could have been managed he would have +preferred giving the Principalities to Austria, who should for them +give up Lombardy to Sardinia. Not a bad idea. By the by, it is much +noticed that in the Emperor's Speech he calls the King of Sardinia the +King of Piedmont, probably without any particular meaning or intention, +but they say he never does anything without a meaning. I rode to the +new racecourse yesterday, near the Bois de Boulogne, and went to the +Opera last night to see a beautiful new ballet, _'Le Corsaire.'_ Went +to Passy to see the Delesserts, who were out. + +[Sidenote: BITTERNESS IN FRENCH SOCIETY.] + +In this head quarter of gossip every trifle makes a noise, a little +scene in society excites interest and shows the continued violence of +party feeling. A party dined at Lord Holland's and more came in the +evening, mostly, as it happened, Orleanists, for the Hollands live +with all parties indiscriminately. There were Mesdames de Rémusat, +d'Haussonville, and several others of that colour, when the door opened +and MM. de Flahault and Morny were announced, on which the women all +jumped up like a covey of partridges and walked out of the room, +without taking any notice of the men. It is said that the Orleanist +party entertain a peculiar rancour against M. de Flahault for having +seen behind a door or a curtain the arrest of General Changarnier on +the 2nd of December, which he afterwards had the folly to avow. + + +_At night._--Just before dinner came an invitation to go to the +Tuileries to-night, which with much reluctance I was forced to do. +Two _petites pièces_ as on Sunday. I did not attempt to get into the +gallery, and sat in the next room, first with Brunnow, then with +the Grand Vizier, who is become a great friend of mine. The Emperor +did nothing but take off one Plenipotentiary after another: first +Clarendon, next Buol, then Orloff, and lastly Walewski, and probably +more was done there than at the Conference in the morning. Brunnow and +Walewski both told me the affair was progressing, and Cowley seemed +very low coming home. His dejection is extreme, and he said this +morning that he could not recover from his extreme disappointment at +the conduct of the Emperor, that he had always had a bad opinion of +Walewski, and no reliance on him or any of the ministers, but he would +have staked his life on the Emperor's remaining true to us, that he +had always assured our Government that they might depend implicitly on +him, and it was a bitter mortification to him to have been deceived +himself and to deceive them. I asked him how Clarendon felt all this, +and he said Clarendon had never spoken to him about it, and preserved +a calmness which astonished him. 'What,' I asked, 'did the Cabinet +at home say?' He said, 'They seemed to place entire confidence in +Clarendon, and to leave all power and responsibility to him.' + + +_March 8th._--Called on M. de Greffuhle yesterday, whom I had not +seen for years. He is eighty, enormously rich, full of activity and +intelligence, Orleanist by social habits, but well affected towards +this Government and not hostile to the Emperor, though despising his +Government. He said that he was _compelled_ to make peace, and that it +would cost him his Crown if he did not; that _something_ would happen +and then he would be upset, so great would be the consequences of +his running counter to the universal desire for peace here; that the +finances are in a very difficult state and there must be another loan, +but it would not be contracted like the last, which was a piece of +absurd _charlatanerie_. + +I went in the afternoon to see the Imperial stables, a wonderful +establishment; and then the stallions, near Passy. In the evening to +Madame Baudon's, where I was presented to General Cavaignac, but had +no conversation with him. He is a tall, gentlemanlike man with a very +military air. I was surprised to see him there in the midst of the +Legitimists, he, a republican, but it seems he was once near marrying +Madame Baudon, who was _sous-gouvernante des Enfants de France_ when +Madame de Gontaut was Gouvernante. + + +_March 9th._--Went about visiting as usual. Called on Achille Fould, +who introduced me to Magne, Minister of Finance, said to be a great +rogue. Everything here is intrigue and jobbery, and I am told there is +a sort of gang, of which Morny is the chief, who all combine for their +own purpose and advantage: Morny, Tould, Magne, and Rouher, Minister of +Commerce. They now want to get out Billault, Minister of the Interior, +whom they cannot entirely manage, and that ministry is necessary to +them, on account of the railroads, which are under his management. +Fould was full of civilities and offers of services, and he told me +the Emperor has a mind to talk to me; whether anything will come of it +I know not. I went thence to Madame de Galliera's, where I met Thiers +and made a _rendez-vous_ with him for to-day; then to Madame de Lieven +who had had Orloff with her; lastly to Madame de Girardin and renewed +our old acquaintance, dined with Delmar, and came home to a great party +here. + + +[Sidenote: CONVERSATION WITH M. THIERS.] + +_March 10th._--I called on Thiers yesterday, and had a long talk with +him; he declared he was happier unemployed and quite free than he +had ever been; he had been all for the war, and was now as much for +peace--like every other Frenchman he considered it a necessity; anxious +as ever for the English alliance, and ridiculed the idea that we had +not accomplished everything that our honour and glory required; bitter +against this Government, and maintained that the Emperor might very +safely relax the severity of it without giving up anything; indignant +with the peculation and corruption that prevailed, and the abominable +acts of injustice committed, one of which he mentioned towards his own +family. Very pleasant as usual. + +The news of the day was the dangerous illness of King Jerome, whose +life hangs on a thread. This morning I went to St. Germains to see +a stag hunt in the forest--a curious sight, with the old-fashioned +_meute_; the officers, and those privileged to wear the uniform, in +embroidered coats, jackboots, and cocked hats; _piqueurs_ on horseback +and foot with vast horns wound round their bodies; the costume and the +sport exactly as in the time of Louis XIV., rather tiresome after a +time. The old chateau is a melancholy _délabré_ building, sad as the +finishing career of its last Royal inhabitant. These recollections +come thick upon one--Anne of Austria and the Fronde, Louis XIV. and +Mademoiselle de la Vallière--for here their lives began. When the Queen +was here she insisted on being taken up to see Mademoiselle de la +Vallière's apartment, to mark which some slight ornaments remain. Here +too James II. held his dismal Court and came to his unhappy and bigoted +end. After it ceased to be a palace, it became successively a prison, +a school, and a barrack, and now the Emperor has a fancy to restore +it. I went at night to a great concert at Walewski's, where I fell in +with Clarendon, and found he was quite prepared to make peace even on +such terms as he can get, in which I encouraged him, and to my surprise +he said he did not think it would be a bad peace, though it was not +so good as we might have got if the generals had done all they might, +or if we had had another campaign. He asked me how I thought people +would look on it in England, and I told him from all I heard I thought +_now_ the wish was for peace, and that the peace would be well enough +taken. This he now thinks himself, and he said peace would certainly be +concluded before the end of the month. + + +_March 15th._--From Cowley's account the Conferences appear to be +drawing to an end, as a committee has been formed to draw up the +Treaty. It consists of Cowley, Bourqueney, Brunnow, Cavour, Buol, and +the Grand Vizier. Cowley is still bemoaning the insufficiency of the +terms, and while he admits the necessity of peace here, maintains that +if the Emperor would only have joined us in insisting upon the terms we +wished to impose, it is certain the Russians would have consented to +everything, for he says they now know from unquestionable information +that the Russians expected much harder terms. The Emperor was, however, +so beset by his _entourage_, and so afraid of running the slightest +risk of the Russians breaking off the negotiations, that he would not +insist on anything which he was not certain the Russians would agree +to, and Cowley says he thinks Clarendon was not so firm as he might +have been, and if he had pressed the Emperor more strongly, that the +latter would have yielded and told Orloff that, though anxious to +make peace, he was still more anxious to continue on good terms with +us, and that if the Russian Government wanted peace, they would only +have it on such and such terms. All this may be true, and I am myself +inclined to think the Russians would have agreed to our terms, if those +terms had been heartily backed up by the Emperor; but except to give +something more of a triumph to the English public, I am not of opinion +that the difference between what we required and what we shall get is +worth much. When the _dénouement_ is before the world, it will appear +how insane it was to plunge into such a war, and that the confusion +and unsettled state of affairs which will be the result of it are more +dangerous to the stability of the Turkish Empire than the ambitious +designs of Russia ever were. Whether the Emperor Nicholas was premature +or not in his idea of 'the sick man,' it will soon appear how sick the +man will be left by the doctors who have stepped in to save him, and I +believe the _bouleversement_ of the old Turkish dominion will have been +greatly accelerated by the war and the consequences which will flow +from the successes of the allies. + +[Sidenote: THE CIRCASSIANS.] + +What Cowley particularly laments over is having failed to dismantle +Nicolaieff and to stop the outlet from the Bug to the Black Sea, and +having got no satisfactory arrangement with regard to the Circassian +coast and the contiguous provinces which were ceded to Russia by the +Treaty of Adrianople. We wanted that Russia should acknowledge the +independence of these provinces or of some part of them; but I cannot +see of what use this would have been, and it would have been a matter +of the greatest difficulty how to secure their independence and under +what Government. There is a sort of sympathy with the Circassians +in England, which would have made some stipulations with regard to +them popular; but the independence would be illusory, Russia would +soon reassert her authority, and our stipulations would become a dead +letter, or we should be involved in endless disputes without any +satisfactory results. As to forming another coalition for the sake of +semi-barbarous nationalities on the coasts of the Caspian, nothing +would be more impossible. England herself, who will soon recover from +her madness, would not hear of it, and France still less. The war +was founded in delusion and error, and carried on by a factitious +and ignorant enthusiasm, and we richly deserve to reap nothing but +mortification and disappointment in return for all the blood and +treasure we have spent. + + +_March 16th._--We passed the day in momentary expectation of hearing +of the Empress's confinement. No news arrived, but at six in the +morning we were awakened from our beds by the sound of the cannon +of the Invalides, which gave notice of a son. Will his fortune be +more prosperous than that of the other Royal and Imperial heirs to +the throne whom similar salvoes have proclaimed? It is a remarkable +coincidence that the confinement was as difficult and dangerous as that +of Marie Louise, with the same symptoms and circumstances, and that the +_doctor accoucheur_ (Dubois) in this instance was the son of the Dubois +who attended the other Empress. From all I hear the event was received +here with good will, but without the least enthusiasm, though with some +curiosity, and the Tuileries Gardens were crowded. People were invited +by the police to illuminate. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +Lord Clarendon's favourable View of the Peace--General Evans' Proposal +to embark after the Battle of Inkerman--Sir E. Lyons defends Lord +Raglan--Peace concluded--Sir J. Graham's gloomy View of Affairs--Edward +Ellice's Plan--Favourable Reception of the Peace--A Lull in Politics--A +Sabbatarian Question--The Trial of Palmer for Murder--Defeat of +the Opposition--Danger of War with the United States--Ristori as +an Actress--Defeat of the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill--Return +of the Guards--Baron Parke on the Life Peerage--Close of the +Session--O'Donnell and Espartero in Spain--Chances of War--Coronation +of the Czar--Apathy of the Nation--Expense of the Coronation at +Moscow--Interference at Naples--Foreign Relations--Progress of +Democracy in England--Russia, France, England, and Naples--Russian +Intrigues with France--The Bolgrad Question--The Quarrel with +Naples--The Formation of Lord Palmerston's Government in 1855--Death of +Sir John Jervis--Sir Alexander Cockburn's Appointment--James Wortley +Solicitor-General--Conference on the Treaty of Paris--Low Church +Bishops--Leadership of the Opposition--Coolness in Paris--Dictatorial +Policy to Brazil. + + +[Sidenote: RETURN TO ENGLAND.] + +_London, March 21st, Good Friday._--I left Paris on Wednesday morning +with Mr. and Mrs. Reeve, dined at Boulogne, crossed over in the +evening, and arrived in London yesterday morning at eleven o'clock. +When near Folkestone we were caught in a fog, lost our way, and were +very near having to anchor and pass the night at sea. After a vast deal +of whistling and bellowing, stopping and going on, the fog cleared a +little, lights became visible, and we entered the harbour with no other +inconvenience than having made a long _détour_, and being an hour later +than our proper time. I regretted leaving Paris, where I was treated +with so much affection and hospitality, and on the whole very well +amused. On Monday, I dined with the Duchesse de Mouchy; on Tuesday +night Clarendon came after dinner to see me before my departure, and we +had some talk about the peace and the terms. He spoke very cheerfully +about it and seems not at all dissatisfied, nor to feel any alarm about +its reception. As it is, without at all acknowledging that he has made +any sacrifices, he considers that the influence he has acquired for +England, particularly with Austria and Turkey, is far more valuable +than any items of concession from Russia would have been. Buol told him +that he was now quite convinced that England was the Power to which +Austria must really look with confidence and reliance on her honour and +friendship, and the Turk was still more warm and vehement in assurances +of the same kind. This was elicited from the Austrians by the fact of +England having supported the condition of the Bessarabian cession, +while France took part with Russia and threw Austria over. Moreover, +Clarendon does not, like Cowley, complain of the Emperor Napoleon, but +speaks with great satisfaction of His Majesty's conduct to him, and the +renewed cordiality with which he has recently expressed himself towards +England, and for the maintenance of his alliance with us. In short, he +evidently thinks, and not without reason, that he will return, having +obtained a sufficiently good peace, and having placed England in a very +fine position. He said that he had been able to accomplish his task +by being ready to incur responsibility at home, and by being able to +act unfettered, and taking on himself to disregard any instructions +or recommendations from home that he did not approve of. Yesterday I +saw George Lewis and had a talk with him and his wife about Clarendon +and the peace. He said he thought the peace quite sufficient, and he +did not understand what it was Cowley found fault with, nor why he is +dissatisfied. He denies that we have given up anything that it would +have been just and reasonable to stand out upon, and will not hear of +taking an apologetic tone, but that Clarendon should defend the peace +on its own merits. He thinks it will be well enough received in the +House of Commons and by the country, and he is in good spirits about +the Government. He says Palmerston has been moderate and reasonable, +and that he is not aware of Clarendon's having been harassed with any +instructions, but left entirely to his own discretion. They all think +he has done exceedingly well. + + +[Sidenote: SIR EDMUND LYONS' NARRATIVE.] + +_March 29th._--I went to Hatchford on Saturday last; on Wednesday to +Althorp. I met Sir Edmund Lyons at Hatchford, who talked incessantly +about the incidents of the war and the conduct of the people concerned +in it, and very interesting his talk was, for besides having been one +of the most conspicuous and important actors in it, he was completely +in the confidence of the Commanders-in-Chief, and consulted by them on +every occasion and with regard to all operations. He told us what had +passed between Evans and Raglan and between Evans and himself on a most +important occasion, to this effect: Evans went to Raglan immediately +after the battle of Inkerman, and proposed to him to embark the army +immediately, leaving their guns, and (Lyons says he is almost certain) +their sick and wounded to the enemy. Raglan said, 'But you forget the +French: would you have us abandon them to their fate?' He replied, +'You are Commander-in-Chief of the _English_ army, and it is your +business to provide for _its_ safety....' Raglan would not hear of the +proposal. Almost immediately after Evans met Sir Edmund Lyons and told +him what had passed with Raglan, and urged him to suggest the same +course. Lyons made the same observation about the French that Raglan +had done, and said one of two things would happen: either the French +would take Sebastopol alone, when we should be covered with shame and +dishonour; or they would fail and probably suffer some great disaster. +The expression of _'perfide Albion'_ had long been current in France, +and then indeed it would be well deserved and would become a perpetual +term of reproach against us. These rebuffs did not prevent Evans going +on board ship and there giving out that the army would in a few days +be obliged to embark, and Captain Dacres came to Lyons and told him +he heard this was going to happen. Lyons asked him where he had heard +this, and he said Evans had announced it, and talked of it unreservedly +as certain to happen. Lyons said, 'It is false; the army will not go +away, and Sebastopol will be taken. It is very mischievous that such +reports should circulate, and I order you not to allow such a thing to +be said by anybody on board your ship, and to contradict it in the most +positive manner.' + +Everything that Lyons said, and it may be added all one hears in +every way, tends to the honour and the credit of Raglan, and I am +glad to record this because I have always had an impression that much +of the difficulty and distress of the army in 1854 was owing to his +want of energy and management. He was not a Wellington certainly, and +probably he might have done more and better than he did, but he was +unquestionably, on the whole, the first man in the army, and if he had +not been continually thwarted by the French, would have done more. +While many here were crying out for placing our army under the command +of French generals, and recalling Raglan (and I must confess I had +myself a considerable leaning that way), he was struggling against the +shortcomings or the inactivity of Canrobert and Pélissier. Canrobert +acknowledged that he had not nerves sufficient for the duties of his +station, and he never could be got to agree to adopt the bold offensive +movements which Raglan was continually urging upon him, especially +after the battle of Inkerman, when Raglan entreated him to follow up +the discomfited Russians, his whole army being ready and not above +1,500 of them having been engaged. With Pélissier, Raglan had very +little to do, for his death occurred soon after Pélissier took the +command. + +[Sidenote: LYONS DEFENDS LORD RAGLAN.] + +Lyons gave us an interesting account of Raglan's last illness. He +seemed to have no idea that he was in serious danger, nor had the +people about him. At last, when he was so rapidly sinking that the +doctors saw his end was approaching, and it was deemed necessary to +apprise him thereof, he would not believe it, and he insisted to his +aide-de-camp who told him of his state that he was better, and he fell +into a state of insensibility without ever having been conscious of +his dying condition. One of the best authenticated charges against +Raglan was that of his not showing himself to his soldiers, and it was +said many believed that he had quitted the camp; at last this idea +became so prevalent that his own staff felt the necessity of something +being said to him about it, but none dared, for it seems they were all +exceedingly afraid of him. At last they asked Lyons if he would speak +to him and tell him what was said. Lyons said he had no scruple or +difficulty in so doing, and told him plainly the truth. Raglan not only +took it in good part, but thanked him very much, and said his reason +for not riding round all the divisions was that he could not prevent +the soldiers turning out to salute him, and he could not bear to see +this ceremony done by the men who had been all night in the trenches or +otherwise exposed to fatigue, and that this was the sole reason why he +had abstained, but henceforward he would make a point of riding round +every day, and so he ever after did; so that the main fact as reported +by 'correspondents' was not devoid of truth. I wish I could recollect +all the various anecdotes Lyons told us, but I neglected to put them +down at the time, and now they have faded from my memory. He discussed +the qualities of the English generals with reference to the command +of the army after Raglan's death. He never had well understood why it +was that Colin Campbell was always considered out of the question, and +his own opinion seemed to be that he was the fittest man. The French +thought so, and one of the alleged reasons against him, viz., that +he could not speak French, was certainly not true. Simpson was very +reluctant to take the command at first, and wrote home to say so, but +after he had received certain flattering encouragements his opposition +waxed fainter, and by the time it was taken from him he became anxious +to retain it. Raglan was not at all annoyed at Simpson's being sent +there, and did what he pleased with him. Simpson never attempted to +interfere with him or to control him in any way, but on the contrary +was entirely subservient to Raglan. + + +_April 1st._--News of peace reached London on Sunday evening, and was +received joyfully by the populace, not from any desire to see an end of +the war, but merely because it is a great event to make a noise about. +The newspapers have been reasonable enough, except the 'Sun,' which +appeared in deep mourning and with a violent tirade against peace. + + +[Sidenote: SIR JAMES GRAHAM ON THE STATE OF PARTIES.] + +_April 3rd._--Yesterday I met Graham at the Council Office, where he +had come to attend a committee. Since the formation of Aberdeen's +Government three years ago I have hardly ever seen him, and have never +had any conversation with him. Yesterday he sat down and began talking +over the state of affairs generally, and the prospects of the country, +which he considers very gloomy and full of danger, more particularly +from the outrageous license of the press, which has now arrived at a +pitch perfectly intolerable, but which it is impossible to check or +control. Then the total destruction of parties and of party ties and +connexions, to say nothing of the antipathies and disagreements of such +public men as these are. He says there is not one man in the House +of Commons who has ten followers, neither Gladstone, nor Disraeli, +nor Palmerston. The Government goes on because there is no organized +opposition prepared and able to take its place, and the Government +receives a sufficiency of independent support, because all feel that +the business of the country must be carried on, and hitherto Palmerston +has been supported as a War Minister, and the best man to carry on the +war; but Graham is very doubtful what will happen when the discussions +on the peace and all matters relating to the war are over, and other +questions (principally of domestic policy) come into play. Palmerston, +always sanguine, fancies he can stand, but it is very doubtful, for +he is not backed by a party constituting a majority; the Treasury +Bench is very weak, and Palmerston himself a poor and inefficient +conductor of the Government in the House. John Russell has taken up the +question of education, which he hopes to render popular, and through +it means again to recover his former influence and authority. He said +that John Russell is (in spite of all that happened last year) more +looked up to by the Whig party than Palmerston, and that they would +rather have him for their leader, as, notwithstanding the faults he +has committed, he is by far the ablest man, has a much greater grasp +of intellect, more foresight, and is much more of a statesman, and has +fixed principles. Palmerston (Graham thinks) has a passionate love of +office and power, and will cling to it with tenacity to the last, and +never resign it but on compulsion, not caring with whom he acts, nor +on what principles. This, I think, is partly true and partly false. I +do not think he cares whom he acts with, but I do not believe he is +quite indifferent as to the principles. He says Lewis has done well, +and is liked in the House of Commons, and Gladstone likes him and +gives him a cordial support; that Baines is a good man, and those two +are the most respected and considered of all the men on the Treasury +Bench, the House accepting their sterling qualities in place of greater +brilliancy such as Gladstone can command; that Gladstone is certainly +the ablest man there, though it is still doubtful whether his talents +are equal to such an emergency as the present to master public opinion, +enlist it on his side, and to administer the Government on certain +principles of administrative reform, which Graham himself considers +necessary. His religious opinions, in which he is zealous and sincere, +enter so largely into his political conduct as to form a very serious +obstacle to his success, for they are abhorrent to the majority of this +Protestant country, and (I was rather surprised to hear him say) Graham +thinks approach very nearly to Rome. Gladstone would have nothing to +do with any Government unless he were leader in the House of Commons, +and when that Government is formed, there should be previously a clear +and distinct understanding on what principles it was founded and what +their course of action should be. His tone is now that of disclaiming +party connexions, and being ready to join with any men who are able and +willing to combine in carrying out such measures as are indispensably +necessary for the good government of the country, such a system as +he briefly shadowed out in his speech at the Mansion House the other +day. Graham's idea is, that in the event of this Government breaking +down, the best chance of another being formed would be by Clarendon +undertaking it, whom on the whole he regards as the man best fitted by +his experience and ability to be at the head of affairs; that he and +Gladstone might be brought together, but would Lord John consent to go +to the Lords, and to serve under Clarendon as President of the Council +and Head of the Education Department? This opens questions full of +doubt and difficulty. Derby, he thinks, has no desire to form another +Government, and would prefer to go on as he is now, leader of a large +party of Peers who are willing to follow him and to make the House of +Lords one of the scenes and instruments of his amusements as usual, +provided it supplies him with occupation and excitement, indifferent +to the consequences and to the mischief he may do. Disraeli appears to +be endeavouring to approach Gladstone, and a confederacy between those +two and young Stanley by no means an improbability. What Stanley is +disposed to do and capable of doing is still an enigma, and although +his speeches are not devoid of matter, they are without a particle of +the spirit and stirring eloquence of his father. + +The change which has taken place in the country presents to Graham a +most alarming prospect. Hitherto it has been governed by parties, and +patronage has been the great instrument of keeping parties together; +whereas Sir Robert Peel has destroyed party, which had now entirely +ceased to exist; and between the press, the public opinion which the +press had made, and the views of certain people in Parliament, of whom +Gladstone is the most eminent and strenuous, patronage was either +destroyed or going rapidly to destruction. The only hope of escaping +from great perils was in that broad stratum of good sense and firmness +which still existed in the country, and of which manifestations had +been recently given. He admires the resolute and unflinching spirit +with which the war had been entered into, carried on, and the country +was quite willing to persist in; and not less the sensible and +reasonable manner in which the peace, by which they were mortified and +disappointed, had been acquiesced in, for he says that it is beyond +all question that there is throughout the country a strong feeling of +mortification and regret that we have not played a more brilliant part, +and that our share of glory has been less than that of our ally, and +there would have been a general feeling of exultation and satisfaction +if we had fought another campaign in order to end the war with greater +_éclat_. But this sentiment has been sufficiently mastered by prudent +considerations and a just appreciation of the circumstances of Europe +generally, and of our relations with other Powers, to check all +ebullitions of mortified pride, and to induce a prudent reserve and +acquiesce in the management of the Government, and in a spirit like +this there appears some hope for the future. We had a very long talk +about these and other matters, the substance of which I record as it +recurs to my mind. + +[Sidenote: EDWARD ELLICE ON THE STATE OF PARTIES.] + +A day or two before I met Ellice at Hillingdon, where we interchanged +our thoughts, and a good deal that he said was much in Graham's sense: +that this Government could not stand but by being remodelled, and his +notion is that half of it should be got rid of, the Peelites taken in, +and Lord John to go to the House of Lords as President of the Council, +Granville taking Cowley's place as ambassador at Paris, and Cowley +replacing Stratford Canning at Constantinople. _À propos_ of Stratford +Canning, Graham thinks the Opposition will attack the Government and +not the ambassador on the case of Kars, and that it is not impossible +they may carry a vote of censure against them, which I told him I +did not believe was possible, or that they could be able to carry +any resolution affecting the Government so much as to compel their +resignation, and I suggested to him how fatal this would be to his +scheme of reorganizing a Government under Clarendon, as such censure +would more especially touch him, and this would make it impossible for +the Queen to entrust the formation of another Government to his hands. + + +_April 7th._--Since my conversation with Graham, I have learnt from +the Duke of Bedford that Lord John is not very much disinclined to +go to the House of Lords, particularly as his position in reference +to his seat for the City is so embarrassing. The Dissenters, always +unreasonable and ungrateful, will not forgive his speech upon Church +Rates the other night, and his general popularity is gone. Then it +is probably a consideration with him to secure to his family the +settlement his brother will make on him if he takes the peerage. + + +_London, May 4th._--For nearly a month I have let this journal fall +into arrear, during which period the most interesting occurrences have +been the return of Clarendon, the publication of the conditions of +peace with the accompanying protocols, and the debate upon Kars. With +regard to the peace, Clarendon comes very well out of his mission, and +no fault is found with the peace. The Kars debate was a great error +on the part of the Opposition, and ended with a great triumph for +the Government. Just before it, Palmerston called a meeting of his +supporters, where he harangued them with great success, and managed +to rally them round him with more of zeal and cordiality than they +have hitherto shown. His position is certainly improved, and according +to present appearances he will get through the session without much +difficulty. All agree that he has been doing well in the House of +Commons; his assiduity, his punctual attendance, and his popular +manners make him agreeable to the House, and he has exhibited greater +facility and resource in dealing with all sorts of miscellaneous +subjects than anybody gave him credit for. There is not the smallest +danger of the peace proving dangerous to him, and it is evident that +the House of Commons, however independent and undisciplined it may be, +will not allow him to be placed in any danger, and is determined not to +have any change of Government at present. The Peelites and John Russell +supported him and had nothing else to do, for they are neither of them +in a condition to attempt to play a game of their own. + + +_May 14th._--Every day my disinclination to continue this work (which +is neither a journal nor anything else) increases, but I have at the +same time a reluctance to discontinue entirely an occupation which has +engaged me for forty years, and in which I may still find from time to +time something to record which may hereafter be deemed worth reading, +and so at long intervals, and for short periods, I resume my reluctant +pen. + +We are now in the Whitsuntide holidays, in a profound political and +parliamentary calm, the Government perfectly secure, Palmerston very +popular, the Opposition disheartened and disunited, and having managed +their matters as awkwardly and stupidly as possible, attacking the +Government on questions and points on which the assailants were sure to +be beaten, and strengthening instead of weakening it by their abortive +attempts. There was great difference of opinion amongst them about +fighting battles, on Kars, and on the peace; Lyndhurst and Derby were +against, Disraeli was for. Roebuck, whom I fell in with on Sunday in +a railway train, told me that if they had laid hold of the one point +of the protocol in the Belgian press, and worked this well, they might +have put the Government in a minority, but they missed this obvious +opportunity.[1] I called on Lyndhurst yesterday, who said they had +unaccountably overlooked this plausible topic. He is going to make a +speech on Italy when Parliament meets, and we agreed entirely that +either too much or too little was done at Paris on this question, and +that either it ought not to have been entertained and discussed at all, +or some more decided measures ought to have been adopted with regard to +it. To stir up such delicate questions, and leave them in their present +unhappy condition, is an egregious error. + +[Sidenote: A SABBATARIAN QUESTION.] + +The questions of war and of peace having now ceased to interest and +excite the public mind, a religious question has sprung up to take +their place for the moment, which though not at present of much +importance, will in all probability lead to more serious consequences +hereafter. Sir Benjamin Hall having bethought himself of providing +innocent amusement for the Londoners on Sunday, established a Sunday +playing of military bands in Kensington Gardens and in the other parks +and gardens about the metropolis, which has been carried on, with the +sanction of the Government, with great success for several Sundays. +Some murmurs were heard from the puritanical and Sabbatarian party, +but Palmerston having declared himself favourable to the practice in +the House of Commons, the opposition appeared to cease. The puritans, +however, continued to agitate against it in meetings and in the press, +though the best part of the latter was favourable to the bands, and +at last, when a motion in Parliament was threatened to insist on the +discontinuance of the music, the Cabinet thought it necessary to +reconsider the subject. They were informed that if the Government +resisted the motion they would be beaten, and moreover that no man +could support them in opposition to it without great danger of losing +his seat at the next election. It is stated that the Sabbatarians are +so united and numerous, and their organisation so complete, that all +over the country they would be able to influence and probably carry +any election, and that this influence would be brought to bear against +every man who maintained by his vote this 'desecration of the Sabbath.' +Accordingly it was resolved by the Cabinet to give way, and the only +question was how to do so with anything like consistency and dignity. +The Archbishop of Canterbury was made the '_Deus ex machinâ_' to effect +this object. He was made to write a letter to the Premier representing +the feelings of the people and begging the bands might be silenced. To +this Palmerston wrote a reply in which he repeated his own opinion in +favour of the music, but that in deference to the public sentiment he +would put an end to their playing. All this has excited a good deal of +interest and discussion. For the present, the only question is whether +the angry public will not vent its indignation and resentment to-morrow +in acts of uproar and violence; but though these acts will not be +serious or lasting if they do take place, it may be expected that the +Sabbatarians will not rest satisfied with their triumph, but will +endeavour to make fresh encroachments on our free will and our habits +and pursuits, and that fresh and more serious contests will arise out +of this beginning. + +Footnote 1: [An attempt had been made at the Congress of Paris by +Count Walewski to bring forward some measure or resolution reflecting +on the independence of the press in Belgium. It led to nothing, but +Lord Clarendon was accused of not having protested against it with +sufficient energy.] + + +_May 28th (day of the Derby)._--Yesterday on Epsom racecourse arrived +the news of Palmer's being found guilty of the murder of Cook. This +case and the trial have excited an interest almost unprecedented, +unlike anything since the case of Thurtell about twenty years ago or +more. People who never heard of either of the men took the deepest +interest in it, the women particularly, though there was nothing +peculiar in it or of a nature to excite them particularly. The +trial lasted a fortnight, all the details of it were read with the +greatest avidity, half the town went one day or other to hear it, +and the anxiety that the man should be convicted was passionate. +Cockburn gained great applause by the manner in which he conducted the +prosecution. + +[Sidenote: DEFEAT OF THE OPPOSITION.] + +This trial has proved more attractive and interesting than anything +in the political world, though there has been a pitched battle in the +Lords on the question of Maritime Law and Right of Search given up in +the recent Treaty. Derby made a violent onslaught on the Government, +and was at first very confident of a majority. He soon found these +hopes were fallacious, when he got angry and was more violent than +he has ever been before this session. The Government got a majority +of above fifty, which puts an end to any further contest there. +The Government have now nothing to fear, the Opposition are routed +and dispirited, and one can see nothing to alter the present state +of affairs. The minor questions which have occupied attention are +settling quietly. The Chelsea Commission is over, and the result will +be harmless, on the whole rather good than bad, because it will prove +that the violent attacks on the military authorities during the war +have been exaggerated and in many cases unfounded. A sort of compromise +has been made about the Wensleydale peerage, not a very happy one, and +it remains to be seen whether the House of Commons is sufficiently +acquiescent as to sanction it by agreeing to the 12,000_l._ a year +to be paid to two new judges and peers for life. The Government have +virtually abandoned the principle they contended for, and have yielded +to the adverse vote and Committee. When they appeal to Parliament and +limit the number of life peerages, they abandon the prerogative of the +Crown. + + +_June 1st._--The state of affairs with America becomes more and more +alarming.[1] Grey told me the other night that he had had a long +conversation with Dallas, whose tone was anything but reassuring as +to the prospect of peace; and yesterday I met Thackeray, who is just +returned from the United States. He thinks there is every probability +of the quarrel leading to war, for there is a very hostile spirit, +constantly increasing, throughout the States, and an evident desire +to quarrel with us. He says he has never met with a single man who +is not persuaded that they are entirely in the right and we in the +wrong, and they are equally persuaded if war ensues that they will +give us a great thrashing; they don't care for the consequences, their +riches are immense, and 200,000 men would appear in arms at a moment's +notice. Here, however, though there is a great deal of anxiety, there +is still a very general belief that war cannot take place on grounds +so trifling between two countries which have so great and so equal +an interest in remaining at peace with each other. But in a country +where the statesmen, if there are any, have so little influence, and +where the national policy is subject to the passions and caprices of +an ignorant and unreasoning mob, there is no security that good sense +and moderation will prevail. Many imagine that matters will proceed to +the length of a diplomatic rupture, that Crampton will be sent away and +Dallas retire in consequence, and that then by degrees the present heat +will cool down, and matters be amicably arranged without a shot being +fired. I feel no such confidence, for if diplomatic intercourse ceases +numerous causes of complaint will arise, and as there will be no means +left for mutual and friendly explanation and adjustment, such causes +will be constantly exaggerated and inflamed into an irreconcileable +quarrel. Matters cannot long go on as they now are without the public +here becoming excited and angry, and the press on both sides insolent, +violent, and provoking, and at last, going on from one step to another, +we shall find ourselves drifted into this odious and on both parts +suicidal contest, for there is not a blow we can strike at America and +her interests that will not recoil on us and our own. It has often been +remarked that civil wars are of all wars the most furious, and a war +between America and England would have all the characteristics of a +civil and an international contest; nor, though I have no doubt that +America is in the wrong, can I persuade myself that we are entirely in +the right on either of the principal points in dispute. We have reason +to congratulate ourselves that the Russian war is over, for if it had +gone on and all our ships had been in the Baltic, and all our soldiers +in the Crimea, nothing would have prevented the Americans from seizing +the opportunity of our hands being full to bring their dispute with us +to a crisis. + +Footnote 1: [In consequence of the dispute with the American Government +on the subject of Foreign Enlistment, Mr. Crampton, the British +Minister, was ordered to leave Washington on May 28th. He arrived +in England on June 15th; but Lord Palmerston stated in the House of +Commons that the dismissal of Mr. Crampton did not break off diplomatic +relations with the United States, as Mr. Dallas remained in this +country. It is remarkable that within a few months or even weeks two +British Ministers received their passports from foreign governments and +were sent away--a very uncommon occurrence!] + + +[Sidenote: MADAME RISTORI.] + +_June 7th._--I went last night to see the celebrated Ristori in a very +bad play called 'Medea,' being a translation into Italian from a French +tragedy by a M. Legouvé. This play was written for Madame Rachel, who +refused to act the part, which refusal led to a lawsuit, in which the +actress was (I think) defeated. Ristori is certainly a fine actress, +but she did not appear to me equal to Pasta in the same part, or to +other great actresses I have seen. However, my inability to hear well +and want of familiarity with Italian acting and imperfect knowledge of +the language disqualify me from being a competent judge. + +The American horizon is rather less dark. Nothing is yet known as +to Crampton's dismissal, and Dallas does not believe it. The Danish +Minister at Washington writes over here that he thinks the clouds will +disperse and there will be no serious quarrel. + + +_London, July 12th._--After the lapse of a month and more, during +which I could not bring myself to record anything, or to comment upon +passing events, I am at last roused from my apathy, and am induced +to take up my pen and say a word upon the defeat of the Appellate +Jurisdiction Bill in the House of Commons the other night, which gave +me the greatest satisfaction, because I regard it as a just punishment +for the stupid obstinacy with which the Government have blundered on +from one fault to another throughout this whole business. It has been +a complete comedy of errors, and every one who has taken a part in it +has been in the wrong. I told Granville how it would be in the first +instance, and urged him, after the House of Lords had refused to let +in Parke as a life peer, to accept the defeat quietly by making him +an hereditary peer and thus give the go-by to the main question. This +nothing would induce them to do, and they fancied that they could +avoid the mortification of appearing to knock under, and save their +own consistency, by the contrivance of this bill. Every mischief that +it was possible to do they have managed to accomplish, and the leaders +of the opposite parties, who all felt themselves in a scrape, came to +a sort of compromise in the Lords' Committee, the result of which was +this unpopular bill. Amongst them they have assailed the prerogative +of the Crown, they have damaged the judicial authority of the House of +Lords, they have deeply offended many of their own friends by tendering +to them such a measure, and they have behaved most unkindly and +unhandsomely to Baron Parke, who thinks he has great reason to complain. + +I have been at Knowsley for the last three days, and so missed the +march of the Guards into London on Wednesday. Lord Hardinge was struck +down by paralysis as he was speaking to the Queen at Aldershot on +Tuesday last. It is supposed that the Duke of Cambridge will succeed +him, and that Jim Macdonald will be his Military Secretary. The +American question is still undecided, but everybody appears to be very +easy about it. + + +[Sidenote: BARON PARKE ON THE LIFE PEERAGE.] + +_July 20th._--I met Baron Parke the other day, who talked over +his affair, complained of the treatment he had received from the +Government, but said he gathered from what the Chancellor had said to +him that they meant now to make him an hereditary peer, declared there +was not a shadow of doubt about the legality, and that Campbell had as +little doubt as he himself had, but finding the measure was unpopular +with certain lawyers, he had suddenly turned against his own recorded +opinion and opposed it. The Baron said the Government were greatly +to blame for not having ventilated the question, and ascertained +whether they could carry it or not, and if he had had an idea of all +the bother it had made, he never would have had anything to do with +it. George Lewis told me that the life peerage had never been brought +before the Cabinet, and he knew nothing of it till he saw it in the +Gazette, nor did Clarendon; in fact it was confined to the Chancellor, +Granville, and Palmerston. They none of them, however, know with whom +it originated. Now that the measure turns out to be so unpopular and +is so scouted, and the transaction has been attended with so many +blunders and defeats, no one is willing to accept the responsibility of +it, or to acknowledge having had anything to do with it. It is strange +that Palmerston should ever have consented to it, but he knew nothing +and cared nothing about it; he was probably assured it would go down +without any difficulty, and in this _poco curante_ way he suffered +himself to be committed to it, not seeing the storm it would cause. +He allowed Granville to manage it all his own way, and at last he had +the good luck to be beaten upon it in the House of Commons, for the +scrape would have been more serious if he had earned it there. These +last days of the session have been as usual marked by the withdrawal +and abandonment of various bills that were for the most part introduced +at the beginning of it, and which were found to be quite worthless, +especially the Law Reform Bill. + + +_London, July 27th._--Parliament has finished its debates, and will +be prorogued on Tuesday. Dizzy wound up by a 'review of the session,' +a species of entertainment which used to be given annually some years +ago by Lord Lyndhurst with great skill and effect, but which on the +present occasion, and in Disraeli's hands, was singularly inopportune +and ineffective. Lord Wensleydale has at last taken his seat as an +hereditary Peer; the Government, after various abortive attempts to +wriggle out of their absurd position, having done at last what they +ought to have done at first--knocked under and endured what could not +be cured. The Government go into summer and winter quarters in a very +healthy and prosperous state, with nothing apparently to apprehend, +and with every probability of meeting Parliament next year in the +same condition, and, barring accidents, going through next session as +successfully as they have gone through this. + + +_August 4th._--I was at Goodwood all last week; the Prince of Prussia +came there. Not a word of news; the Queen still engaged in reviewing +the troops, and complimentary _fêtes_ are still going on to Sir +W. Williams of Kars, and Charles Wyndham 'the hero of the Redan.' +The disturbances in Spain seem to be over, and O'Donnell remains +victorious. My first impression was (the common one) that Espartero +had been ousted by an intrigue, and that it was a reactionary _coup +d'état_, but I now hear that it is no such thing, and that we ought to +desire the success of the present Government. Espartero and O'Donnell +could not agree, as was not unlikely in a coalition Government the two +chiefs of which were men of such different opinions and antecedents. +After many abortive attempts to reconcile their differences, it was +agreed that a Council of Ministers should be held which the Queen +herself should preside over, and when a final attempt should be made. +A long discussion took place, and the Queen did all she could to +reconcile the two generals, and to enable the Government to go on +unchanged. Finding it impossible to effect this, she ended by saying, +'Well, gentlemen, since I cannot prevail on you to go on together, +I must needs choose between you, and as I think Marshal O'Donnell +will be the best able to carry on the Government, I appoint him.' +Then the National Guards began an insurrection which was put down, +but no violent measures seem to have been adopted, and O'Donnell has +declared that Spain can only be successfully governed on constitutional +principles, and that he means to retain the Cortes in its integrity. +How far his acts will correspond with his professions remains to be +seen. Narvaez was recommended to go to France, and Queen Christina +appears not to have been allowed to return to Spain, which are good +signs. It is a good thing for Spain that Espartero should have retired, +for though probably the honestest Spaniard, he is at the same time the +weakest and the most wanting in moral courage and decision. + +[Sidenote: CHANCES OF WAR.] + +History is full of examples of the slight and accidental causes on +which the greatest events turn, and of such examples the last war seems +very full. Charles Wyndham told me that nothing but a very thick fog +which happened on the morning of Inkerman prevented the English army +being swept from their position and totally discomfited. The Russians +could see nothing, lost their own way, and mistook the position of +the British troops. Had the weather been clear so that they had been +able to execute their plans, we could not have resisted them; a defeat +instead of the victory we gained would have changed the destiny of the +world, and have produced effects which it is impossible to contemplate +or calculate. + +On the other hand, nothing but miscalculation and bad management +prevented the capture of Sebastopol immediately after Alma. My nephew +is just returned from a voyage with Lord Lyons to the Crimea, where +he went all over the scenes of the late contest, all the positions, +and the ruins of Sebastopol as well as the northern forts. He was +well treated by the Russians, who showed him everything, and talked +over the events of the war with great frankness. They told him that +if the allies had marched at once after the battle on the north side, +no resistance could have been made, and the other side must have +fallen. We had long known that the north side would have fallen if +we had attacked it at once. Frank asked the Russian officer whether +there was any bad feeling on the part of the Russian army towards +the French or English, and he said none whatever, but a great deal +towards the Austrians, and that they desired nothing more than an +opportunity of fighting them. He also said that they had been misled +by our newspapers, from which they obtained all their information, and +thinking that the announcements there of an intended invasion of the +Crimea were made for the purpose of deceiving them, they had withdrawn +a great many troops from the Crimea, so that while Sebastopol had +been emptied of the garrison to increase the army of Menschikoff, the +Russians had not more than 30,000 or 35,000 men at the Alma. + + +_Hillingdon, August 17th._--It is impossible to find anything of the +least interest to write about, and my journal is in danger of dying of +starvation or of atrophy. The causes of discontent we have had with +Russia are disappearing, and the Emperor's coronation will not be +clouded by fresh _doléances_ on our part. Bulwer is just gone to the +Principalities, where the commissioners are to endeavour to ascertain +what are the wishes of the people as to the union. France and England +are in favour of it, Turkey and Austria against it, while Russia +professes to be indifferent and neutral. Spain is settling down into +submission to the Government of O'Donnell. Naples is relieved from her +fears of English intervention, and there seems some chance that she +may relax the rigour of her Government now that she may do so _salvo +honore_ and not under compulsion. This country is profoundly tranquil +and generally prosperous; everybody seems satisfied with Palmerston +and his administration. I myself, who for so many years regarded him +politically with the greatest aversion and distrust, have come to think +him the best minister we can have, and to wish him well. + + +[Sidenote: THE CORONATION AT MOSCOW.] + +_September 15th._--Another month has passed away, and still I have +had nothing to record. The coronation at Moscow appears to have gone +off with great _éclat_, and to have been a spectacle of extraordinary +magnificence, the prodigious cost of which betrays no sign of +exhaustion or impoverishment by the late war.[1] We were probably +mistaken, as we were in so many other things, in fancying that the +power and resources of Russia were very greatly impaired, but during +the war, whatever we wished we were ready to believe. + +The state of affairs at home and abroad is curious: abroad there is +uneasiness and uncertainty as to the future, the elements of future +disturbances being in a sort of abeyance; at home the fever and +excitement which prevailed during the war having been succeeded by a +torpor and an apathy such as I never remember to have seen before. All +party politics seem to be extinct, the country cares about nobody, +desires no changes, and only wishes to go on and prosper. There is not +a public man to whom public opinion turns, and no great questions are +afloat to agitate and divide the country, or around the standards of +which different opinions, principles, or passions can flock. Palmerston +may remain minister as long as he lives, if he does not commit any +gross faults either of commission or of omission, or unless something +may occur, which nobody can foresee or imagine, to rouse the nation +from its apathy. + +Footnote 1: [The Emperor Alexander II. of Russia was crowned with great +pomp in Moscow on September 7; the ceremony was attended by special +ambassadors from all the great Powers; Lord Granville, accompanied by +Lady Granville and a brilliant suite, was the representative of Great +Britain on this occasion.] + + +_September 21st._--The old Crimean correspondent of the 'Times' has +despatched a very interesting and graphic account of the coronation +at Moscow, and Granville writes word that whereas he had estimated +the cost of it at a million sterling, he was now led to believe it +would be not much less than three. The coronation of George IV. cost +240,000_l._, which was considered an enormous sum and a monstrous +extravagance. Our two last coronations cost from 30,000_l._ to +50,000_l._ + +The quarrel with the King of Naples appears to be coming to a crisis, +and though it will not produce any serious consequences now, the +precedent of interference we are establishing may have very important +ones at some future time, and though philanthropy may make us rejoice +at some coercion being applied to put an end to such a cruel and +oppressive government as that of King Bomba (as they call Ferdinand), +it may be doubted whether it would not be sounder policy to abstain +from interference with what only indirectly and remotely concerns us, +and from enforcing a better and more humane system of government in a +country where the people do not seem to care much about its tyranny and +inhumanity. And then there is the great objection of dictating to and +interfering with weak governments while we do not venture to deal in +the same way with the equally flagrant abominations of stronger ones, +to say nothing of a host of difficulties and objections which suggest +themselves as possible, if not probable, results of our interference. +It will afford to other Powers an excuse if not a right to interfere +in like manner, whenever they require a pretext, and they consider it +their interest to do so; and if such cases occur, the peace of the +world will be largely endangered. As it is, I strongly suspect (for I +know nothing) that the agreement on the Neapolitan question between +France and ourselves is by no means cordial and complete. Mrs. Craven +writes me word she has been in a house in the country with Walewski, +who talked very openly (and no doubt imprudently) to her, telling her +that Palmerston was very difficult to go on with. I know not what +Palmerston has been doing, nor what his present policy may be, but I +thought he had either abandoned or greatly modified that old policy +of meddling and bullying to which he used to be so addicted, and at +all events that while the foreign policy of England is directed by +Clarendon, we should abstain from anything very arbitrary and violent. +It is, however, whispered that Walewski is no longer in the good graces +of the Emperor, and what I heard long ago about Her Majesty's opinion +of him renders it not unlikely. + + +_September 23rd._--All the little I hear tends to confirm the notion +that there is an antagonism growing up between French and English +policy, and that France and Russia are becoming more and more intimate +every day. The points of the Treaty on which there are still some +differences, and on which we appear to be making a great fuss, the +French seem to care very little about, perhaps being rather disposed +to side with Russia. These differences are very inconsiderable in +themselves, but if they lead to coolness and estrangement between us +and the French, and to an alliance between France and Russia, they may +hereafter be very important. + +Nothing can be more perplexed and unintelligible (at least to those who +are not behind the curtain) than the international relations of the +Great Powers and of their dispositions towards the smaller ones, and in +such a chaos no little tact, discretion, and firmness are required to +shape our foreign policy. + + +[Sidenote: M. GUIZOT ON DEMOCRACY IN ENGLAND.] + +_September 25th._--The void which the march of events fails to fill up +cannot be better occupied than by the following extract from Guizot's +notice on Sir Robert Peel in the _'Revue des Deux-Mondes'_ (1856). He +is speaking of democracy in England:--_'M. de Talleyrand disait dans la +Chambre des Pairs, il y a quelqu'un qui a plus d'esprit que Napoléon +ou que Voltaire, c'est tout le monde. On peut dire aujourd'hui même à +propos de L'Angleterre il y a quelqu'un qui a plus de pouvoir que la +couronne, plus de pouvoir que l'aristocratie, c'est tout le monde, et +tout le monde c'est la démocratie. Où commence-t-elle? où finit-elle? +à quels signes visibles se distingue-t-elle des autres éléments de la +société? Personne ne pourrait le dire, mais peu importe: pour être +difficile à définir, le fait n'en est ni moins certain, ni moins +puissant, les éléments les plus divers entrent dans la composition +de la démocratie moderne, des classes riches et des classes pauvres, +des classes savantes et des classes ignorantes, des maîtres et des +ouvriers, des conservateurs et des novateurs, des amis du pouvoir et +des enthousiastes de liberté, bien des aristocrates mêmes, détachés +de leur origine par leurs moeurs, par leur aversion des gênes et des +devoirs que l'aristocratie impose. Et la position de la démocratie +anglaise n'est pas moins changée que sa composition; elle ne se borne +pas comme jadis à défendre au besoin ses libertés, elle regarde les +affaires publiques comme les siennes, surveille assidûment ceux qui les +font, et si elle ne gouverne pas l'état, elle domine le gouvernement.'_ +All this seems to me perfectly true, and the best definition of the +English democracy, its nature, and its position that could possibly +be given, and that the nature of things admits of. Guizot evidently +saw clearly a truth which might be elaborated into a very interesting +essay, and which has often suggested itself to me, namely, that without +any violence or ostensible disturbances or any change in external +forms, this country has undergone as great a revolution as France +itself, or any of the continental nations which have been torn to +pieces by civil discords and contests. If we compare the condition of +England at any two not very distant periods, and the manner in which +power and influence have been distributed at one and at the other, this +will be very apparent, and nobody can doubt that this process is still +going on. We are, as Guizot says, _'dans une époque de transition ... +sous l'empire des principes et des sentiments encore confus, perplexes +et obscurs, mais essentiellement démocratiques, qui fermentent en +Europe depuis quinze siècles et y remportent de nos jours des victoires +dont personne ne saurait dire encore quel sera le vrai et dernier +résultat.'_ + + +[Sidenote: THE QUARREL WITH NAPLES.] + +_October 3rd._--There appears to be a general feeling of uneasiness, +almost of alarm, as if something was impending to disturb the peace of +the world and interrupt the prosperity of nations, though nobody can +very well tell what it is they dread. The apprehension is vague, but +it is general. The only political question of any consequence in which +we are concerned is that of Naples, and some fancy that the Russian +manifesto prognosticates a renewal of the contest with that Empire. I +have no such idea, but I am quite unable to comprehend what it is the +different Powers are about; there is a general impression, probably +not unfounded, that France and Russia are meditating a close alliance, +and if this be the truth, it is not likely that Russia should have put +forth a State paper offensive to France. It is by no means impossible +that Gortschakoff may have ascertained that the declaration of his +Emperor's opinion would not be distasteful to the Emperor Napoleon, who +probably does not enter _con amore_ into this contest with Naples and +merely does it to please us.[1] + +When Baudin took leave of him at Paris the other day on his going +to Russia, he said to him, 'Is it your Majesty's wish that I should +cultivate the most friendly relations with the English Ministers at +Moscow and Petersburg?' to which the Emperor replied 'Certainly,' and +_'L'Angleterre avant tout.'_ In this there can be little doubt of his +personal sincerity, but probably his personal disposition and the +policy of his Government and the sentiments of the French people do not +altogether coincide, and this places him in a somewhat false position, +and will most likely lead to apparent vacillation and inconsistency in +his conduct. + +Madame de Lieven writes to me that the Neapolitan Minister at Paris +affirms that his King will not give way at the dictation of the allied +Powers. We do not, however, as yet know what it is that is required of +him. If it be true that he should govern his people more mildly and +liberally, nothing can be more vague, and our greatest difficulties +would begin when we had extorted from him promises and engagements to +act according to _our_ notions of justice and humanity. He would be +more than mortal if he was disposed honestly to act up to engagements +and promises extorted from him by fear, and it would be impossible +for us to superintend and secure their due performance without taking +upon ourselves virtually the government of his kingdom and superseding +the King's authority. We never should get France to concur in this, +and on the whole it appears more probable that differences will arise +in the course of this joint action between us and France than that we +should succeed in ameliorating the condition of Naples. I fear the +rage for interfering in the internal affairs of other countries will +never be extinguished here. I see in the papers to-day an address to +Clarendon from the Protestant Society, requesting he will interpose +with the Spanish Government in favour of some Spanish subject who has +got into trouble in consequence of having turned Protestant, and being +engaged in diffusing the Scriptures, and trying to convert others to +Protestantism, which is an offence against the laws of Spain. + +Footnote 1: [The British and French Governments had on more than +one occasion remonstrated with the King of Naples on the cruel and +arbitrary policy of his Government, which led eventually to his own +destruction; but the King received these remonstrances very ill, and on +October 28 the differences between these Courts had become so serious +that the British and French Ministers were withdrawn from Naples, and +a naval squadron appeared off the city. The Russian Government at this +time issued a circular despatch complaining of these proceedings of the +Western Powers, and denying their right to interfere for the purpose of +extorting concessions from the King of Naples to his own subjects.] + + +_October 7th._--I have seen Clarendon and asked him about the affair +of Naples. He was not very communicative, and I suspect he is not very +easy about the course we are pursuing and the part he has to play. He +first said that it was impossible for us to tolerate the conduct of the +King to us, and the impertinence of his note. I asked what it was he +said; Clarendon replied it amounted to this, 'Mind your own business.' +Then he alluded to the atrocities of the Government, which ought not to +be endured; that no man was safe for a minute, or could tell when he +went to bed at night that he might not be arrested in the morning, all +which was done by the King's personal orders; that there was continual +danger of an outbreak or insurrection, particularly of a Muratist +revolution. I told him my opinion of the very questionable policy +of interference, either as a matter of right or of expediency, and +nothing could be more lame than the case he made out. He said the ships +were not to act any hostile part, or to coerce the King, which makes +the case worse in my opinion. It is doing neither one thing nor the +other, violating a sound principle, and incurring great future risks +without any present object, or effecting any good, or benefiting the +people in whom we take an interest. He says the Emperor Napoleon has +a great horror of a Muratist movement, the Prince Murat, his cousin, +being a most worthless blackguard; but his son, who married Berthier's +granddaughter and heiress, is a young man full of merit of every sort. + + +[Sidenote: RUSSIAN INTRIGUE WITH FRANCE.] + +_London, October 10th._--I met Clarendon again at the Travellers', and +had some conversation with him, but was interrupted by Azeglio, or I +might probably have learnt more about the present state of affairs. He +told me that we had been squabbling with the French Government, and +that the persevering attempts of Russia to disturb the harmony between +us and them had not been unsuccessful. Nothing in the way of cajolery +had been omitted at Moscow to captivate the French, while on one +occasion the Emperor had been so uncivil that Granville felt himself +obliged to go to Gortschakoff and make a formal complaint, which was +met by all sorts of assurances and protestations in order to mollify +him, and after this everything went on smoothly. It is a curious state +of things, for as far as I can make it out, the policy of the French +Government appears to be to become intimate with Russia and to be cool +with us; but all the time the Emperor (who is the Government) shrinks +from anything like a breach with England, and clings to the intimacy +established between the two Courts, and has a profound respect for the +Queen and value for her good opinion. I asked him how he reconciled the +offensive Circular of Gortschakoff with the anxiety of Russia to please +France, when he said that he had no doubt they had told the French that +it was aimed exclusively at _us_, and had come to an understanding with +Morny about it, so that France was not to take offence at it. We are +now, he said, on the best terms with Austria, and Austria on the worst +with Russia. Russia knows that the article of the treaty compelling +her to surrender a part of Bessarabia was the work of Austria, and +this was an injury and an insult (for she had never before disgorged +territory) which she never would forgive. The Russian Circular would +have the effect of complicating the Neapolitan question, as it made the +King more resolved not to yield to the demands of the two Powers. He +told me that Palmerston had resolved to take up in earnest the question +of Law Reform next year, and that he (Clarendon) had strongly urged +him to do so as the best way of procuring both strength and credit +for his Government; that Palmerston had readily come into it, and was +resolved to carry out those measures which have so long been under +discussion, and which for various reasons have hitherto failed of their +accomplishment. + + +_November 10th._--I went to The Grove on Saturday and had a good deal +of comfortable talk with Clarendon about foreign affairs, especially +the Bolgrad question and Naples. He described the former very clearly, +and satisfied me that we are entirely in the right. It was settled, +he said, at Paris mainly between him and Orloff. He drew the line on +the map as the boundary had been agreed upon, and as he was doing so, +Orloff said, 'I wish you would draw it a little more to the south; it +will make no sort of difference to you, and by this means it includes +within our line a strip of territory which the Emperor wishes to retain +because it forms a part of a military colony which he is anxious to +keep intact;' and Clarendon agreed to draw the line accordingly and to +accomplish the Emperor's wishes. They have since attempted to quibble +about another Bolgrad which was not even marked at all on their map, +and it turns out that the story of the military colony was a mere +pretence, as they have themselves given that up without making any +difficulty. The state of the case and the difference which has since +arisen with Russia and with France is this: the Emperor Napoleon, who +is very indolent and abhors the trouble of examining details, and +consequently remains often ignorant of what it behoves him to know, +suffered himself to be bamboozled by Brunnow and misled by Walewski +into giving his assent to the Russian interpretation of the boundary +line, and to giving a promise of his support in the controversy. +Recently at Compiègne Cowley, in a long audience, went through the +whole question with him and minutely explained the case against Russia. +The Emperor said he had never really understood it before, acknowledged +that our case was good, regretted that he had committed himself, but +said that having pledged his word he did not know how to break that +pledge and to withdraw the support he had promised to give to Russia in +the dispute, and this is the fix in which the question now is. While +the foolish and ignorant newspapers here (except the 'Times') are +endeavouring to separate the Emperor from his ministers, and to make +out that he is one with our Government, and that the difficulties and +obstructions proceed from other parties, the truth is that they now +proceed entirely from himself, worked upon and deceived certainly by +Russian agents and pro-Russian ministers; but if he really was in the +disposition which our press attributes to him, he might break through +such obligations as he suffered himself to be entangled in and settle +the question at once; nor is it very easy to see why he does not, for +there is good reason to believe he is sincerely desirous of remaining +on good terms with us. I asked Clarendon why the question could not be +again referred to a Conference of the Powers parties to the Treaty, +and he said we could not consent to this, because we should be in +a minority, for Sardinia, partly cajoled by Russia and partly from +antipathy to Austria, would go against us. + +[Sidenote: DISMISSAL OF NEAPOLITAN MINISTER.] + +I asked him about Naples, of which affair he could give but a very +unsatisfactory account and a lame story. He said France had acted +with us very steadily, but that it was she who had started this hare, +and he had engaged in it in the belief that the Emperor would never +have mooted the question unless he had been assured that the King +of Naples would yield to the remonstrances of the two Courts, and +but for that conviction he would never have meddled in it, which he +now very much regretted. He had given Carini notice to quit, and at +their parting interview he had entreated him to persuade the King if +possible to change his system, and, now that he was relieved from all +interference, menace, or coercion, and his dignity could not suffer, +to give satisfaction to all Europe by putting an end to the inhuman +and impolitic system, which had occasioned our interference and had +drawn upon him remonstrances and advice from every Sovereign in Europe. +Very good advice, and I hope it may be followed, but it is a lame and +impotent conclusion to the menacing demonstrations with which we began +to quarrel. Clarendon talked of the various atrocities of the King of +Naples, but with an evident consciousness that the fact, even if it be +true, and not, as is probable, exaggerated, affords no excuse for our +policy in the matter. As the subject could not be agreeable I did not +press it, and abstained from telling him how general the opinion is +that he has committed a great blunder. He will probably hear enough of +it before the chapter is closed; even Granville, who never says much, +said to me yesterday that 'it was a very foolish affair.' + +Clarendon talked to me of Palmerston, and told me (what I think I had +heard, and have very likely noted before) that on Aberdeen's fall +Palmerston was quite ready to join Derby when Derby tried to form a +Government, and that it was Clarendon's refusal which frustrated that +attempt. Palmerston endeavoured to persuade Clarendon to join, but when +Clarendon put to him all the reasons why they had both of them better +refuse, Palmerston saw them all very clearly, and rather imprudently +said on leaving him, 'We are _both_ agreed that it will not do to have +anything to do with Derby and his Government.' When Clarendon went to +the Queen and explained his own conduct to her, and she expressed to +him the embarrassment which she felt, and asked him what she could do, +he at once said, 'Send for Lord Palmerston, who is the only man, in +the present temper of the people and state of affairs, who can form a +Government that has a chance of standing. Send for him at once, place +yourself entirely in his hands, give him your entire confidence, and I +will answer for his conduct being all that you can desire.' The Queen +took the advice, and has had no reason to repent of it, and Clarendon +told me he had done everything in his power, and seized every available +opportunity to reconcile them to each other, to promote a good feeling +and understanding, and to soften any little asperities which might +have made their intercourse less smooth, and the consequence is that +Palmerston gets on with her very well, and his good sense as well as +Clarendon's exhortations make him see of what importance it is to him +for the easy working of his Government and his own ease to be on good +and cordial terms with the Queen. It is therefore really to Clarendon +that Palmerston is indebted in great measure, if not entirely, for +being in his present position, but Clarendon has too much tact ever to +remind him of it, or of what he was himself inclined to do in 1855. + + +[Sidenote: LEGAL APPOINTMENTS.] + +_November 19th._--The death of Jervis made the office of Chief Justice +of Common Pleas vacant.[1] According to established (but as I think +bad) usage, the Attorney-General, Cockburn, had a right to take the +place, and for the last fortnight nothing occupied public attention +more than the question whether he would take it or not. He was much +averse to take it, but everybody pressed him to accept it, and after +much hesitation and consultation he agreed to be Chief Justice, and +now it is said he regrets his determination and thinks he has made a +mistake. He gives up Parliament, for which he is well adapted, where +he acts a conspicuous part, being a capital speaker, and which he +likes, and feels that it is his element. He gives up the highest place +at the bar, where he is a successful advocate, and makes 15,000_l._ +or 16,000_l._ a year, and he sees that he shall be obliged to give up +in great measure his loose habits and assume more decorous behaviour, +which will be a great sacrifice to him, and he becomes a judge with +6,000_l._ a year for life, not being a good lawyer, and conscious +that he will be inferior to his colleagues and to the Puisne Judge in +his own court. As soon as he had consented to the promotion a fresh +difficulty presented itself as to the office of Solicitor-General, for +such is the penury of legal ability at this time that Westminster Hall +cannot furnish any men of unquestionable fitness for the office, and +the difficulty is increased by the choice being necessarily restricted +to men holding the opinions of the present Government, and being able +to command a seat in Parliament. They have offered the place to the +Recorder, James Wortley, but up to this moment I know not if it has +been accepted.[2] + +Footnote 1: [Right Hon. Sir John Jervis, Chief Justice of the Common +Pleas, died on November 1, 1856, at the age of fifty-four.] + +Footnote 2: [Right Hon. James Stuart Wortley, a younger son of Lord +Wharncliffe, who then filled the office of Recorder of London, which he +surrendered for that of Solicitor-General.] + + +_November 23rd._--After long delay and apparently much hesitation James +Wortley has accepted the Solicitor-Generalship. He consulted Gladstone +and Sidney Herbert, neither of them very eligible advisers on such a +question. Gladstone is said to have replied that he would run a great +risk as to his pecuniary interests, but if he could support the foreign +policy of the Government, there was no reason why he should not accept. +He retains his rank of Privy Councillor, of which I doubt the fitness, +as it places him at all events in a very anomalous position, for the +law officers are the official advisers of the Privy Council and are +often called upon to sit there as assessors. However, the Judges are +said to have pronounced an opinion that there is no reason why he +should not plead in any of the courts. It is said, and I believe truly, +that now Cockburn has taken the irretrievable step he is very sorry for +it, and is more struck by the necessary consequences of his promotion +than he was at first. He has all his life been a very debauched fellow, +but he is clever, good-natured, and of a liberal disposition and much +liked by his friends. A story is told of him that he was in the habit +of going down on Sundays to Richmond or elsewhere with a woman, and +generally with a different one, and the landlady of the inn he went to +remembered that Sir A. Cockburn always brought Lady Cockburn with him, +but that she never saw any woman who looked so different on different +days, and this gave rise to another story. When Lord Campbell went +to some such place with Lady Stratheden (who had been raised to the +peerage before her husband), the mistress of the house said that Sir A. +Cockburn always brought _Lady Cockburn_ with him, but that the Chief +Justice brought another lady and not _Lady Campbell_. + +While we have meetings perpetually held and innumerable writings put +forth to promote education and raise the moral standard of the people, +we are horrified and alarmed day after day by accounts of the most +frightful murders, colossal frauds, and crimes of every description. +War has ceased, though the Temple of Janus seems only to be ajar; but +the world is still in commotion, in alarm, and visited by every sort of +calamity, moral and material, in the midst of which it is difficult to +discover any signs of the improvement of the human race, even of those +portions of it which are supposed to be the most civilised and the most +progressive. + + +[Sidenote: A DIPLOMATIC IMBROGLIO.] + +_December 7th._--At Wrotham and at Ossington last week. The news of the +day is that we are to have another 'Conference' at Paris, to settle the +Bolgrad affair, our Government having given way to what Clarendon told +me he certainly would not consent; but we had managed to get matters +into such a fix, and it was so necessary to extricate all the several +parties from the embarrassed positions in which they were placed by +their own or by each other's faults, that no alternative remained. +This arrangement, which is not very consistent with Palmerston's +recent declarations at Manchester and in London, is proclaimed by the +Government papers, and generally understood to be a means of enabling +Russia to concede our demands with as little loss of dignity and credit +as possible, and to terminate the difference between us and France by +our making an apparent concession to France, while she makes a real +one to us. Everything has evidently been carefully arranged for the +playing out of this diplomatic farce, and Cowley, who is to be our +sole representative, is to be accommodating and not quarrelsome; but +_reste à savoir_ whether the manoeuvres of some of the others may not +provoke his temper and bring about angry collisions. Between this +matter and the _bévue_ we have made of our Neapolitan interference, +never was there such a deplorable exhibition as our foreign policy +displays; but nobody seems to care much about it, and though there +will in all probability be a good deal of sparring, and taunts and +sneers in Parliament, Palmerston's Government will incur no danger +of any adverse vote, for everybody is conscious that in the actual +state of parties and the dearth of parliamentary leaders, every man of +sufficient ability being disqualified for one reason or another, no +man but Palmerston can conduct a Government or command a majority in +Parliament; nor does there appear in the distance any man likely to +be able to fill his place in the event of his death or his breaking +down, events which must be contemplated as not very remote when he +is seventy-three years old, although his wonderful constitution and +superhuman vigour of mind and body make everybody forget his age and +regard the possibility of his demise with the sort of incredulity which +made the courtier of Louis XIV. exclaim on the death of that monarch, +_'Après la mort du Roi on peut tout croire.'_ + +Great astonishment has been excited by the appointment of a Mr. +Bickersteth as Bishop of Ripon, against whom nothing can be said, nor +anything for him, except that he is a very Low Churchman. All the +vacant sees have now been filled with clergymen of this colour, which +is not very fair or prudent, as it will exasperate the moderate High +Churchmen and set them strongly against a Government which appears +determined to shut the door of ecclesiastical preferment against all +but the Lowest Churchmen, and such a policy will most likely have the +effect of encouraging the advocates of those extreme measures of an +anti-Catholic or a puritanical character which always give so much +trouble and embarrassment when they are brought forward in Parliament. + + +_December 12th._--The Conference to which Clarendon told me he would +not agree is going to take place after all, but everybody is ridiculing +what is notoriously a got-up comedy with a foregone conclusion, devised +to solve the difficulty into which all the great actors had got +themselves, but it is not yet quite clear what the _modus operandi_ is +to be. From what I have picked up here and there I gather that Sardinia +is to be induced to give a casting vote against Russia, leaving France +still at liberty to fulfil her original engagement and vote with her, +while we obtain the object for which we have stood out, and by such a +_dodge_ to bring the dispute to an end. When Parliament meets there +will be plenty to be said about this affair and about Naples, and no +doubt the Opposition or the malcontents will be able to bombard the +Government and vent their spleen, but that will be all, for Palmerston +is perfectly invulnerable and may commit any blunders with impunity. + +[Sidenote: LEADERSHIP OF THE OPPOSITION.] + +A report has been lately current that Gladstone will become the leader +of the Opposition _vice_ Disraeli, a report I thought quite wild and +improbable, but I heard the other day something which looks as if it +was not so much out of the question as I had imagined. George Byng told +me he had met Sir William Jolliffe, who is the Derbyite whipper-in, at +Wrotham, and having asked him whether there was any foundation for the +above report, he replied that it certainly was not true at present, +that he could not say what might or might not happen hereafter, but +that he could not at once be accepted as _leader_, and must in any +case first serve in the ranks. I do not know what may be the value of +Jolliffe's opinions, or what he knows of the intentions of his chief, +but he may probably be more or less acquainted with the sentiments of +his party, and may be aware that their necessities have modified their +extreme repugnance to Gladstone, and that they may now be willing +to accept him as leader (eventually), though two years ago they so +peremptorily insisted on his entire exclusion from their political +society. Meanwhile there is no combination amongst them. Derby is at +Knowsley amusing himself, and Disraeli at Paris, doing nobody knows +what. + +There is talk of Lord Granville's resigning the lead and his office +and going to Ireland instead of Carlisle, or to Paris instead of +Cowley, but he has never intimated the least intention of doing either. +Ireland he certainly will not go to; Paris is not so impossible. +There seems some doubt whether his health will admit of his going on +in the House of Lords, and if they knew how to get Cowley away from +Paris without doing him an injustice or an unkindness, I think they +would not be sorry, for his position there is unsatisfactory. It is +a serious inconvenience to be on such terms with Walewski that they +never converse at all except when business obliges them to meet, and +the consequence of their relations is that all affairs between the two +countries are carried on between Clarendon and Persigny in London, +and as little as possible at Paris, because the Emperor now fights +rather shy of Cowley, and is by no means on the same terms with him +as heretofore, though always very civil and cordial enough when they +meet; and His Majesty will not part with Walewski, who, although of +a moderate capacity, is clever enough to know how to deal with his +master, and make himself agreeable to him, and the Emperor knows +that if he were to change his Minister for Foreign Affairs, it would +be attributed to the influence of England and be on that account +unpopular. The English press has rendered Walewski the incalculable +service of making him popular in France, and rendering it impossible +for the Emperor to dismiss him, even if he had a mind to do so, which +he has not. + + +[Sidenote: DICTATORIAL POLICY TO BRAZIL.] + +_December 17th._--There was an article in the 'Times' the day before +yesterday commenting in severe terms upon a transaction of our Foreign +Office, as set forth in a Blue Book, in relation to Brazil. It was +the old subject of the slave trade, and the old method of arrogant +overbearing meddling and dictation, a case as odious and unjust as any +one of those by which Palmerston's foreign administration has ever been +disgraced. I really no longer recognise my old friend Clarendon, in +whose good sense and moderation I used to place implicit confidence, +and believed that he would inaugurate a system at the Foreign Office +very different from that of Palmerston, and which would tend to relieve +us from the excessive odium and universal unpopularity which Palmerston +had drawn upon us. It appears that I was mistaken. I told Granville +yesterday morning what I thought of this case, and asked him if it was +correctly stated. He said he regarded it just as I did, and that it was +quite true, every word of it. I then expressed my astonishment that +Clarendon should have acted in this way, and he replied, 'The fault of +Clarendon is that he is always thinking of the effect to be produced +by Blue Books, and he looks after popularity, and is influenced by +those he acts with. Under Aberdeen he was very moderate, but he saw +that the moderation of Aberdeen made him unpopular, while Palmerston's +popularity in great measure arose from his very different manner +towards other Powers, so when Palmerston became Prime Minister instead +of Aberdeen, he fell readily into the Palmerstonian method.' I dare say +this is the truth, and besides the contagion of Palmerston himself, he +is surrounded by men at the Foreign Office who are prodigious admirers +of Palmerston and of his slashing ways, and who no doubt constantly +urge Clarendon to adopt a similar style. All this is to me matter of +great regret personally, and it is revolting as to good taste, and, as +I believe, to our national interests. It is, however, a consolation +to see that the most powerful and influential of our journals has the +courage, independence, and good sense to protest publicly against such +violent and unjustifiable proceedings. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +State of England after the War--Prussia and Neufchâtel--Sir Robert +Peel's Account of the Russian Coronation--An Historical Puzzle--The +Death of Princess Lieven--Mr. Spurgeon's Preaching--Mr. Gladstone +in Opposition--Tit for Tat--Difficult Relations with France--Lord +John in Opposition--The Liddell _v._ Westerton Case--Death of +Lord Ellesmere--Violent Opposition to the Government on the +China Question--Languid Defence of the Government--Impending +Dissolution--Popularity of Lord Palmerston--Despotism of +Ministers--Parliament dissolved--Judgement on Liddell _v._ +Westerton--Lord Palmerston's Address--The Elections--Defeat of the +Manchester Leaders--Fear of Radical Tendencies--The Country approves +the Chinese Policy--Death of Lady Keith. + + +_January 9th, 1857._--The old year ended and the new year began +strangely. After three years of expensive war the balance-sheet +exhibited such a state of wealth and prosperity as may well make us +'the envy of surrounding nations;' but while we have recovered the +great blessing of peace, we have to look back upon a year stained +beyond all precedent with frightful crimes of every sort and kind: +horrible murders, enormous frauds, and scandalous robberies and +defalcations. The whole attention of the country is now drawn to the +social questions which press upon us with appalling urgency, and +the next session of Parliament, which is rapidly advancing, must be +principally engaged in the endeavour to find remedies for the evils +and dangers incident to our corrupted population, and our erroneous +and inadequate penal system, the evils and dangers of which threaten +to become greater and more difficult to remedy every day. From this +question it is impossible to dissever that of education, for at least +we ought to make the experiment whether the diffusion of education will +or will not be conducive to the diminution of crime, and we shall see +whether the sectarian prejudices, the strength and obstinacy of which +have hitherto erected impassable barriers to the progress of educating +the people, will retain all their obstinacy in the face of the existing +evil, or whether the bodily fear and the universal persuasion of the +magnitude and imminence of the danger will not operate upon bigotry +itself and render the masses more reasonable. Besides these important +questions the new year opens with a most unpleasant prospect abroad, +where everything seems to go wrong and our foreign relations, be the +cause what, or the fault whose it may, to be in a very unhappy state. + +[Sidenote: PRUSSIA AND NEUFCHATEL.] + +The quarrel between Prussia and Switzerland[1] is one in which we +appear to have no immediate interest, except that it is always our +interest to prevent any infraction of the general peace, but of course +we could not think of not interfering in some way or other in the +matter. The King of Prussia has behaved as ill and as foolishly as +possible, and our Government entirely disapprove of his conduct and +have given the Swiss to understand that all our sympathies are with +them, and that we think they have right on their side. If France +and England were now on really good terms, and would act together +with cordiality and authority, nothing would be so easy as to put a +prompt extinguisher on the Swiss affair; but as we cannot agree upon +a common course of action, there is danger of the dispute drifting +into a war, though it is evidently so much the interest and the desire +of the Emperor Napoleon to allow no shots to be fired, that I still +expect, even at this almost the eleventh hour, to be in a complete +fix. The Swiss will not release the prisoners unless the King will at +the same time abandon his claims on Neufchâtel, or unless England and +France will guarantee that he will do so. The King will do nothing and +agree to nothing unless the Swiss will previously and unconditionally +release the prisoners, and moreover he repudiates our intervention, +as he thinks us unfairly disposed to himself. The simplest course +would be for England and France to declare that a Prussian invasion of +Switzerland should be a _casus belli_, and I think we should have no +objection to this, but France won't go along with us. Then if the Swiss +should deliver over the prisoners to France, and she would accept the +_depôt_, all might be settled. As it is, we have backed up Switzerland +to resist, and if war ensues we shall leave her to her fate--a very +inglorious course to pursue; and although I have a horror of war, and +am alive to the policy of keeping well with France, I am inclined to +think that having encouraged the Swiss to a certain point it would +better become us to take our own independent line and to threaten +Prussia with war if she does not leave Switzerland alone, than to sit +tamely by and see her, unimpeded, execute her threats. The Government +are evidently much embarrassed by this question, which is still further +complicated by the matrimonial engagement between the two Royal +families. + +Footnote 1: [The Prussian Crown retained, by the Treaty of Vienna, +rights of sovereignty over the Swiss Canton of Neufchâtel, and +appointed a Governor there. In other respects the Neufchâtelese enjoyed +all the rights and liberties of Swiss citizens. This anomalous state +of things naturally gave rise to friction. The King of Prussia derived +no sort of advantage from his nominal sovereignty; but as a matter of +dignity he declined to renounce it, and even threatened a military +occupation of the Canton, which the Swiss Confederation would have +resisted.] + + +_January 13th._--The Swiss affair seems settled, so far at least that +there will be no war. The prisoners will be released, but I dare +say the King of Prussia will _chicaner_ about the abdication of his +rights over Neufchâtel. All the world is occupied with Sir Robert +Peel's speech, or lecture as he terms it, at Birmingham, where he +gave an account, meant to be witty, of his _séjour_ in Russia and its +incidents. It was received with shouts of applause by a congenial +Brummagem audience, and by deep disapprobation in every decent society +and by all reasonable people. + + +_January 14th._--I met Clarendon last night, who told me the Swiss +question was still in doubt, for the King was shuffling and would +probably play them a trick, and though he knew the prisoners were going +to be liberated, he would not engage positively to give up his claim. +The Emperor Napoleon has behaved very ill and ungratefully to the +Swiss, who in consequence were more irritated against him than against +the King of Prussia himself. Nothing could equal the fawning flattery +and servility of the King to the Emperor, who was at the same time +tickled by it and disgusted. + + +[Sidenote: LORD ABERDEEN AND LORD JOHN RUSSELL.] + +_January 20th._--At Woburn for two days. I found the Duke entirely +occupied with a question (on which he had of course a various +correspondence), whether when Aberdeen's Government was formed, +Aberdeen had _at the time_ imparted to John Russell his wish and +intention to retire as soon as possible, so that John might take his +place as Premier. To ascertain this fact, he had applied to Lord John +and Aberdeen, to Lansdowne and to Clarendon, all of whom he invited +to send him their recollections and impressions, which they did. The +matter now is not of much importance, but is worth noticing from +the evidence it affords of the difficulty of arriving at truth, and +therefore of the fallibility of all history. Though this circumstance +is so recent, and at the time was so important, not one of the parties, +neither Lord John nor Aberdeen nor the other two, can recollect what +did pass, but as they all concur in their impressions that no such +engagement was given when the Government was formed, it may safely be +concluded that this is the truth. I know I heard all that passed, and +certainly I never heard of any such intention, though I did hear some +time afterwards that such had been Aberdeen's expressed wish and Lord +John's expectation. I read Aberdeen's letters, in which he entered +into other matters connected with his Government, and I must say more +creditable, gentlemanlike, and amiable letters I never read. + + +_January 28th._--At Stoke from Saturday to Monday. On returning to +town, we heard that the Persian war was over, Palmerston's usual luck +bringing a settlement of the only question that could be embarrassing +on the eve of the meeting of Parliament. But the news only comes +telegraphically, so unless confirmed must be doubtful, and cannot be +named in the Speech.[1] + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF PRINCESS LIEVEN.] + +Two remarkable deaths have occurred, one of which touches me nearly, +that of Madame de Lieven; the other is that of the Duke of Rutland. +Madame de Lieven died, after a short illness, of a severe attack of +bronchitis, the Duke having lingered for many months. Very different +characters. Madame de Lieven came to this country at the end of 1812 or +beginning of 1813 on the war breaking out between Russia and France. +Pozzo di Borgo had preceded the Lievens to renew diplomatic relations +and make arrangements with us. She was at that time young, at least +in the prime of life, and though without any pretensions to beauty, +and indeed with some personal defects, she had so fine an air and +manner, and a countenance so pretty and so full of intelligence, as to +be on the whole a very striking and attractive person, quite enough +so to have lovers, several of whom she engaged in succession without +seriously attaching herself to any. Those who were most notoriously her +slaves at different times were the present Lord Willoughby, the Duke of +Sutherland (then Lord Gower), the Duke of Cannizzaro (then Count St. +Antonio), and the Duke of Palmella, who was particularly clever and +agreeable. Madame de Lieven was a _très grande dame_, with abilities +of a very fine order, great tact and _finesse_, and taking a boundless +pleasure in the society of the great world and in political affairs of +every sort. People here were not slow to acknowledge her merits and +social excellence, and she almost immediately took her place in the +cream of the cream of English society, forming close intimacies with +the most conspicuous women in it, and assiduously cultivating relations +with the most remarkable men of all parties. These personal _liaisons_ +sometimes led her into political partisanship not always prudent and +rather inconsistent with her position, character, and functions here. +But I do not believe she was ever mixed up in any intrigues, nor even, +at a later period, that she was justly obnoxious to the charge of +caballing and mischief-making which has been so lavishly cast upon her. +She had an insatiable curiosity for political information, and a not +unnatural desire to make herself useful and agreeable to her own Court +by imparting to her Imperial masters and mistresses all the information +she acquired and the anecdotes she picked up. Accordingly while she +was in England, which was from 1812 to 1834, she devoted herself to +society, not without selection, but without exclusion, except that +she sought and habitually confined herself to the highest and best. +The Regent, afterwards George IV., delighted in her company, and she +was a frequent guest at the Pavilion, and on very intimate terms with +Lady Conyngham, for although Madame de Lieven was not very tolerant +of mediocrity, and social and colloquial superiority was necessary to +her existence, she always made great allowances for Royalty and those +immediately connected with it. She used to be a great deal at Oatlands, +and was one of the few intimate friends of the Duchess of York, +herself very intelligent, and who therefore had in the eyes of Madame +de Lieven the double charm of her position and her agreeableness. It +was her duty as well as her inclination to cultivate the members of +all the successive Cabinets which passed before her, and she became +the friend of Lord Castlereagh, of Canning, the Duke of Wellington, +Lord Grey, Lord Palmerston, John Russell, Aberdeen, and many others of +inferior note, and she was likewise one of the _habitués_ of Holland +House, which was always more or less neutral ground, even when Lord +Holland was himself a member of the government. When Talleyrand came +over here as Ambassador, there was for some time a sort of antagonism +between the two embassies, and particularly between the ladies of +each, but Madame de Dino (now Duchesse de Sagan) was so clever, and +old Talleyrand himself so remarkable and so agreeable, that Madame de +Lieven was irresistibly drawn towards them, and for the last year or +two of their being in England they became extremely intimate; but her +greatest friend in England was Lady Cowper, afterwards Lady Palmerston, +and through her she was also the friend of Palmerston, who was also +well affected towards Russia, till his jealous and suspicious mind was +inflamed by his absurd notion of her intention to attack us in India, +a crotchet which led us into the folly and disaster of the Afghan war. +In 1834 the Lievens were recalled, and she was established at St. +Petersburg in high favour about the Empress, but her _séjour_ there was +odious to her, and she was inconsolable at leaving England, where after +a residence of above twenty years she had become rooted in habits and +affections, although she never really and completely understood the +country. She remained at St. Petersburg for several months, until her +two youngest children were taken ill, and died almost at the same time. +This dreadful blow, and the danger of the severe climate to her own +health, gave her a valid excuse for desiring leave of absence, and she +left Russia never to return. She went to Italy, where M. de Lieven died +about the year 1836 or 1837, after which she established herself in +Paris, where her salon became the rendezvous of the best society, and +particularly the neutral ground on which eminent men and politicians +of all colours could meet, and where her tact and adroitness made them +congregate in a sort of social truce. + +I do not know at what exact period it was that she made the +acquaintance of M. Guizot, but their intimacy no doubt was established +after he had begun to play a great political part, for his literary and +philosophical celebrity would not alone have had much charm for her. +They were, however, already great friends at the time of his embassy to +England, and she took that opportunity of coming here to pay a visit to +her old friends. The fall of Thiers' Government and Guizot's becoming +Minister for Foreign Affairs of course drew Madame de Lieven still +more closely to him, and during the whole of his administration their +alliance continued to be of the closest and most intimate character. It +was an immense object to her to possess the entire confidence of the +French Minister for Foreign Affairs, who kept her _au courant_ of all +that was going on in the political world, while it is not surprising +that he should be irresistibly attracted by a woman immensely superior +to any other of his acquaintance, who was fully able to comprehend and +willing to interest herself about all the grand and important subjects +which he had to handle and manage, and who associated herself with a +complete sympathy in all his political interests. Their _liaison_, +which some people consider mysterious, but which I believe to have been +entirely social and political, grew constantly more close, and every +moment that Guizot could snatch from the Foreign Office and the Chamber +he devoted to Madame de Lieven. He used to go there regularly three +times a day on his way to and his way from the Chamber, when it was +sitting, and in the evening; but while he was by far her first object, +she cultivated the society of all the most conspicuous and remarkable +people whom she could collect about her, and she was at one time very +intimate with Thiers, though his rivalry with Guizot and their intense +hatred of each other eventually produced a complete estrangement +between her and Thiers. + +[Sidenote: CHARACTER OF PRINCESS LIEVEN.] + +The revolution of 1848 dispersed her friends, broke up her salon, +and terrified her into making a rather ludicrous, but as it turned +out wholly unnecessary, escape. She came to England, where she +remained till affairs appeared to be settled in France and all danger +of disturbance at an end. She then returned to Paris, where she +remained, not without fear and trembling, during the period of peril +and vicissitude which at length ended, much to her satisfaction, +with the _coup d'état_ and the Empire. Guizot had returned to Paris, +but constantly refused to take any part in political affairs, either +under the Republic or with the new government of Louis Napoleon. This, +however, did not prevent Madame de Lieven (though their friendship +continued the same) from showing her sympathy and goodwill to the +Imperial _régime_, and her salon, which had been decimated by previous +events, was soon replenished by some of the ministers or adherents +of the Empire, who, though they did not amalgamate very well with +her old _habitués_, supplied her with interesting information, and +subsequently, when the war broke out, rendered her very essential +service. When the rupture took place all the Russian subjects were +ordered to quit Paris. She was advised by some of her friends to +disobey the order, for as she was equally precluded from going to +England, the circumstances in which this order placed her were +indescribably painful and even dangerous, but she said that however +great the sacrifice, and though she was entirely independent, she was +under so many obligations and felt so much attachment to the Imperial +family that, cost her what it might, she would obey the order, and +accordingly she repaired to Brussels, where for a year and a half or +two years she took up her melancholy and uncomfortable abode. At last +this banishment from her home and her friends, with all the privations +it entailed, became insupportable, and she endeavoured, through the +intervention of some of her Imperialist friends, to obtain leave of the +French Government to return to Paris, either with or without (for it +is not clear which) the consent of her own Court. The Emperor Napoleon +seems to have been easily moved to compassion, and signified his +consent to her return. No sooner did this become known to Cowley and +the English Government than they resolved to interpose for the purpose +of preventing her return to Paris, and Cowley went to Walewski and +insisted that the Emperor's permission should be revoked. The _entente +cordiale_ was then in full force, nothing could be refused to the +English Ambassador, and Madame de Lieven was informed that she must not +come back to Paris. She bore this sad disappointment with resignation, +made no complaints, and resolved to bide her time. Some months later +she caused a representation to be made to the French Government that +the state of her health made it impossible for her to pass another +winter at Brussels, and that she was going to Nice, but as it was of +vital importance to her to consult her medical adviser at Paris, she +craved permission to proceed to Nice _viâ_ Paris, where she would only +stay long enough for that purpose. The permission was granted. She +wrote me word that she was going to Paris to remain there a few days. I +replied that I was much mistaken in her if once there she ever quitted +it again. She arrived and was told by her doctor that it would be +dangerous in her state to continue her journey. She never did proceed +further, and never did quit Paris again. The Government winked at her +stay, and never molested or interfered with her. She resumed her social +habits, but with great caution and reserve, and did all she could to +avoid giving umbrage or exciting suspicion. It was a proof of the +greatness of her mind, as well as of her prudence and good temper, that +she not only testified no resentment at the conduct of Cowley towards +her, but did all she could to renew amicable relations with him, and +few things annoyed her more than his perseverance in keeping aloof +from her. From the time of her last departure from England up to the +death of Frederic Lamb (Lord Beauvale and Melbourne) she maintained a +constant correspondence with him. After his death she proposed to me to +succeed him as her correspondent, and for the last two or three years +our epistolary commerce was intimate and unbroken. She knew a vast deal +of the world and its history during the half century she had lived +and played a part in it, but she was not a woman of much reading, and +probably at no time had been very highly or extremely educated, but her +excessive cleverness and her _finesse d'esprit_ supplied the want of +education, and there was one book with which her mind was perpetually +nourished by reading it over and over again. This was the 'Letters +of Madame de Sévigné,' and to the constant study of those unrivalled +letters she was no doubt considerably indebted for her own epistolary +eminence, and for her admirable style of writing, not, however, that +her style and Madame de Sévigné's were at all alike. She had not (in +her letters at least) the variety, the abundance, or the _abandon_ of +the great Frenchwoman, but she was more terse and epigrammatic, and she +had the same graphic power and faculty of conveying much matter in few +words. + +[Sidenote: PRINCESS LIEVEN.] + +Nothing could exceed the charm of her conversation or her grace, ease, +and tact in society. She had a nice and accurate judgement, and an +exquisite taste in the choice of her associates and friends; but though +taking an ardent pleasure in agreeableness, and peculiarly susceptible +of being bored, she was not fastidious, full of politeness and good +breeding, and possessed the faculty of turning every one to account, +and eliciting something either of entertainment or information from +the least important of her acquaintance. It has been the fashion here, +and the habit of the vulgar and ignorant press, to stigmatise Madame +de Lieven as a mischievous intriguer, who was constantly occupied in +schemes and designs hostile to the interests of our country. I firmly +believe such charges to be utterly unfounded. She had resided for +above twenty years, the happiest of her life, in England, and had +imbibed a deep attachment to the country, where she had formed many +more intimacies and friendships than she possessed anywhere else, and +to the last day of her life she continued to cherish the remembrance +of her past connexion, to cultivate the society of English people, +and to evince without disguise her predilection for their country. +She had never lived much in Russia, her connexion with it had been +completely dissolved, and all she retained of it was a respectful +attachment to the Imperial family, together with certain sympathies +and feelings of loyalty for her native country and her Sovereign +which it would have been unnatural and discreditable to disavow. Her +well-known correspondence with the Imperial Court was only caused by +the natural anxiety of those great persons to be kept _au courant_ of +social and political affairs by such an accomplished correspondent, +but I do not believe she was ever employed by them in any business or +any political design; on the contrary, she was rather distrusted and +out of favour with them, on account of her being so denaturalised and +for her ardent affection for England and the English. Russia was the +country of her birth, France the country of her adopted abode, but +England was the country of her predilection. With this cosmopolite +character she dreaded everything which might produce hostile collision +between any two of these countries. She was greatly annoyed when the +question of the Spanish marriages embittered the relations between +France and England, but infinitely more so at the Turkish quarrel, and +the war which it produced. Those who fulminated against her intrigues +were, as I believe, provoked at the efforts she made, so far as she +had any power or influence, to bring about the restoration of peace, +an unpardonable offence in the eyes of all who were bent on the +continuation of the war. She lived to see peace restored, and closed +her eyes almost at the moment that the last seal was put to it by the +Conference of Paris. Her last illness was sudden and short. Her health +had always been delicate, and she was very nervous about herself; an +attack of bronchitis brought on fever, which rapidly consumed her +strength, and brought her, fully conscious, within sight of death; +that consummation, which at a distance she had always dreaded, she saw +arrive with perfect calmness and resignation, and all the virtues and +qualities for which the smallest credit was given her seem to have +shone forth with unexpected lustre on her deathbed. Her faculties were +bright and unclouded to the last, her courage and presence of mind were +unshaken, she evinced a tender consideration for the feelings of those +who were lamenting around her bed, and she complied with the religious +obligations prescribed by the Church of which she was a member with +a devotion the sincerity of which we have no right to question. She +made her son Paul and Guizot leave her room a few hours before she +died, that they might be spared the agony of witnessing her actual +dissolution, and only three or four hours before the supreme moment, +she mustered strength to write a note in pencil to Guizot with these +words: _'Merci pour vingt années d'amitié et de bonheur. Ne m'oubliez +pas, adieu, adieu!'_ It was given to him after her death. + +Footnote 1: [Differences had arisen in the spring of 1856 between +Great Britain and the Court of Persia, in consequence of which the +British Minister was withdrawn from Teheran. In October 1856 Herat was +attacked and taken by the Persians, which led to war. A detachment of +British troops under General Outram landed at Bushire on January 27, +1857, and the Persians were defeated at Kooshab on February 8. Peace +was signed in Paris between Her Majesty and the Shah on March 4, the +Persians engaging to abstain from all interference in the internal +affairs of Afghanistan, and to respect the independence of Herat. If +these dates are correct, as given in Irving's _Annals of our Time_, the +intelligence of the peace cannot have reached London so soon as Mr. +Greville supposed, and rumour anticipated the event.] + + +[Sidenote: A SERMON BY MR. SPURGEON.] + +_February 8th._--I am just come from hearing the celebrated Mr. +Spurgeon preach in the Music Hall of the Surrey Gardens. It was quite +full; he told us from the pulpit that 9,000 people were present. The +service was like the Presbyterian: Psalms, prayers, expounding a Psalm, +and a sermon. He is certainly very remarkable, and undeniably a very +fine character; not remarkable in person, in face rather resembling +a smaller Macaulay, a very clear and powerful voice, which was heard +through the whole hall; a manner natural, impassioned, and without +affectation or extravagance; wonderful fluency and command of language, +abounding in illustration, and very often of a very familiar kind, +but without anything either ridiculous or irreverent. He gave me an +impression of his earnestness and his sincerity; speaking without book +or notes, yet his discourse was evidently very carefully prepared. +The text was 'Cleanse me from my secret sins,' and he divided it into +heads, the misery, the folly, the danger (and a fourth which I have +forgotten) of secret sins, on all of which he was very eloquent and +impressive. He preached for about three-quarters of an hour, and, to +judge of the handkerchiefs and the audible sobs, with great effect. + +We have had a week of Parliament, and though nothing important has +occurred, the discussions do not seem to have raised the reputation +of the Government or to promise them an easy session, though nobody +seems to expect that their stability is likely to be shaken. Disraeli +and Gladstone seem verging towards each other in opposition, but there +is no appearance of a coalition between them; the only striking fact +is that the Opposition, of whose disunion we have heard so much, and +of the internal repulsion supposed to prevail among them, seems to +be as united as ever it has been, and the usual people appeared at +Derby's and Disraeli's gatherings. I take it that any appearance of +vulnerability of the Government silences all manifestations of their +mutual antipathies, and puts them on the _qui vive_ to turn out their +opponents. + +Gladstone seems bent on leading Sir George Lewis a weary life, but +Lewis is just the man to encounter and baffle such an opponent, +for he is cold-blooded as a fish, totally devoid of sensibility or +nervousness, of an imperturbable temper, calm and resolute, laborious +and indefatigable, and exceedingly popular in the House of Commons from +his general good humour and civility, and the credit given him for +honour, sincerity, plain dealing, and good intentions. + + +_February 11th._--The Duke of Bedford told me yesterday that Clarendon +had complained to him bitterly of John Russell's speech the first night +of the session, of the hostility it manifested, and particularly of +what he said about Naples. On looking at the report of the speech, the +Neapolitan part was certainly strong, but it was not stronger than was +warranted by the circumstances of the case, and there seems no reason +why Lord John should abstain from speaking out his opinions fairly on +any important point of foreign policy. His speech, on the whole, was +not regarded as hostile or acrimonious. Disraeli has got into a scrape +by blurting out an accusation which he has entirely failed in making +good, and he has afforded Palmerston an occasion for a triumph over him +not a little damaging. I am told the effect in the House was very bad +for Disraeli. Palmerston is said to be beginning to show some symptoms +of physical weakness, which if it be so, is very serious at the +beginning of a long and arduous session. He is rising seventy-three, +and at that age, and loaded with the weight of public affairs, it is +not wonderful if the beginning of the end should be discernible. + + +[Sidenote: TREATY BETWEEN FRANCE AND AUSTRIA.] + +_February 14th._--The defeat which Disraeli sustained the other night +was turned the night before last into something like a triumph, and +Palmerston found himself in a disagreeable position. Disraeli had +asserted that a Treaty had been concluded between France and Austria +for certain ends and at a certain time. Palmerston flatly contradicted +him, and with great insolence of manner, especially insisting that it +was nothing but a Convention, and that conditional, which _never had +been signed_. Two nights after Palmerston came down to the House, and +in a very jaunty way said he must correct his former statement, and +inform the House he had just discovered that the Convention _had been +signed_. Great triumph naturally on the part of Disraeli, who poured +forth a rather violent invective. Then Palmerston lost his temper and +retorted that Disraeli was trying to cover an ignominious retreat by +vapouring. This language, under the circumstances of the case, was very +imprudent and very improper, and (unlike what he had ever experienced +before) he sat down without a single cheer, his own people even not +venturing to challenge the approbation of the House in a matter in +which, though Disraeli was not right, Palmerston was so clearly wrong. +What business had he to make such a mistake? for he ought to have +been perfectly and accurately informed of every detail connected with +foreign affairs. He certainly is not _qualis erat_, and I am disposed +to believe that he is about to begin breaking, and that he will not be +able to go through a long and arduous session with the same vigour and +success which he has hitherto manifested. Every sign and symptom of +weakness and failing strength which he may show will raise the hopes +and stimulate the exertions of the Opposition, and we may expect to see +not a coalition, but such a concurrence between Gladstone, Disraeli, +and Lord Stanley as will prevent the possibility of an alternative +Government. Gladstone and Disraeli are already on friendly terms, and +Gladstone and Stanley seem to be still more intimate. The present +Government only exists by Palmerston's personal popularity, and it +would not require much to pull that down. + + +_February 17th._--I called on Lyndhurst on Sunday. He was in high +force, with the Blue Book before him, getting up the China case, on +which he means to have a day in the House of Lords. He told me that +Gladstone says the Budget is the worst that was ever produced, and he +stakes his credit on proving that it is full of errors from beginning +to end, that, instead of a present surplus of nearly a million, there +is a present deficit of four millions, and that there will be one of +nine millions in 1860. I don't believe he will make his words good. + +[Sidenote: DIFFICULT RELATIONS WITH FRANCE.] + +I saw Clarendon yesterday morning, and found him low, worn, and out +of sorts; said he wished to Heaven he could be delivered from office; +everything went wrong, the labour, anxiety, and responsibility were +overwhelming, and the difficult state of our relations with France more +than could be endured. He could not depend on the French Government, +and never knew from one day to another what the consequences of their +conduct might be. He believed the Emperor sincerely desired to keep +well with us, but his Government were constantly doing things which +rendered our acting together and cordially almost impossible; that his +excessive levity and carelessness perpetually made him the dupe of +other people, and led him into saying things and committing himself, +and then he did not know how to get out of the engagements to which he +stood committed. Clarendon added that it was impossible such a state +of things should not produce first coolness and then quarrels, and +then God knows what consequences, and he was obliged to pick his way +through the embarrassments that spring up around him with the utmost +care and circumspection. Palmerston, who never saw difficulties, took +it with his usual easy way, and said we were not tied to France like +Siamese Twins, and why should we care so much what she did, and why +might she not take her way, and we ours; but Clarendon feels that it +is impossible for him, on whom the responsibility is more immediately +thrown, to take a matter fraught with such consequences in so easy +a style; that if any serious dispute arose, France and Russia would +probably become allied against us, and that America would join them. +Russia pays the most unceasing and the most abject court to Louis +Napoleon, and not without success. He (Clarendon) said nothing could +be worse than the conduct of the French Government about the affair +of the Principalities, which was of vital importance to Austria, who +threatened (though she would not keep her resolution) to make it a +_casus belli_ if it is insisted on. He said Austria had behaved very +well about the amnesty in Italy, and was going to do the same thing in +Hungary. We were interrupted as usual in our conversation, and I had +not time to ask him about many things I wanted to hear of. I told him I +thought the China case was a very bad one. + +John Russell seems to me to be drifting into hostility to the +Government more and more. He made a strong, but very just, speech on +Naples the first night, which irritated Clarendon very much. A few +nights ago he said something in the House about China, and backed up +the Government against Roebuck, at which Clarendon expressed great +satisfaction, and evinced a disposition to seize that pretext to put +himself on good terms with Lord John, but Lord John showed no readiness +to meet the overture, and when the Duke of Bedford wrote to him what +Clarendon had said, he replied that Clarendon owed him nothing, for +he had said what he thought right and not what he thought would be +agreeable to him, and that it was very probable he should say something +he would not at all like before long. + +Yesterday morning the Judicial Committee finished the case of Liddell +and Westerton, after eight days of elaborate argument, and a powerful +case was made in appeal against Lushington's judgement, which I expect +to see reversed, and I hope it will, for I detest the proceedings of +the people who back up Mr. Westerton, who would drag down the Church to +a puritanical level, and strip it of its splendour. + + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF LORD ELLESMERE.] + +_February 19th._--Yesterday morning, at half-past twelve o'clock, my +brother-in-law Lord Ellesmere, expired at Bridgewater House, after +an illness of three months. He was surrounded by all his family, and +died most peacefully, and without any suffering, and in possession of +his mental powers till within a few hours of his death. Few men have +quitted this world more beloved, respected, and lamented than this +excellent person. He had just completed the fifty-seventh year of his +age, so might naturally have been expected to live many years, and +till he was taken ill, little more than three months ago, he appeared +to be in his usual state of health and likely to have a long and +enjoyable existence before him. It is no exaggeration to say that he +was most estimable in every relation of life, and as such he enjoyed +universal respect and regard. He never at any time played a conspicuous +part in politics, for which he had neither ambition nor the necessary +qualifications, but in such part as he was occasionally called upon +to take, he acted with propriety and general approbation. But he had +no taste for the turmoil of political life, and his temper was too +serene and his love of repose too great to allow him to plunge deeply +in political warfare. His abilities were not of a very high order, but +he had a good understanding, a cultivated mind, and an inquisitive +disposition, and though not profound in any branch of literature or +science, he loved to wander over the vast fields of knowledge, so that +he was stored with much superficial information on a great variety of +subjects. His taste was good both in literature and art; he was an +elegant poet, and a fair writer of his own tongue; he was naturally +kind-hearted and charitable, more particularly to meritorious artists +who stood in need of assistance, by whom his loss will be severely +felt. All his tastes and pursuits were of the most refined character, +and he delighted in the society of all who were remarkable for ability +in any walk of life, and from whom he could derive information of any +description. In political opinions he was the very type and model of +a Liberal Conservative, and the statesman to whom he gave all his +allegiance, together with a boundless admiration, was the Duke of +Wellington. But he was always much more of a patriot than a political +partisan, and he was oftener to be found giving an independent support +to different Governments than fighting in the ranks of Opposition. + +He will, I have no doubt, be regarded as a loss to the country, even +a greater loss than if he had been more actively and conspicuously +engaged in politics, for he stood nearly alone in the station he +occupied, with vast wealth, unblemished character, esteemed by people +of all parties, without an enemy in the world, and having no personal +objects to pursue; and though never thrusting himself forward, alike +fitted for either active or contemplative life, he was at all times +ready to exert his best energies in the public service or to promote +the benefit and happiness of his fellow creatures. He was sincerely +religious, without intolerance and austerity, or the slightest particle +of ostentatious or spiritual pride. It was not, however, in the annals +of political history or in the modest and unambitious incidents of his +public career that his best panegyric is to be found, but in the more +placid walk of private life, in the strict and conscientious discharge +of his domestic and social duties, which was at the same time congenial +to his sense of moral obligation, and to the benevolent impulses of his +heart. + +[Sidenote: CHARACTER OF LORD ELLESMERE.] + +Lord Francis Leveson Gower, upon the death of his father the late +Duke of Sutherland, succeeded to the immense fortune entailed upon +him by his great-uncle, the Duke of Bridgewater, in the shape of the +Bridgewater Canal, and found himself the possessor of vast wealth, +and surrounded by a population sunk in ignorance and vice. From the +first moment of his succession he considered himself in the light +of a trustee for working out the moral and spiritual improvement of +the people who were in a great measure committed to his charge. He +accepted the obligation in a spirit of cheerfulness and resolution, +and the due discharge of it continued to be the principal object of +his interest and care for the remainder of his life. He employed his +wealth liberally in promoting the material comfort and raising the +moral condition of those by whose labour that wealth was produced. +Churches, schools, and reading-rooms rose around Worsley Hall. His +benevolent efforts were crowned with success, and he reaped his reward +in the blessings of the surrounding multitudes and in the contemplation +of their enjoyment of all the good which his active bounty had bestowed +upon them. Such qualities as were here displayed, and a life thus +devoted to works of duty and beneficence, made Lord Ellesmere an object +of general veneration and attachment; but those alone who belonged +to his family, or who had familiar access to the sanctuary of his +domestic life, could appreciate fully the excellence and the charm of +his character, and comprehend the immensity of the loss which those +who were nearest and dearest to him have sustained by his death. He +regarded with indifference the ordinary objects of worldly ambition; +he lived in and for his family, and he was their joy, their delight, +and their pride, fulfilling in the most exemplary manner all the duties +of his station, political, social, literary, and artistic; unsurpassed +as a husband, father, brother, or friend. He cultivated unremittingly +the society of the best and wisest of his fellow-creatures, and it +may be as truly said of him as it was of certain sages of antiquity, +that 'his excellent understanding was adorned by study, ... and his +days were spent in the pursuit of truth and the practice of virtue.' +The length of these precious days was not permitted by the Divine Will +to be extended to the ordinary duration of human life. In the three +last months, while death was gradually but surely, and with his full +consciousness, advancing, his courage was never shaken and the serenity +of his temper was never disturbed; he always seemed to have more +consideration for others than himself, and he met his approaching end +with the firmness of a philosopher and the resignation of a Christian. +To witness such an end free from bodily pain, with the mental faculties +remaining unclouded till the last, full of peace and charity and +love, was the best consolation that was possible to the family which +surrounded his deathbed; to them he has left a memory which will be +long reverenced by all who honour virtue and patriotism, and which they +will cherish with never-ending sentiments of duty and affection. He has +left them an example how to live and how to die, and the world in which +he had no enemy will ungrudgingly acknowledge + + + That to the realms of bliss was ne'er conveyed + A purer spirit or more welcome shade. + + +_February 27th._--The political war is raging furiously, and personal +animosities are becoming bitterer than ever. Confusion, disorder, and +doubt rage in both the great camps. Derby made a grand onslaught in +the beginning of last week on the China question, and there was (an +unusual thing in the Lords) an adjourned debate. Granville was very +apprehensive of being beaten, but Bessborough, his able whipper-in, +made such exertions that they ended by getting a very good majority. +All the speaking was on the side of the Opposition, but it is quite +curious how afraid people are of seriously shaking the Government. The +day the debate in the Lords ended, that in the Commons began on the +same question, _duce_ Cobden.[1] The great event of the first night +was John Russell's speech and powerful attack on the Government. It +was one of his very best efforts and extremely successful with the +House, but it was exceedingly bitter and displayed without stint or +reason his hostile _animus_. It did all the mischief he wished to +do, and everybody admits that if a division had then taken place +Government would have been beaten by a great majority; but they have +since adjourned twice, and the debate stands over till Monday, and the +aspect of affairs appears to be very much altered. Whether it be that +the effect of Lord John's speech has evaporated, that a rally has taken +place among the Liberals, or that the aversion of the stiff Tories +to the union between Gladstone and their leaders, the approaching +consummation of which seems not to be denied, the general opinion +has veered round, and now it is expected that Government will have +a majority. Here again, as in the Lords, the speaking was all with +the Opposition. Palmerston's speech is looked for with interest and +curiosity. The remarkable incidents connected with these transactions +have been the parliamentary conduct of Gladstone and John Russell and +their respective positions. Gladstone seems to have been so inflamed +by spite and ill humour that all prudence and discretion forsook him; +he appears ready to say and do anything and to act with everybody if +he can only contribute to upset the Government, though it is not easy +to discover the cause of his bitterness, or what scheme of future +conduct he has devised for himself. Lord John came over in a state of +ill-humour which at first he appears to have kept under to a certain +degree, and to have wished to have the appearance of acting with +perfect independence, but still fairly and impartially speaking out +what he thought the truth without caring whom he offended or whom he +pleased by so doing. Thus he shocked Clarendon by what he said on the +affair of Naples, and then pleased him very much by his next speech on +foreign affairs. Then on the Budget he came to the aid of Lewis with +great effect and bowled over Gladstone and Disraeli, yet even then +evincing a certain spirit of hostility about the tea duties; but on the +China question he gave way to all the bitter feeling that is in him, +and cast all moderation to the winds. It is impossible to conjecture +what he promises to himself, and what purpose he has in view by this +conduct, for it is quite extraordinary to what absolute nothingness +his political power has fallen. Here is a man who has been leader with +occasional intervals of Whig Governments and of the Whig party since +1834, and with great and admitted abilities, and yet he is so entirely +without following in the House of Commons that three insignificant +votes are the most he can command. His speech the other night was very +well received because it was a very good one, and because he spoke the +opinions of the greater number of his hearers. + +[Sidenote: DISPUTE WITH CHINA.] + +There is, in fact, a strong feeling, both in Parliament and the +country, against all that has been done at Canton, and this is the more +remarkable because the press has, upon the whole, taken the opposite +side. I never could understand why Palmerston and Clarendon were in +such a hurry to identify themselves with Bowring's proceedings, and +to send out without delay a full approbation of all he had done, till +Granville told me that both of them had been under the extraordinary +delusion that the Canton affair had been very well done and would be +received with great applause and satisfaction here; in point of fact, +that it was a great _hit_, from which the Government would derive +considerable advantage, he (Granville) himself showing his good sense +by taking exactly the opposite view. He tells me that George Lewis +does so likewise, and I dare say, if the truth were known, that the +majority of the Cabinet coincide with them. It is remarkable that the +defence of the Government in the Lords should have fallen on a man +who was speaking all the time against his own opinion, and I should +think Labouchere, who took up the defence in the House of Commons, was +the most unlikely man in the world to approve of such proceedings. +Political necessities which compel men to act thus insincerely, and +to strive to make the worse appear the better cause, with the full +consciousness that they are fighting against truth, appear to me +frightfully demoralising, a sad sealing of the political conscience, +the spectacle of which is enough to scare honourable minds from +entering into an arena where the contest is to be carried on in such a +manner. + +If the Government should be beaten on the pending question, they +will dissolve, at least if the state of their financial affairs will +allow them; but at all events they will not resign without an appeal +to the country, and this appeal they will make not on this or that +question, but on the great one of all, whether the country desires +that Palmerston should continue to be its minister, and on this it +is impossible to doubt what will be the reply. His popularity is a +fact beyond all doubt or cavil, and it is the more decisive, because +not only is there no rival popularity, but every one of the other +public men who have been, are, or might be his rivals are absolutely +unpopular. Nobody cares any longer for John Russell; everybody detests +Gladstone; Disraeli has no influence in the country, and a very +doubtful position with his own party. He and Derby have made up their +minds to coalesce with Gladstone on the first good opportunity, but +it seems not unlikely that they will make such a split among their +own followers by so doing as to lose more than they will gain by the +junction. Palmerston's popularity does not extend to his colleagues, +for not one of whom does anybody care a straw. It is purely personal, +and I do not think he would strengthen himself by any other alliance he +could form. This fact of his popularity just at the end of his strange +and chequered career is most remarkable and not a little unaccountable; +but innumerable circumstances prove this to be the undoubted truth, +and that it is manifested more decidedly out of the House than in it, +for in the House of Commons it does not amount to a certainty of his +having always a majority. It is curious that a session which not long +ago looked like being a very quiet one, in which there would be ample +leisure for consideration of legal and other practical reforms, should +in the first weeks be a scene of tremendous conflict, in which the very +existence of the Government is trembling in the balance. + +Footnote 1: [A motion was made by Mr. Cobden condemning the violent +measures resorted to by the British authorities in the Canton river in +consequence of the seizure of the lorcha 'Arrow' by the Chinese when +she had hoisted the British flag. The debate was carried on with great +acrimony, and ended by the adoption of Mr. Cobden's motion by 263 to +247, a majority of 16 against the Government.] + + +_March 2nd._--Derby has announced to his assembled party that he is +ready to join with Gladstone, though he has not done so yet, and +that as they are a minority in the House of Commons, they ought to +form any junction that would make them strong enough to oust the +present Government and form a Conservative one. He finds it, however, +a difficult matter to reconcile them all to any alliance with the +detested Gladstone. Great exertions have been made to secure a majority +to the Government, and John Russell's friends (the Duke of Bedford +especially) are bestirring themselves to take away some of the odium +that attaches to Lord John by securing his two or three followers for +the division. + + +_March 3rd._--Nothing can equal the excitement and curiosity here about +the division. All sorts of efforts have been made all ways to influence +votes. George Byng and others who meant to vote with John Russell have +been obliged to promise to vote with the Government. Palmerston has +had a meeting and harangued them cheerily, but in spite of everything +Hayter does not think he will have a majority, but everybody expects it +to be so near that there are as many opinions as men. Much is expected +to depend on Palmerston's speech, and unluckily for him he is ill with +both gout and cold. If they are beaten they will dissolve as speedily +as possible. + + +[Sidenote: DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT.] + +_March 4th._--A majority of 16 against Government, more than any of +them expected. A magnificent speech of Gladstone; Palmerston's speech +is said to have been very dull in the first part, and very bow-wow in +the second; not very judicious, on the whole bad, and it certainly +failed to decide any doubtful votes in his favour. I rejoice that the +House of Commons has condemned this iniquitous case for the honour of +the country. I do not believe it will make any difference as to the +Government. When Palmerston appeals to the country it will not be on +the merits of the Canton case, but on his own political existence, +whether they will have him for minister or no. It is not, however, yet +by any means clear what the real opinion of the country is upon the +question itself, and whether they will be for the right or for the +expedient, or that which the Government thinks to be the expedient. + + +[Sidenote: DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.] + +_Hatchford, March 10th._--The intention of Government to dissolve +Parliament was announced on Friday last, and as far as one can judge at +present, Palmerston seems likely to have it all his own way. The press +generally espouses his cause, and the 'Times' particularly takes up +the cudgels for him vehemently, and cries out 'Coalition,' and abuses +the majority and all who voted in it. At present, public opinion seems +to be running in his favour, and there is every appearance of his +having a triumphant election. But the cry of 'coalition and faction' +is perfectly absurd, and nothing more than the mere jargon which +all parties employ as their battle cry. There has been no coalition +whatever, and that those who clamour against it very well know. The +only coalition of which there has been any question has been one +between Gladstone (with or without the other Peelites) and Disraeli and +Derby, but that has hitherto been _in posse_ rather than _in esse_, and +it would have been much more plausible to raise the cry on the Budget +than on the Canton question. Nobody can read the list of the division +without seeing that the majority comprised the names of people who have +never dreamt of any coalition with anybody, and who voted entirely +with reference to the merits of the particular case, and though some +(including Disraeli and Gladstone) wished to damage the Government, +many others were either friendly to them generally, or at least +neutral. To say that the majority was made up of a factious coalition +of men who sought to turn the Government out and to take their places, +is a wilful and deliberate lie, but it suits the Government to raise +the cry, and they find plenty of people to re-echo and to believe it. +As to the question itself, I am sure that some of the Cabinet, and +probably more than I know of, were in their hearts and consciences +as much against the question as any of their opponents. Palmerston's +popularity, and the manner in which he is encouraged and supported by +the country, and the sympathy he finds are really most extraordinary. +It provokes me, because I think his great success unmerited, but I +have no wish to see him defeated at the election, because I see no +prospect of any better Government being formed. The pretension of the +Government and of their noisy supporters to find fault with the House +of Commons for expressing its independent opinion upon the conduct of +the officials in China is most preposterous and arrogant. Everybody +admits that the Government was not morally responsible for what was +done, but because they chose, without any necessity, to approve +those acts and to accept the political responsibility of them, it is +pretended that the House of Commons ought not to have taken the liberty +to express any adverse opinion on the matter, and that it was factious +to do so. The scrape, if it was one, the Government got themselves +into by their precipitate approval of Bowring, and there was nothing +in the resolution and the vote which ought to have been considered as +implying any general want of confidence on the part of the House of +Commons, more particularly when the Government had just before carried +their Budget by large majorities, and had not met with any difficulty +or rebuff on any point. If, indeed, matters are come to such a pass, +and such divinity hedges in the Palmerston Government that the House +of Commons is to be precluded from censuring any transaction, wherever +and by whomsoever done, which the Government thinks fit to sanction and +approve of, and if the fact of many men of very different opinions and +opposite parties concurring in such a vote is to expose the majority +by which the vote is carried to a charge of faction, coalition, and +all sorts of base motives, then indeed, instead of asking the Duke of +Wellington's celebrated question, 'How is the King's Government to be +carried on?' it will be time to ask whether the Queen's Government is +to be considered despotic and infallible, and the functions of the +House of Commons reduced to the very humble ones of registering their +acts and re-echoing their approbation. + +It seems to be entirely forgotten that in times when the Royal and +ministerial authority were much stronger than they are supposed to be +now, and before the Reform Bill had effected a sort of revolution in +favour of the democratic principle, all governments, however powerful +or popular, sustained occasional defeats and were obliged to submit +to them, it being of course perfectly understood that defeats which +conveyed want of confidence and the withdrawal of the general support +of the House of Commons were to be deemed fatal and conclusive. +Every case of this kind must be determined according to the especial +circumstances of it, but it is a mere pretence to treat the Canton +question as one of this description, and the truth is that it is +a dodge on their part, and a pretext for going to the country and +obtaining a majority, as they think they have an opportunity of doing, +on false pretences and by means of a vast deal of humbug. The worst is, +that after the immediate purpose has been answered, there is certain +to be some dangerous reaction, and as the cry of 'Palmerston' will be +the only one got up for the occasion, and everybody will be acceptable +who will declare for him, whatever crotchets or cries he may join to +his partisanship, we shall probably have a House of Commons full of +all sorts of mischievous people stirring every variety of mischievous +question. + + +_March 14th._--I returned yesterday from Hatchford and find the current +still running strong, but some think a reaction in favour of John +Russell has already begun. He stands for the City and is in very good +spirits, though his chances of success do not look bright; but he is +a gallant little fellow, likes to face danger, and comes out well in +times of difficulty. + + +_March 24th._--The dissolution took place on Saturday, and all the +world is busy about the elections; many places are without candidates, +or with very bad ones, and unable to find good ones. The dinner at the +Mansion House the other day to the Ministers was a sort of triumph to +Palmerston, who was rapturously received and cheered. He made a very +bad speech, but which did very well for such an audience. It was full +of claptraps and reiterations of the exploded charges of coalitions, +&c., which he is not ashamed to harp upon, and in his address to +Tiverton he talks of the 'combination only formed last session' to turn +him out. I find myself, _malgré moi_, thrown back into my old state of +antagonism towards Palmerston, and what is very paradoxical, I am so +without any hostility to his Government or any desire for its being +overthrown, for I cannot descry any chance of a better, or, indeed, +any possibility of forming another able to carry on affairs at all; +but I am inexpressibly disgusted at the egregious folly of the country +at his being made such an idol in this ridiculous way, and at the +false and hypocritical pretences upon which this dissolution has been +founded, and the enormous and shameful lying with which the country is +deluged. I long to write, print, and publish the truth, and to expose +this miserable delusion; but I repress the desire, because I cannot do +so without exciting bitter personal animosities, probably quarrels, +and I can see no reasonable hope of producing any effects which would +sufficiently repay me for such consequences. + +[Sidenote: THE LIDDELL _v._ WESTERTON CASE.] + +The day before yesterday Pemberton Leigh gave judgement in the Privy +Council in the case of Liddell and Westerton; the Judicial Committee +reversed in great measure the judgements in the Courts below of Dr. +Lushington and Sir John Dodson, but not entirely. It was a very able +judgement, and prepared with great care and research, and so moderately +and fairly framed that it was accepted unanimously by the Committee, +and even by the Bishops of Canterbury and London, both Low Churchmen. +It was drawn up by Pemberton Leigh himself, and its publication will +give the world in general some idea of his great ability, with the +extent of which few are acquainted. It is a very singular thing that in +such times as these, and when there is such a dearth of able men and +so great a demand for them, that he should voluntarily condemn himself +to a state of comparative obscurity, and refuse to take the station in +public life which it would be difficult to find any other man so well +qualified to fill. + + +_March 28th._--At Althorp the last two days. Palmerston's address to +Tiverton, following his speech, at the Mansion House, has excited great +indignation in all who are not thorough Palmerstonians. Both were full +of deception and falsehood. John Russell is particularly incensed, +and said these two productions were unworthy of a gentleman, and so +they were. Malmesbury has addressed to Palmerston a letter in the +newspapers on the subject, which though not well written is true, and +fully justified by what Palmerston said; but all this signifies very +little, the current is too strong to be opposed, and it is provoking to +see the Conservatives endeavouring to bolster up their pretensions by +saying they would have supported Palmerston on the China question, if +they had been in Parliament, or promising to support him if they are +elected. Yesterday, which was the first day of returns, does not give +much difference; to-day is the polling for the City, and nobody has an +idea how the election will go, whether Lord John will come in, and if +he does which of the four will go to the wall. He was enthusiastically +received yesterday, and the show of hands was unanimous in his favour, +but this proves very little, and his organisation is miserably +defective; had it been better and begun earlier, it is probable that +his success would have been certain; he is the favourite as it is. +Palmerston's speech at Tiverton yesterday was less objectionable than +his address and speech at the Mansion House, and he left himself +entirely unfettered on the subject of Reform, and rightly. The +Parliament promises to be a Radical one, and I fully expect that the +result of all this great commotion will be to give a stimulus to +organize Reform; nor will it surprise me if Palmerston should find it +conducive to his interest as minister to appear in the character of a +Reformer, if he were to fling overboard all his old opinions, and to +pay this price for a renewed lease of his own power. Wilkes used to say +he had never been a _Wilkite_, but Palmerston has never been anything +but a Palmerstonian, and I firmly believe that at seventy-three years +of age his single thought is how to secure for himself power for his +life, and that he will not scruple to accept measures which, so far +as he thinks about it, he believes to be constitutionally dangerous +and mischievous if by so doing he can maintain himself on the Treasury +Bench. + + +[Sidenote: RESULTS OF THE ELECTION.] + +_March 29th._--Great excitement yesterday in the town, particularly at +Brooks's. The most interesting event was the City election, and the +return, which under the circumstances may be called triumphant, of John +Russell, which was made more agreeable to himself and his friends by +the defeat of Raikes Currie, who came from Northampton on purpose to +turn him out. Up to the last hour John Russell continued to lead at the +head of the poll, after which he fell off and only ended third, but +still he had 7,000 votes after having been assured by his old adherents +(J. Abel Smith in particular) that his success was hopeless, that he +would be beaten 'disgracefully,' and probably would have hardly any +votes at all. + +After this the most interesting events were the defeats of the +Manchester men, and generally, though not universally, of the voters +for Cobden's motion, Bright and Milner Gibson, Cobden, Ricardo, Layard, +all defeated. It seems that Manchester and the other great towns had +got tired of their leaders, who had made themselves unpopular by +their opposition to the war. I am sorry for the loss of Bright and +Cobden, because such able men ought not to be ousted and replaced by +mediocrities. + +Palmerston's speech at Tiverton was in the same style, but far less +offensive and objectionable than his address and his Mansion House +harangue. The most remarkable part of it was the total silence which +he observed as to his intention upon reforms and domestic questions +generally, or rather his positive refusal to say a word on the subject +or to pledge himself in any way; he evidently means to meet his +Parliament free to take any course his interests may dictate. There +was one remarkable speech yesterday, considering what the man is who +uttered it. Vernon Smith at Northampton spoke as follows: 'Mr. Disraeli +said Lord Palmerston was the Tory chief of a Radical Cabinet. I do not +admit the description as regards Lord Palmerston, but I accept the +designation as to the Cabinet of which I am a member. A great statesman +once said that parties were like fishes (it was snakes, I believe), and +their heads were propelled by their tails, and it will very likely be +found that the head of the Government will in like manner be propelled +by his tail.' The words are not exact, but the meaning is, and it +must be owned a remarkable declaration for a Cabinet Minister to make +as to his chief, and such a chief. I believe that it will turn out +to be the truth. The returns so far as they have gone are frightful, +and a deluge of Radicalism and violence will burst out in the House +of Commons. There will be a Radical majority prepared to support Lord +Palmerston and to keep him in power, but on the condition of his doing +their bidding, and consenting to their demands, nor will he be able to +help himself. He will no doubt try to do as little as possible, but +there will be no strong Conservative party to which he can appeal from +and against his own Radical supporters; the Conservatives will be too +weak to help him, and probably will not be inclined to help him out of +his difficulty if they could. At his age his only object will be to +grasp power while he lives. _Après moi le déluge_ will be his motto, +and my expectation is that he will never consent to sacrifice power +from scruples or upon principles, and will consent to anything that may +be necessary rather than allow himself to be outbid and to see power +torn from his hands. The prospect seems to me tremendous. The cry of +Palmerston, and nothing but Palmerston, has done very well to go to the +hustings on, but having accomplished its purpose, other cries much more +serious will soon take its place, and we shall see, as the Prince said, +Constitutional Government on its trial with a vengeance. + + +_March 31st._--The elections continue to be unfavourable to the +Conservatives, but the people at Brooks's, and the Government +generally, are too sanguine when they call everything gain to them +where a Conservative is replaced by a Liberal, for in many cases the +so-called Liberal is a violent Radical, very likely to give much more +trouble to the Government than the Conservative who was turned out. The +gains to Government up to this time (and the borough elections are all +over) are calculated at 20, making a difference of 40 votes; but the +Conservatives do not admit this, and will make other calculations with +different results. + +[Sidenote: TRIUMPH OF LORD PALMERSTON.] + +There is no denying the fact, however, that a strong sense has been +evinced of partiality for Palmerston and resentment against the China +vote. The news of the Emperor of China having ordered Yeo to make +peace on any terms comes very opportunely, but nothing can be so +absurd as the pretence that by so doing the Emperor himself condemns +his Viceroy and justifies our conduct at Canton. It only proves that +His Majesty is very much alarmed, and wishes to heal the breach as +quickly as possible, and on any terms he can. I am bound to say that +many people, not extravagant either, maintain that this promises to +be a very good Parliament, and by no means so dangerous as my fears +have pictured it to myself; still I cannot look upon it as a safe and +innocent Parliament. Cardwell's defeat at Oxford proves how low the +Peelites are. Frederic Peel's loss of his seat is a great inconvenience +to the Government, and one does not see how it is to be repaired, for +it is almost impossible in these days to treat any place (if one can be +found) as a nomination borough, turn the sitting member out, and put +him in instead. The serious part of it is that he has to move the Army +Estimates, and nobody else can do it now. + +Old Lady Keith is dead, at some prodigious age. She was the 'Queeny' +of Dr. Johnson, Mrs. Hale's daughter, and was the last surviving link +between those times and our own, and probably the only person surviving +who could remember Johnson himself and his remarkable contemporaries, +or who had lived in intimacy with them. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Results of the Elections--Defeat of Cobden and Bright--The War with +China--Death of Lady Ashburton--Lord Palmerston's Success--The Handel +Concerts--M. Fould in London--The Queen and Lord Palmerston--The +Indian Mutiny--The Prince Consort--Death of General Anson--The State +of India--Royal Guests--The Government of India--Temper of the House +of Commons--Debates on India--Royal Visits--The Divorce Bill--The +Divorce Bill in the House of Lords--Close of the Session--A Dukedom +offered to Lord Lansdowne--Death of Mr. Croker--History of the Life +Peerages--The Indian Mutiny and the Russian War--The Struggle in +India--Reinforcements for India--The Queen's Attention to Public +Business--Attacks on Lord Canning--Big Ships and Big Bells--Lord +Canning defended--Courteous Behaviour of Foreign Nations--The Capture +of Delhi and Lucknow--Difficulties in India--Depression in the +City--Speculations on the Contingency of a Change of Government--The +East India Company and the Government--Exaggerated Reports from +India--A Queen's Speech--The Bank Charter Act. + + +_April 4th, 1857._--The elections are drawing to a close. It is strange +that what ought to be a matter of fact is made matter of opinion, for +while the Whigs of Brooks's and the Liberals generally claim an immense +gain, the Conservatives and the Carlton Club and their organs only +admit an inconsiderable loss. There can be no doubt, however, that +a great many Conservatives have lost their seats, and a great many +Radicals and Palmerstonians have been elected. At Brooks's they insist +that it will be a very good Parliament, and they are throwing their +caps up at the Government successes; but it seems to me that they are +reckoning somewhat rashly, and counting as gains to the Government +many men who will be found more troublesome and unmanageable than the +moderate men over whose defeats they are exulting. But as to gains +and losses, and all calculations, I agree with the late Speaker, +Lord Eversley, who said to me the other day that nothing could be so +fallacious as all such calculations, and that it is impossible to know +the result till Parliament meets, and it is seen how the new members +group themselves. The most striking and remarkable feature of this +election is the complete rout of the Peelites and of the Manchester +men, the Old Leaguers. For a long time past it has been absurd to talk +of the Peelites as a Party. There were not a dozen men in the House +of Commons who could by any possibility be so designated, and in fact +only a few formerly members of Sir Robert Peel's Government or of +Lord Aberdeen's, who still kept together, and were called Peelites, +because they would not be either Whigs or Tories or Radicals. Now the +designation must fall to the ground. Half these men have lost their +seats; of the rest, some repudiate the association and announce their +independence; some join, or are ready to join, Derby and the Tories; +others openly declare their adhesion to Palmerston; and thus in one way +or another there are no _Peelites_ left. + +[Sidenote: DEFEAT OF COBDEN AND BRIGHT.] + +The fate of Bright, Cobden, and Co. exhibits a curious example of the +fleeting and worthless nature of popular favour. They who were once +the idols of millions, and not without cause, have not only lost all +their popularity, but are objects of execration, and can nowhere find +a parliamentary resting place. No constituency will hear of them. The +great towns of Lancashire prefer any mediocrities to Bright and Cobden. +It seems that they had already ceased to be popular, when they made +themselves enormously unpopular, and excited great resentment, by their +opposition to the Russian War, the rage for which was not less intense +in Manchester and all the manufacturing district than in the rest of +the kingdom. This great crime, as it appeared in the eyes of their +constituents, was never pardoned, and their punishment was probably +determined while the war was still going on. As the favour of Cobden +fell, so that of Palmerston rose, and his visit to Manchester a few +months ago raised the favour to a pitch of enthusiasm. When Cobden +therefore originated the China motion, he no doubt gave great offence, +and he sealed his own condemnation. Bright has been long abroad, and +has done nothing lately that any one could take umbrage at, but his +opposition to the war has not been forgotten or forgiven, and when +Cobden appeared at Manchester as his representative, and made a very +able speech in his behalf, it is highly probable that his advocacy was +in itself fatal to his re-election. It seems quite clear that another +man, Sir Elkanah Armytage, lost his election at Salford solely because +he was strongly supported and recommended by Cobden. + + +_May 1st._--Parliament met yesterday, the last (Irish) election +having ended only a few days before. Denison's election as Speaker +went off very quietly. The prevailing opinion now seems to be that +this will prove a good Parliament, on the whole safe and moderate, +and an improvement on the last. All the news we get from China, or +in reference to Chinese affairs, only proves the more strongly how +foolish and mischievous the conduct of Bowring was, and what a sound +and correct judgement the vote of the House of Commons expressed upon +it. It is impossible to conjecture what the result of the war now +began will be, but is quite certain that we shall have to wade to our +ends through all sorts of horrors and atrocities, which it does not +become us to inflict, though the Chinese are a savage, stupid, and +uninteresting people, who in some degree deserve the sufferings that +will be inflicted on them, though perhaps not at our hands. + +George Anson[1] writes to me from India that there is a strange feeling +of discontent pervading the Indian Army from religious causes, and a +suspicion that we are going to employ our irresistible power in forcing +Christianity upon them. It is not true, but the natives will never +be quite convinced that it is not, as long as Exeter Hall and the +missionaries are permitted to have _carte blanche_ and work their will +as they please in those regions. + +Footnote 1: [General Anson was at this time Commander-in-Chief in +India. He died there shortly after the outbreak of the great military +revolt, of which the letter mentioned in the text was the first +premonitory indication.] + + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF LADY ASHBURTON.] + +_May 10th._--I passed the last week at Wynnstay for Chester races; +a very fine place. The events that have occurred in the course of +the last ten days are the opening of the Manchester Exhibition, very +successfully; the first proceedings of the new Parliament, which +promise a quiet session and a peaceful reign to Palmerston, who has +put the House in good humour by promising a Reform Bill next year; the +death of the Duchess of Gloster, and, what interests the world still +more, the death of Lady Ashburton.[1] Milnes has written a short, but +very fair and appropriate notice of her for the 'Times' newspaper, +which of course was intended as a eulogy, and not as a _character_, +with the bad as well as the good that could be said of her. Lady +Ashburton was perhaps, on the whole, the most conspicuous woman in +the society of the present day. She was undoubtedly very intelligent, +with much quickness and vivacity in conversation, and by dint of a +good deal of desultory reading and social intercourse with men more or +less distinguished, she had improved her mind, and made herself a very +agreeable woman, and had acquired no small reputation for ability and +wit. It is never difficult for a woman in a great position and with +some talent for conversation to attract a large society around her, and +to have a number of admirers and devoted _habitués_. Lady Ashburton +laid herself out for this, and while she exercised hospitality on +a great scale, she was more of a _précieuse_ than any woman I have +known. She was, or affected to be, extremely intimate with many men +whose literary celebrity or talents constituted their only attraction, +and while they were gratified by the attentions of the great lady, +her vanity was flattered by the homage of such men, of whom Carlyle +was the principal. It is only justice to her to say that she treated +her literary friends with constant kindness and the most unselfish +attentions. They, their wives and children (when they had any), were +received at her house in the country, and entertained there for weeks +without any airs of patronage, and with a spirit of genuine benevolence +as well as hospitality. She was in her youth tall and commanding in +person, but without any pretension to good looks; still she was not +altogether destitute of sentiment and coquetry, or incapable of both +feeling and inspiring a certain amount of passion. The only man with +whom she was ever what could be called _in love_ was Clarendon, and +that feeling was never entirely extinct, and the recollection of it +kept up a sort of undefined relation between them to the end of her +life. Two men were certainly in love with her, both distinguished in +different ways. One was John Mill, who was sentimentally attached to +her, and for a long time was devoted to her society. She was pleased +and flattered by his devotion, but as she did not in the slightest +degree return his passion, though she admired his abilities, he at last +came to resent her indifference, and ended by estranging himself from +her entirely, and proved the strength of his feeling by his obstinate +refusal to continue even his acquaintance with her. Her other admirer +was Charles Buller, with whom she was extremely intimate, but without +ever reciprocating his love. Curiously enough, they were very like +each other in person, as well as in their mental accomplishments. They +had both the same spirits and cleverness in conversation, and the same +quickness and drollery in repartee. I remember Allen well describing +them, when he said that their talk was like that in the polite +conversation between Never Out and Miss Notable. Her faults appeared +to be caprice and a disposition to quarrels and _tracasseries_ about +nothing, which, however common amongst ordinary women, were unworthy +of her superior understanding. But during her last illness all that +was bad and hard in her nature seemed to be improved and softened, +and she became full of charity, good-will, and the milk of human +kindness. Her brother and her sister-in-law, who, forgetting former +estrangements, hastened to her sickbed, were received by her with +overflowing tenderness, and all selfish and unamiable feelings seemed +to be entirely subdued within her. Had she recovered she would probably +have lived a better and a happier woman, and as it is she has died +in charity with all the world, and has left behind her corresponding +sentiments of affection and regret for her memory. I was once very +intimate with her, but for a long time past our intimacy had dwindled +into ordinary acquaintance. + +Footnote 1: [Harriet Mary, eldest daughter of the sixth Earl of +Sandwich, was married in 1828 to William Bingham Baring, afterwards +second Baron Ashburton. One son, the only issue of this marriage, died +in infancy. Lady Ashburton was distinguished for her wit, her social +qualities, and her hospitality, which made Bath House and the Grange +the centres of a brilliant literary society, well known by the records +of it in the Life of Mr. Carlyle and the Autobiography of Sir Henry +Taylor.] + + +_June 3rd._--There is really nothing to write about, but it is evident +that the session is going to pass away in the most quiet and uneventful +manner. Never had Minister such a peaceful and undisturbed reign as +Palmerston's. There is something almost alarming in his prodigious +felicity and success. Everything prospers with him. In the House of +Commons there is scarcely a semblance of opposition to anything he +proposes; a speech or two here and there from Roebuck, or some stray +Radical, against some part of the Princess Royal's dowry, but hardly +any attempt at divisions; and when there have been any, the minorities +have been so ridiculously small as to show the hopelessness of +opposition. The only men who might be formidable or troublesome seem +to have adopted the prudent course of not kicking against the pricks. +John Russell evinces no hostility, and accepts Hayter's letters. +Gladstone hardly ever goes near the House of Commons, and never opens +his lips. There seems to be a disposition in both Houses to work and +bring legislative reforms to a conclusion. The House of Lords has been +very busy with the Divorce Bill, and there has been a good deal of +vigorous debating, particularly among Lyndhurst, the Bishops of Oxford +and London, and Campbell and Wensleydale, who hate each other, and have +interchanged blows. + + +[Sidenote: THE HANDEL CONCERTS.] + +_June 20th._--All this past week the world has been occupied with +the Handel Concerts at the Crystal Palace, which went off with the +greatest success and _éclat_. I went to the first ('Messiah'), and the +last ('Israel in Egypt'); they were amazingly grand, and the beauty of +the _locale_, with the vast crowds assembled in it, made an imposing +spectacle. The arrangements were perfect, and nothing could be easier +than the access and egress, or more comfortable than the accommodation. +But the wonderful assembly of 2,000 vocal and 500 instrumental +performers did not produce musical effect so agreeable and so perfect +as the smaller number in the smaller space of Exeter Hall. The volume +of sound was dispersed and lost in the prodigious space, and fine as it +undoubtedly was, I much prefer the concerts of the Harmonic Society. + +Fould[1] came over from Paris the other day for the purpose of going to +see the Manchester Exhibition. He was received with great distinction. +The Queen invited him to Windsor for Ascot, and Granville gave him a +breakfast here to meet the financial notabilities whom he wanted to +talk to. We had the Chancellor of the Exchequer and an ex-Chancellor +(C. Wood), the Governor of the Bank, and the ex-Governor of the Bank, +_cum multis aliis_. He said that their financial affairs in France were +in a very healthy state, which is contrary to the general impression +here. + +[Sidenote: THE QUEEN AND LORD PALMERSTON.] + +I met Clarendon in the Park a day or two ago, and had some talk with +him in the friendly and intimate tone of former times, which rejoiced +my heart, because it proved that though circumstances and accidental +habits had impeded our intercourse, there exist still the same feelings +of regard towards me in his mind, and if our intercourse was restored +again, he would probably fall into the same habit of confidence and +communication which formerly existed, but which has lately been +completely interrupted. He talked of Palmerston, his position and +his health, and his _rapports_ with the Queen, who is now entirely +reconciled to him. She treats him with unreserved confidence, and he +treats her with a deference and attention which have produced a very +favourable change in her sentiments towards him. Clarendon told me that +Palmerston had lately been ailing in a way to cause some uneasiness. He +had had a bad leg with a sore that it had been found difficult to heal, +but he appears to have got over it. This might have been very serious. +Clarendon talked one day to the Queen about Palmerston's health, +concerning which she expressed her anxiety, when Clarendon said she +might indeed be anxious, for it was of the greatest importance to her, +and if anything happened to him he did not know where she could look +for a successor to him, that she had often expressed her great desire +to have a _strong_ Government, and that she had now got one, Palmerston +being a really strong Minister. She admitted the truth of it. Clarendon +said he was always very earnest with her to bestow her whole confidence +on Palmerston, and not even to talk to others on any subjects which +properly belonged to him, and he had more than once (when, according to +her custom, she began to talk to him on certain things) said to her, +'Madam, that concerns Lord Palmerston, and I think your Majesty had +better reserve it for your communications with him.' He referred to +the wonderful change in his own relations with Palmerston, that seven +or eight years ago Palmerston was full of hatred and suspicion of him, +and now they were the best of friends, with mutual confidence and good +will, and lately when he was talking to Palmerston of the satisfactory +state of his relations with the Queen and of the utility it was to his +Government that it should be so, Palmerston said, 'And it is likewise a +very good thing that she has such boundless confidence in her Secretary +for Foreign Affairs, when after all there is nothing she cares about so +much.' + +Footnote 1: [M. Achille Fould, who had made a large fortune as a banker +in Paris, was one of the ablest and most honourable of the Ministers of +Napoleon III. He was much attached to this country, where he had many +friends, and he encouraged the Emperor in that Free Trade policy which +led to the Commercial Treaty of 1860, and strengthened the ties between +England and France.] + + +_June 28th._--I went last Saturday week to Strawberry Hill.[1] A large +party of people, the Persignys, the Speaker and Lady Charlotte, etc.; +it is an enjoyable villa, with its vast expanse of grass, profusion +of flowers, and fine trees affording ample shade. Horace Walpole's +ridiculous house is unaltered, but furbished up and made comfortable. I +regret to hear that Denison does not make a very good Speaker, and that +the Government think they made a mistake in putting him into the Chair. +It was Palmerston's doing, who would hear of nobody else. There are +several men among the Opposition who would probably have been fitter, +but with the great majority the Government have they were in a manner +compelled to take a man from their own party. Denison says it is owing +to the laxity of Palmerston himself if things do not go on so well as +they might in the House of Commons. + +At Hatchford the past week, and when I got to town I was apprised of +the disastrous news from India,[2] the most serious occurrence that has +ever been in that quarter, not only from the magnitude of the events +themselves as the telegraph conveys them, but because it is quite +impossible to estimate the gravity of the case, nor what the extent of +it may be. Till we receive the details it is idle to speculate upon it. + +The Queen has made Prince Albert 'Prince Consort' by a patent ordered +in Council, but as this act confers on him neither title, dignity, +nor privileges, I cannot see the use of it. He was already as high in +England as he can be, assuming the Crown Matrimonial to be out of the +question, and it will give him no higher rank abroad, where our acts +have no validity. + +Footnote 1: [Strawberry Hill was the residence of the Countess of +Waldegrave, to whom it had passed on the death of her second husband, +the Earl of Waldegrave. It was then, and continued to be until her +death in 1879, the most hospitable villa in the neighbourhood, and +the constant resort of all that was distinguished in politics and in +letters.] + +Footnote 2: [The Indian mutiny broke out at Meerut on Sunday, 10th May, +but the details were not known in England till nearly six weeks later. +General Anson died at Kurnaul on the 27th May.] + + +[Sidenote: THE MUTINY IN INDIA.] + +_July 15th._--For the last three weeks or more all public interest +and curiosity have been absorbed in the affairs of India and the +great Mutiny that has broken out there, and which has now assumed +such an alarming character. I had intended to take some notice of +this, and of other matters which time and the hour have brought forth; +but, according to my bad custom, I kept putting it off, till at last +all other things were driven out of my mind by the news which so +unexpectedly reached us on Saturday last of the death of George Anson +from a sudden attack of cholera. He was the oldest and most intimate +friend I had, and almost the last surviving associate of my youth. I +reserve for another moment to say a word or two of a man who, without +great abilities or a great career, was too conspicuous a member of +society to be passed over without some notice. + +The alarm created here by the Indian news is very great, and +Ellenborough (reckoned a great authority on Indian matters) does his +best to increase it. The serious part of it is that no one can tell +or venture to predict what the extent of the calamity may be, and +what proportions the mischief may possibly assume. It is certain that +hitherto the Government and the East India Company have been in what +is called a fool's paradise on the subject. They have been so long +accustomed to consider our Empire there as established on so solid a +foundation, and so entirely out of the reach of danger, that they never +have paid any attention to those who hinted at possible perils, and I +don't think anybody ever foresaw anything like what has occurred, and +they were disinclined to adopt any of the precautionary recommendations +which would have been attended with expense, and the Press, and the +public who are always led by the Press, took the same easy view of +the subject. While the Russian War was going on a clamour was raised +against Government for not calling away _all_ the British troops in +India and sending them to the Crimea, and those who went mad about the +Crimean War would willingly have left India without a single European +regiment, and have entrusted all our interests to the fidelity and +attachment of the Native army. Though our Government was willing enough +to enter into anything that the passion of the multitude suggested, +they were not so insane as all that; but as it is, we may consider +it most providential that the mutiny did not show itself during the +Russian, or indeed during the Persian war. If it had happened while we +were still fighting in the Crimea, we could not have sent out the force +that would have been indispensable to save India. At the present moment +the interest of the public is not greater than its apprehensions and +alarm. Rumours of every sort are rife, generally of the most disastrous +kind, and though the mails only come at a fortnight's interval, and it +is physically impossible that any intelligence should reach us during +those intervals, the public curiosity is fed and excited by continual +rumours, which generally circulate stories of fresh disasters and +dangers. There is a disposition in some quarters to make if possible +poor Anson the scapegoat, and, now that he is dead and cannot defend +himself, to attribute to him and to his misconduct or _laches_ the +misfortunes that have befallen us. I know not what he may have written +home to the civil and military authorities; but, if I may judge by the +tenor of his correspondence with me, I should infer that he has warned +the Government against leaving India without adequate protection, +and constantly urged the expediency of sending out fresh troops. I +have long expected that the day would come when we should find reason +for regretting our expansive policy and our going on with continual +conquests and annexations. + +We are overrun with Royalties present and prospective. Besides our +Princess Royal's bridegroom, there are here the King of the Belgians' +son and daughter, Prince Napoleon, the Queen of the Netherlands, and +the Montpensiers _as Spanish Princes_, in which capacity Persigny +has had to pay his court to them, and they have had to receive the +Ambassador of Louis Napoleon. + + +_July 19th._--Although it is impossible that any fresh accounts should +have come from India, reports are rife of fresh insurrections and of +all sorts of evils. Amidst all the bad news from India the good fortune +is that so many of the Native troops, and not only the military, but +the whole population of the Punjaub, have shown so much fidelity and +attachment to the British Government. It is the strongest testimony +to the wisdom and justice of our rule, and of the capacity of the +natives to appreciate the benefits they derive from it, for beyond all +question the introduction of European civilisation into the East, and +the substitution of such a government as that of England for the cruel, +rapacious, and capricious dominion of Oriental chiefs and dynasties, is +the greatest boon that the people could have had conferred upon them. +Our administration may not have been faultless, and in some instances +it may have been oppressive, and it may have often offended against the +habits and prejudices of the natives, but it is certainly very superior +in every respect, and infinitely more beneficent than any rule, either +of Hindoos or Mahometans, that has ever been known in India. However, +people much more civilized and more sagacious than the Indians do +not always know what is best for them, or most likely to promote +their happiness, so it will not be surprising if these disorders +should continue to increase, supposing the means of immediately and +effectually suppressing them should be found wanting. + +[Sidenote: TEMPER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS] + +For the last week the House of Commons has presented a more animated +appearance than during the preceding months of this dull and passive +session. Gladstone has reappeared and proved that his oratorical powers +have not been rusted by his retirement, and John Russell has come forth +showing his teeth, but not yet attempting to bite the Government. +Palmerston, evidently nettled by these two, as well as by Roebuck and +Disraeli, has spoken with considerable asperity, and with an insolent +air of superiority and defiance, which has hitherto not been usual to +him, and which has given no little offence. There are evident symptoms +of an approaching cessation of that humble and deferential submission +to his will which has hitherto distinguished his servile majority, and +though it is not clear in what way they will assert their independence, +those who watch the symptoms think that he will not find the same +passive disposition in the next session, and if anything should go +seriously wrong there would be open and general rebellion. Up to the +present time, however, there is nothing to be seen but a certain amount +of restlessness and a disposition to find fault, and the Government +seem still to command the same enormous majorities, and Palmerston to +be as powerful as ever, if he is not quite so popular. A violent effort +is made by a number of Liberals in the House of Commons to renew the +contest with the House of Lords for the admission of the Jews (the +newspapers contain all the details of this attempt), which cannot be +pursued without mischievous results, and will fail in its object. + + +_August 2nd._--The Civil War in India, for such it may be called, +supersedes every other object of interest, and the successive mails are +looked for with the utmost impatience. The Government, though anxious +and nervous, are not disheartened, and as far as we can judge the +authorities in India have not been deficient in the emergency. Canning +writes in good spirits, and all accounts agree in reporting that he +has done his work hitherto very well. The discussions in Parliament +have been on the whole creditable. Disraeli came down to the House of +Commons with a long set oration, in which he entered at great length +into the causes of the present confusion, and the misgovernment and +bad policy which had engendered it, and although his speech was able, +and probably contained a great deal that was true, it was deemed (as +it was) mischievous and ill-timed, and very ill received by the House. +He was rebuked with some asperity by Tom Baring, his own political +adherent, and by Lord John Russell, who declared it to be the duty of +the House to give every support to the Government in such a crisis. In +the House of Lords Ellenborough was as mischievous and ill-disposed +as Disraeli in the Commons, and was no better received. Granville +administered to him a severe lecture, by no means ill done, and the +House of Lords went with Granville. + +[Sidenote: THE PRINCE CONSORT.] + +Last week was passed at Goodwood, with fine weather, and the usual +_fête_ with the unusual accompaniment of foreign Royalties. First the +Comte de Paris for a night, and then the Queen of the Netherlands for +two. The young French Prince is good-humoured and unpretending, the +Queen is very gay, natural, and pleasing. I renewed an acquaintance I +had made with her at Ems many years ago. It is a new feature in the +present day the flitting about of Royal personages. Besides these I +have named, the Prince Napoleon has been finishing a tour through +England and part of Ireland by a visit to Osborne, and the Emperor and +Empress are coming to Osborne for a week. Prince Albert has been to +Brussels for the marriage of the Princess Charlotte, where he seems to +have made his first experiment of the effect to be obtained from his +newly-acquired title of 'Prince Consort of England,' as I see that he +signed the marriage contract immediately after the Queen Marie Amélie, +and before an Austrian Archduke who was present. + + +_August 12th._--I was at Stoke on Saturday and Sunday, and went over +to see Bulstrode; surprised to find the place less _délabré_, and more +capable of being restored than I expected. I passed the first fifteen +years of my life there, and don't know whether the place or myself is +the most changed. To feed our curiosity during the intervals between +the Indian mails, the newspapers, the 'Times' especially, collect all +the letters they can obtain, and publish them day by day. We have +had a success in China, but I always tremble for the consequences +of our successes there, lest we should be seduced or compelled into +making permanent settlements and further extensions of our Empire in +the East. Parliament is approaching its close, and the Government +ends the session with unimpaired strength, but depending entirely on +Palmerston's life, for there is nobody else capable of leading the +House of Commons. There are growing symptoms of independence on the +part of the House in the shape of adverse votes every now and then, +principally on matters of estimates. + + +_August 20th._--I have read over the few preceding pages, and am +disgusted to find how barren they are of interest and how little worth +preserving. They show how entirely my social relations have ceased with +all those friends and acquaintances from whom I have been in the habit +of drawing the information which the earlier parts of this journal +contain, and consequently my total ignorance of all political subjects. +There was a time when I should have had a great deal to say upon +passing events of interest or importance, but all that is gone by. + +The visit of the Emperor Napoleon at Osborne seems to have been spent +in discussing the affairs of the Principalities and patching up the +quarrels of the Ambassadors at Constantinople. As far as outward +appearances go we do not appear to have played a very brilliant part, +and the Opposition papers think they have got a good case on which to +twit Palmerston, but as I do not know what has really taken place, I +abstain from expressing any opinion upon the conduct of our Government. + +The session of Parliament has been prolonged beyond all expectation +by the vehement and acrimonious debates upon the Divorce Bill in the +House of Commons, which has been very ably and vigorously fought by +Bethell on one side _cum quibusdam aliis_, and Gladstone, Walpole, and +Heathcote on the other. The Opposition hoped by constant obstructions +to wear out the patience of Palmerston and to get the Bill put off till +next session. Palmerston, however, was firmly resolved not to submit +to this, and when they found that he was so determined, they contented +themselves with insisting upon certain amendments, which Palmerston +thought it prudent to consent to, and the spirit of compromise and +concession which the Government have lately evinced has softened in +some degree the asperity of the debates, and at last enabled the +Government to carry the Bill. Bethell, who has fought the battle with +great ability, is not a little disgusted at the concessions to which he +has been forced to consent, and has done so with a solemn protest and +warning with regard to the exemption clause for the clergy, which the +Government have very reluctantly consented to, but on which Granville +assures me they had no option, and that if they had refused to give way +they would have infallibly been beaten upon it. I dined at Richmond +with Lord Lansdowne yesterday, to meet the Duchess of Orleans and +the Comte de Paris. I had never seen her before. She is plain, but +pleasing, and with very good manners. + + +_August 21st._--The Divorce Bill having passed the House of Commons, +went up to the House of Lords yesterday, when Lord Redesdale attempted +to strangle it by a dodge, which he was obliged to give up in +consequence of the vigorous attacks made upon him by the Ministerial +side, who were supported even by St. Leonards, and particularly by an +indignant and effective speech, made by Lord Lansdowne, who, in spite +of weakness and gout, from which, he was actually suffering, spoke +with extraordinary spirit. If Redesdale had persisted, and gone to +a division, the Government would probably have been beaten, and the +labour of half the session would have been thrown away. As it is, there +is to be a fight on Monday next, the result of which depends on which +side can get the greatest number to come up from the country to vote. + + +[Sidenote: CLOSE OF THE SESSION.] + +_September 6th._--Went to Worsley on Thursday last, in order to go +from thence to see the Manchester Exhibition, which is very pretty, +but appears diminutive after the London and Sydenham Exhibitions. Its +principal attraction is in the excellent collection of pictures; it +will be a failure in a pecuniary point of view, but there are plenty of +rich people in Manchester able and willing to bear the expenses. The +session closed very quietly, though not without some grumbling. Some +complained that Parliament should not continue to sit while the Indian +troubles are going on with undiminished force, others that the Queen +should go to Scotland; but the Government have brought their labours +to a close very prosperously, and Palmerston continues as powerful and +as secure as ever. There is no longer the same enthusiasm there was +for him, but there is a universal impression that he is indispensable, +and on the whole a feeling of satisfaction and confidence in his +administration. Even I myself am compelled in candour to acknowledge +that he does at least as well as anybody else would be likely to do, +and no complaints can justly be made against the Government of any +supineness in sending out adequate reinforcements to India. Lewis +told me, just as Parliament was prorogued, that they were thoroughly +impressed with the gravity of the case, and conscious of the danger, +and that they were going to send out every man they could muster here +or in the Colonies, and they have already despatched troops in great +numbers with remarkable celerity. + +They have made some Peers, of whom the most conspicuous is Macaulay, +and I have not seen or heard any complaints of his elevation. Lord +Lansdowne has declined the offered Dukedom, which I rather regret, +for such a public recognition of his character and services during a +long life would have been graceful and becoming, and the report of +it elicited from all quarters expressions of satisfaction at such an +honour having been so worthily conferred. + +While Macaulay is thus ascending to the House of Peers, his old enemy +and rival Croker has descended to the grave, very noiselessly and +almost without observation, for he had been for some time so withdrawn +from the world that he was nearly forgotten. He had lived to see +all his predictions of ruin and disaster to the country completely +falsified. He continued till the last year or two to exhale his +bitterness and spite in the columns of the 'Quarterly Review,' but at +last the Editor (who had long been sick of his contributions) contrived +to get rid of him. I never lived in any intimacy with him, and seldom +met him in society, but he certainly occupied a high place among +the second-rate men of his time; he had very considerable talents, +great industry, with much information and a retentive memory. He +spoke in Parliament with considerable force, and in society his long +acquaintance with the world and with public affairs, and his stores of +general knowledge made him entertaining, though he was too overbearing +to be agreeable. He was particularly disliked by Macaulay, who never +lost an opportunity of venting his antipathy by attacks upon him. + + +[Sidenote: HISTORY OF THE LIFE PEERAGES.] + +_Holwood, September 10th._--I came here on Tuesday on a visit to the +Chancellor.[1] This beautiful place formerly belonged to Mr. Pitt, +and abounds in local recollections of the great Minister in the shape +of 'Pitt's Oak,' 'Pitt's Well,' &c. It is close to Hayes, where his +father, the great Lord Chatham, lived and died. Nobody is here but +Pemberton Leigh. + +I asked the Chancellor what was the real history of the Life Peerage +last year, and he told me that it originated in his finding great +inconvenience from himself and Lord St. Leonards frequently sitting +together in the House of Lords without any third, and as St. Leonards +invariably opposed his view of every case great injustice was often +done to suitors, and he urged on Palmerston the expediency of giving +them some assistance. Palmerston said it would be a good opportunity +for making some Life Peers. Wensleydale was willing to retire from the +Bench and to accept a Life Peerage, so it was determined to create him +a Peer for life only, and they did this without the slightest idea +that any objection would be made in any quarter. He owned that he +regretted this design had not been abandoned at once when the storm +of opposition began. I told him that I had no doubt there would have +been no opposition if he had imparted the intentions of Government to +some of the Law Lords, and obtained their acquiescence, for Lyndhurst +would certainly not have objected, having himself told me that he meant +to comply with Parke's request to him to introduce him to the House +of Lords. The Chancellor said this was very likely true, but that he +had never liked the attempt to force it through the House of Lords. He +thought the opposition had originated with Campbell, who had probably +forgotten that he had recorded his own opinion, in his 'Lives of the +Chancellors,' that Life Peerages would be advisable in certain cases. + +Footnote 1: [Lord Cranworth at this time occupied Holwood as a summer +residence.] + + +_September 22nd._--I am just returned from Doncaster, Bretby, and +Wilby. The Indian mail arrived on Monday last, just as I was starting +for Doncaster. The news it brought at first appeared rather good, but +when it all came out it seemed so chequered with good and evil, that it +produced great despondency. Still it is a curious circumstance (which +I have heard no one else remark) that, with all the deep interest +universally felt on account of this Sepoy war, not only as it regards +our national interests, but out of feeling and sympathy for the vast +numbers of our countrymen and women exposed to its horrors and dangers, +it does not produce the same degree of enthusiasm as the Crimean War +did, in which we had no real interest concerned, and which was only a +gigantic folly on our part. People are very anxious about this war, and +earnestly desire that the mutiny may be put down and punished, but they +regard the war itself with aversion and horror, whereas they positively +took pleasure in the war against Russia, and were ready to spend +their last guinea in carrying it on. A subscription has been set on +foot, but although there never was an occasion on which it might have +been expected that vast sums would be subscribed, the contributions +have been comparatively small in amount, and it seems probable that a +much less sum will be produced for the relief of the Indian sufferers +than the Patriotic Fund or any of the various subscriptions made for +purposes connected with the Crimean War. I was so struck with the +backwardness of the Government in rewarding General Havelock for his +brilliant exploits, that I wrote to George Lewis and urged him to press +his colleagues to confer some honour upon him and promote him. + +I am on the point of starting for Balmoral, summoned for a Council to +order _a day of humiliation_. + + +[Sidenote: VISIT TO SCOTLAND.] + +_Gordon Castle, September 27th._--I left town on Tuesday afternoon, and +slept that night at York, on Wednesday at Perth, and on Thursday posted +to Balmoral, where I arrived between two and three o'clock. Granville, +Panmure, and Ben Stanley formed the Council. Granville told me the +Queen wished that the day appointed should be a Sunday, but Palmerston +said it must be on a weekday, and very reluctantly she gave way. What +made the whole thing more ridiculous was, that she gave a ball (to the +gillies and tenants) the night before this Council. The outside of +the new house at Balmoral, in the Scotch and French style, is pretty +enough, but the inside has but few rooms, and those very small, not +uncomfortable, and very simply decorated; the place and environs are +pretty. In the afternoon I drove over to Invercauld with Phipps. On +Friday morning came on here, by post, by rail, and by mail. Without any +beauty, this is rather a fine place, and the house very comfortable. + + +_September 28th._--Went to Elgin to see the fine old ruin of the +Cathedral, which is very grand, and must have been magnificent. It +was built in the beginning of the thirteenth century, burnt down, and +rebuilt in the fourteenth. I see they have done all I wanted to have +done for General Havelock. He has got a good service pension, is made +Major-General and K.C.B. + + +_Dunrobin Castle, October 2nd._--I came here from Gordon Castle on +Wednesday, by sea from Burghead to the Little Ferry, a very tiresome +way of travelling, the delays being detestable. Have long been +most desirous of seeing this place, which has quite equalled my +expectations, for it is a most princely possession, and the Castle +exceedingly beautiful and moreover very comfortable. I start for London +to-morrow morning with a long journey before me. + +The Indian news of this week as bad and promises as ill as well can be, +and I expect worse each mail that comes. We are justly punished for +our ambition and encroaching spirit, but it must be owned we struggle +gallantly for what we have perhaps unjustly acquired. Europe behaves +well to us, for though we have made ourselves universally odious by +our insolence and our domination, and our long habit of bullying all +the world, nobody triumphs over us in the hour of our distress, and +even Russia, who has no cause to feel anything but ill will towards +us, evinces her regret and sympathy in courteous terms. Whatever the +result of this contest may be, it will certainly absorb all our efforts +and occupy our full strength and power so that we shall not be able to +take any active or influential part in European affairs for some time +to come. The rest of the Great Powers will have it in their power to +settle everything as seems meet to them, without troubling themselves +about us and our opinions. For the present we are reduced to the +condition of an insignificant Power. It is certain that if this mutiny +had taken place two years earlier, we could not have engaged at all in +the Russian War. + + +_London, October 6th._--I left Dunrobin after breakfast on Saturday +morning, 3rd inst., and arrived in London on Monday (yesterday) at 11 +A.M. My journey was after this wise: We (i.e. Mr. Marshall of the Life +Guards, an aide-de-camp of Lord Carlisle's, who travelled from Dunrobin +with me) got into the mail at Golspie and took our places to Inverness. +At Tain, the first stage, we walked on, leaving the coach to overtake +us. After walking three miles, and no coach coming, we got alarmed, +and on enquiry of the first man we fell in with, found we had come the +wrong way, and that the mail had gone on. We started on our return to +Tain, and falling in with a good Samaritan in the shape of a banker in +that place, who was driving in the opposite direction, he took us up in +his gig, and drove us back to the inn, where we took post, and followed +the mail to Inverness, where we arrived an hour after it. There we +slept, and at five minutes before five on Sunday morning we were in +the mail again, and arrived at Perth at six o'clock, making 117 miles +in thirteen hours. In twenty minutes more we were in the mail train, +and reached Euston Square safe and sound at eleven o'clock, doing the +distance between Perth and London in seventeen and a half hours. I +have seen a vast deal of very beautiful scenery of all sorts, but the +most beautiful of all (and I never saw anything more lovely anywhere) +is the road from Blair Athol to Dunkeld, which includes the pass of +Killiecrankie. + +[Sidenote: REINFORCEMENTS FOR INDIA.] + +I fell in with Granville and Clarendon at Watford, and got into their +carriage. Of course my first enquiries were about India, when they +told me that the general impression was not quite so unfavourable as +that produced by the first telegraphic intelligence. Clarendon said +that if it was possible for Havelock to maintain himself a short time +longer, and that reinforcements arrived in time to save the beleaguered +places, the tide would turn and Delhi would fall; but if he should be +crushed, Agra, Lucknow, and other threatened places would fall with +renewals of the Cawnpore horrors, and in that case the unlimited spread +of the mutiny would be irrepressible, Madras and Bombay would revolt, +all the scattered powers would rise up everywhere, and all would be +lost. We both agreed that the next would probably be decisive accounts +for weal or for woe. I told Granville afterwards that I was glad to +see they had called out more militia, but regretted they had not done +more, when he said that he was inclined to take the same view, from +which it was evident to me that there has been difference of opinion in +the Cabinet as to the extent to which the calling out of the militia +should be carried. I urged him to press on his colleagues a more +extensive measure. It is evident that public opinion will back them up +in gathering together as great a force as possible in this emergency, +regardless of expense, and at all events the course of this Government +is not embarrassed and annoyed as that of another Government was three +years ago in reference to the Crimean War. As a very true article +in a very sensible paper set forth, the difference between then and +now is, that the Government of Palmerston has fair play, while that +of Lord Aberdeen never had it. The Press, and public opinion goaded +and inflamed by the Press, treated the latter with the most flagrant +injustice, while Palmerston and the whole Government, out of regard for +him, are treated with every sort of consideration and confidence. + + +_London, October 19th._--I spent last week at Newmarket; the details of +the last Indian news which arrived there put people in better spirits, +but they were too much occupied with the business of the place to +think much about India. Returned to town on Friday, and went to The +Grove yesterday; had some talk with Clarendon, who said Palmerston was +very offhand in his views of Indian affairs, and had jumped to the +conclusion that the Company must be extinguished. At the Cabinet on +Friday last he said, 'They need not meet again for some time, but they +must begin to think of how to deal with India when the revolt was put +down. Of course everybody must see that the India Company must be got +rid of, and Vernon Smith would draw up a scheme in reference thereto.' +This brief announcement did not meet with any response, and there was +no disposition to come to such rapid and peremptory conclusions, but it +seemed not worth while to raise any discussion about it then. + +Clarendon then talked of the Court, and confirmed what I had heard +before, going into more detail. He said that the manner in which the +Queen in her own name, but with the assistance of the Prince, exercised +her functions, was exceedingly good, and well became her position +and was eminently useful. She held each Minister to the discharge of +his duty and his responsibility to her, and constantly desired to be +furnished with accurate and detailed information about all important +matters, keeping a record of all the reports that were made to her, +and constantly recurring to them, e.g. she would desire to know what +the state of the Navy was, and what ships were in readiness for +active service, and generally the state of each, ordering returns to +be submitted to her from all the arsenals and dockyards, and again +weeks or months afterwards referring to these returns, and desiring to +have everything relating to them explained and accounted for, and so +throughout every department. In this practice Clarendon told me he had +encouraged her strenuously. This is what none of her predecessors ever +did, and it is in fact the act of Prince Albert, who is to all intents +and purposes King, only acting entirely in her name. All his views and +notions are those of a Constitutional Sovereign, and he fulfils the +duties of one, and at the same time makes the Crown an entity, and +discharges the functions which properly belong to the Sovereign. I +told Clarendon that I had been told the Prince had upon many occasions +rendered the most important services to the Government, and had +repeatedly prevented their getting into scrapes of various sorts. He +said it was perfectly true, and that he had written some of the ablest +papers he had ever read. + +Clarendon said he had recently been very much pleased with the Duke +of Cambridge, who had shown a great deal of sense and discretion, +and a very accurate knowledge of the details of his office, and that +he was a much better Commander-in-Chief than Hardinge. He had been +lately summoned to the Cabinet on many occasions, and had given great +satisfaction there. Clarendon talked of Vernon Smith, of whom he has +no elevated opinion, but still thinks him not without merit, and that +at this moment it would not be easy to replace him by some one clearly +better fitted. He takes pains, is rather clever, and did better in the +House of Commons than anybody gave him credit for last session; he +makes himself well informed upon everything about his office, and is +never at a loss to answer any questions that are put to him, and to +answer them satisfactorily. + + +[Sidenote: ATTACKS ON LORD CANNING.] + +_November 2nd._--Gout in my hand has prevented my writing anything, +and adding some trifling particulars to what I have written above. In +the meantime has arrived the news of the capture of Delhi, but though +we have received it now a week ago we are still unacquainted with the +particulars. All the advantages of the electric telegraph are dearly +paid for by the agonies of suspense which are caused by the long +intervals between the arrival of general facts and of their particular +details. It still remains to be seen whether the results of this +success turn out on the whole to be as advantageous as it appears to be +brilliant. The Press goes on attacking Canning with great asperity and +injustice, and nobody here defends him. Though I am not a very intimate +or particular friend of his, I think him so unfairly and ungenerously +treated that I mean to make an effort to get him such redress as +the case admits of, and the only thing which occurs to me is that +Palmerston, as head of the Government, should take the opportunity of +the Lord Mayor's dinner to vindicate him, and assume the responsibility +of his acts. His 'Clemency' proclamation, as it is stupidly and falsely +called, was, I believe, not only proper and expedient, but necessary, +and I expect he will be able to vindicate himself completely from all +the charges which the newspapers have brought against him, but in the +meantime they will have done him all the mischief they can. Amongst +other things Clarendon told me at The Grove, he said, in reference +to Canning's war against the press, that the license of the Indian +press was intolerable, not of the native press only, but the English +in Bengal. Certain papers are conducted there by low, disaffected +people, who publish the most gross, false, and malignant attacks on the +Government, which are translated into the native languages, and read +extensively in the native regiments, and amongst the natives generally, +and that to put down this pest was an absolute necessity. + + +_November 4th._--I have been speaking to Granville about Canning, and +urged him to move Palmerston to stand forth in his defence at the Lord +Mayor's dinner on the 9th. This morning he received a very strong and +pressing letter from Clanricarde, in the same sense in which I had been +urging him, and a very good letter, and this he is going to send to +Palmerston. Clanricarde is struck, as I am, with the fact that nobody +and no newspaper has said a word in Canning's favour, and he sees as I +have done all the damage which has already been done to him by the long +and uncontradicted course of abuse and reproach with which the press +has teemed. + + +_Hatchford, November 8th._--Granville made a speech in defence of +Canning, at a dinner given at the Mansion House to the Duke of +Cambridge. He writes me word it was 'rather uphill work,' and I was +told it was not very well received, but nevertheless it produced +an effect, and it acted as a check upon the 'Times,' which without +retracting (which it never does) has considerably mitigated its +violence. It was the first word that has been said for Canning in +public, and it has evidently been of great use to him. + +The most interesting event during the last few days is the failure of +the attempted launch of the big ship (now called 'Leviathan),' and it +is not a little remarkable that all the _great_ experiments recently +made have proved failures. Besides this one of the ship, there was a +few weeks ago the cracking of the bell (Big Ben) for the Houses of +Parliament, and not long before that the failure of the submarine +telegraph in the attempt to lay it down in the sea. The bell will +probably be replaced without much difficulty, but it is at present +doubtful whether it will be found possible to launch the ship at all, +and whether the telegraphic cable can ever be completed. + + +_November 10th._--Palmerston pronounced a glowing eulogium on Canning +last night at the Lord Mayor's dinner, which will infallibly stop the +current of abuse against him. It has already turned the 'Times.' He +seems to have been induced to do this by the great pressure brought to +bear on him, for otherwise he had no desire to stand forth and oppose +public opinion and the press; but Clarendon, Lansdowne, and others all +urged him strenuously to support Canning, and he did it handsomely +enough. His speech in other respects was an injudicious one, full of +_jactance_ and bow-wow, but well enough calculated to draw cheers from +a miscellaneous audience. + + +[Sidenote: PALMERSTON'S SPEECH AT THE MANSION HOUSE.] + +_November 11th._--I was told yesterday that Palmerston's swaggering +speech would produce a bad effect in France, and those whom I have +spoken to agree in thinking it very ill-timed and in very bad taste. +It is the more objectionable because he might have said something +very different that would have been very becoming and true. He might +have observed upon the remarkable good taste and forbearance which +had been so conspicuous in all foreign nations towards us, even those +who may be supposed to be least friendly to us, or those whom we have +most outraged by our violent and insulting language or conduct. It is +at once creditable to other countries and honourable to us that no +disposition has been shown in any quarter to act differently towards +us, or to avail themselves of what they may suppose to be our weakness +and difficulty; but, on the contrary, the same consideration and +deference has been shown to us as if there had been no Indian outbreak +to absorb our resources. Our position in Europe is not only as high as +ever, but no one shows any disposition to degrade or diminish it; and +while this is a gratifying homage to us and a flattering recognition +of our power, it is, or at least ought to be, calculated to inspire us +with amicable sentiments, and to be an inducement to us to depart from +the insolent and offensive tone which has so long prevailed here, and +which has made England universally an object of aversion. It was of +course impossible that some expressions should not be given here and +there and now and then to such feelings, but on the whole we have no +reason to complain, but much the contrary; not even in Russia, whose +power and pride we have so deeply wounded, and whom we have so outraged +by every topic and expression of insult and injury which the bitterest +hatred could suggest, has there been anything like asperity, or any +rejoicing over our misfortunes. + + +_Frognal, November 14th._--The news of the capture of Delhi and +the relief of Lucknow excited a transport of delight and triumph, +and everybody jumped to the conclusion that the Indian contest was +virtually at an end. Granville told me he thought there would be no +more fighting, and that the work was done. I was not so sanguine, and +though I thought the result of the contest was now secure, I thought we +should still have a great deal on our hands and much more fighting to +hear of before the curtain could drop. But I was not prepared to hear +the dismal news which arrived to-day, and which has so cruelly damped +the public joy and exultation. It appears that Havelock is in great +danger and the long suffering garrison of Lucknow not yet out of their +peril, for the victory of Havelock had not been complete, the natives +were gathering round the small British force in vast numbers, and +unless considerable reinforcements could be speedily brought up, the +condition of the British, both military and civilians, of men, women, +and children, would soon again be one of excessive danger. + + +[Sidenote: SUSPENSION OF THE BANK ACT.] + +_The Grove, November 15th._--I talked with Clarendon about the +Government letter to the Bank[1] and the state of financial affairs. +It is evident that Clarendon knows very little about these questions, +and takes very little part in them, but he told me one curious fact. A +letter which appeared about a week ago, addressed by the Emperor of the +French to his Finance Minister, made a great sensation here. In it the +Emperor deprecated all empirical measures for the purpose of meeting +the prevailing difficulties, financial and commercial, at Paris. About +a week before this Clarendon received a letter from Cowley, who said +that he had been conversing with the Emperor and with Walewski on these +matters, and Walewski had begged him (by the desire of the Emperor) to +write to Clarendon and request the advice of the English Government as +to the course he should adopt. Clarendon said that George Lewis was out +of town, but as there could be no delay, he sent his private secretary +to the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank, and requested their +advice and opinion. They said it was so important they would go down +to the Foreign Office, which they did, when they told Clarendon that +their advice was that the Emperor should insist on the Bank of France +following as nearly as possible the example of the Bank of England, to +keep their rates of discount high, and to avoid all rash experiments +of any kind. He wrote to Cowley accordingly, who communicated the +answer, and judging from the dates it would appear that the Emperor's +letter was the consequence of the advice so tendered. But Clarendon +seemed to think that the appearance of the Government letter was rather +awkward, and would appear to the French Government very inconsistent +with our communication to them. However, it will probably be easy to +afford satisfactory explanations on this head. The measure itself here +has apparently had the desired success, and they hope the panic and +distress will gradually subside, without any more mischief happening. +Lewis thinks that the best mode of dealing with Peel's Act will be to +retain it, but to give a power to the Queen in Council to relax it in +the same manner as has been now twice done by the interposition of +Government, whenever an urgent necessity should arise, and I suppose +this is the course that will be adopted, though not without a great +deal of discussion and diversity of opinion. I have hitherto said +nothing about the very curious and important state of affairs in +America and in this country, because I am too ignorant of financial +questions to talk about them, and I have not been apprised of any facts +beyond what all the world knows that it was worth while to record, but +this anecdote of the French Government and our own appears sufficiently +curious to have a place in this book. + +Footnote 1: [On the 12th of November a letter was addressed to the +Governors of the Bank of England by Lord Palmerston and Sir George +Cornewall Lewis, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, empowering the Bank +to exceed the limits prescribed by the Bank Act of 1844 (if necessary) +to meet the demands for discount and advances on approved security. +This measure was rendered necessary by the extensive failures which +had recently taken place, and the severe pressure on the money market. +On the 4th November discount had advanced to 9 per cent. The Issue +Department made over to the Banking Department two millions in excess +of the statutable amount, of which about one million was advanced to +the public. On the 1st December the whole amount was repaid. Parliament +was summoned to pass a Bill of Indemnity, and public confidence was +restored.] + + +_November 17th._--A council was held yesterday at Windsor to summon +Parliament, where I found the ministers much dejected at the news from +India. There was a letter from Colin Campbell, expressing great alarm +at the position of Outram and Havelock, whom he thought to be in a +great scrape, though without any fault of theirs, and there was also a +report from Sir John Lawrence that affairs were in a ticklish state in +the Punjaub, and expressing a great anxiety for reinforcements, which +he had very little prospect of getting; in short the apparently bright +sky in which we were rejoicing only a few days ago seems to be obscured +by black clouds, and the great result to be as uncertain as ever. + +[Sidenote: THE CLAYTON-BULWER TREATY.] + +I met Clarendon at dinner this evening, when he told me that affairs +were in a bad state in the City, and that Lewis had received very +unsatisfactory accounts, so that it is not clear that the Government +letter is producing the good which at first seemed to be following +from it. There is a good deal of uneasiness in the financial and +commercial world and no confidence. The very prudence of the trading +community in arresting the course of production is becoming a source +of distress, for already vast numbers of people are out of employment, +or working short time with reduced wages. The prices of everything +are falling, consumption will be diminished, and the revenue must be +diminished likewise, while our expenses cannot but be increased by +the war. A general cry is getting up for making India pay for the +expense of this Indian war, which, even supposing it to be just and +reasonable, will make the ultimate settlement of the Indian question +more difficult, and a measure little calculated to reconcile the native +population to our rule. Then, as if we had not embarrassments enough +on our hands, America is going to add to them, for President Buchanan, +who hates England with a mortal antipathy, threatens to repudiate the +Clayton-Bulwer Treaty upon the pretence that we have not abided by its +conditions, and if he proposes to the Senate to declare it null and +void, the Senate will do so at his bidding. This would be a flagrant +violation of good faith, and of the obligations by which all civilized +nations consider themselves bound. If this event happens, it will +place us in a very perplexing dilemma, especially after Palmerston's +absurd bravado and confident boastings of our power, for we are not in +a condition to enable us to take a highline corresponding with that +lofty language, and we shall have to eat humble pie and submit to the +affront. Hitherto all other nations and governments have behaved to +us as well and as respectfully as we could desire, and far more than +we deserve; but if America bullies us in one instance, and we are +found pocketing the affront, it is by no means improbable that other +governments will begin to take advantage of our weakness, and adopt +towards us a conduct injurious to our interests or a tone galling to +our pride.[1] + +Footnote 1: [These apprehensions were unfounded. Mr. Buchanan did +not seek to abrogate the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty with reference to the +eventual construction of a passage through the Isthmus of Central +America, and the neutral character of that undertaking, which is now +said to be in progress by the Canal of Panama, has remained unchanged +to the present time.] + + +_November 25th._--Last week I went to Ampthill from Wednesday till +Saturday; on Saturday to The Grove, with the Duke of Bedford, the +Lewises, Charles Villiers, and Ben Stanley. The Duke of Bedford told me +he was very uneasy about his brother John, who seemed in an irritable +frame of mind, and disposed to wage war against the Government when +Parliament meets.[1] He told Sir George Grey the other day that they +would not find him friendly. Clarendon told me of a conversation he +had recently had with the Queen _à propos_ of Palmerston's health, +concerning which Her Majesty was very uneasy, and what could be done +in the not impossible contingency of his breaking down. It is a +curious change from what we saw a few years ago, that she is become +almost affectionately anxious about the health of Palmerston, whose +death might then have been an event to be hailed with satisfaction. +Clarendon said she might well be solicitous about it, for if anything +happened to Palmerston she would be placed in the greatest difficulty. +She said that in such a case she should look to _him_, and expect him +to replace Palmerston, on which Clarendon said he was glad she had +broached the subject, as it gave him an opportunity of saying what he +was very anxious to impress upon her mind, and that was the absolute +impossibility of his undertaking such an office, against which he +enumerated various objections. He told her that Derby could not form a +Government, and if she had the misfortune to lose Palmerston, nothing +remained for her to do but to send for John Russell and put him at the +head of the Government. She expressed her great repugnance to this, and +especially to make him Prime Minister. Clarendon then entreated her +to conquer her repugnance, and to be persuaded that it would never do +to offer him anything else, which he neither would nor could accept; +that the necessity was to have a man who could lead the House of +Commons, and there was no other but him; that Lord John had consented +to take a subordinate office under Lord Aberdeen, who was his senior +in age, and occupied a high position, but he would never consent to +take office under him (Clarendon), and the proposal he would consider +as an insult. For every reason, therefore, he urged her, if driven to +apply to him at all, to do it handsomely, to place the whole thing in +his hands, and to give him her full confidence and support. He appears +to have convinced her that this is the proper course, and he gave me +to understand that if Lord John acts with prudence and moderation all +the present Government would accept him for their head, and Clarendon +is so anxious that this should be the turn affairs should take, that +he urged me to talk to the Duke of Bedford about it, and to get him to +exert all his influence with Lord John to conduct himself in such a +manner as shall conduce to his restoration to office at a future time. +I had only time to exchange a few words with the Duke before we parted +the next morning, and we agreed that I should write him a letter on the +subject which he may show to Lord John if he sees fit to do so. I went +to Wrotham on Monday, and yesterday penned an epistle to be shown to +Lord John, in which I set forth his position, and dilated on the great +importance to himself and to the country of his conducting himself with +patience and forbearance, and of his abstaining from any such vexatious +opposition to the Government as might render his future union with +them impossible. It remains to be seen whether my remonstrance (which +I tried to couch in terms that would not be disagreeable to Lord John) +will produce any effect.[2] + +Footnote 1: [Lord John Russell had taken office in Lord Palmerston's +first Administration as Colonial Secretary, but he resigned on June 13, +1855, and remained out of office.] + +Footnote 2: [These speculations are curious, but happily the +apprehensions caused by the supposed state of Lord Palmerston's +health were unfounded, for with the short interval of the second +Derby Government in 1858 and 1859, he continued to hold office and +to discharge the duties of Prime Minister with his accustomed vigour +and success until his death in October 1865, when he was succeeded +by Lord Russell. At this particular moment (1857) the latent danger +of the Government lay, not in the failing health of Lord Palmerston, +but in an unforeseen occurrence which caused the unexpected defeat of +Lord Palmerston's Ministry within four months of this date, and the +accession of Lord Derby and his friends to office.] + + +[Sidenote: LORD JOHN RUSSELL IN OPPOSITION.] + +_Hitchinbrook, November 28th._--I came here to-day from Riddlesworth, +where I have now been for the first time for twenty years. I received +there two letters from the Duke of Bedford, the first telling me he +should show, and the second that he had shown, my letter to Lord John. +He received it graciously, saying he agreed with almost all I said, but +that it was easier to give than it was to take such advice, and that he +had been blamed by certain persons for not having given more opposition +to the Government last year on some questions than he had done, +especially to the Persian War; but I rather infer on the whole that my +letter made some impression on him, though it remains to be seen how +much. + +The last news from India is as good as could be expected, and the +current there has evidently turned. I met Martin Smith (Indian +Director) at Riddlesworth, and had much talk with him about Indian +affairs. It is clear that the Company do not mean to submit to be +summarily extinguished without a struggle. He told me that with regard +to the great subject, the sending out troops by sailing vessels instead +of by steamers, which is made matter of bitter reproach against the +Directors, the fault lay entirely with the Government. The Directors +wanted to send 10,000 men across Egypt, and the Government would +not do it. They proposed it formally to the Board of Control, who +referred it to the Foreign Office, and Clarendon said it could not be +done on account of certain political considerations which rendered it +inexpedient, so that if the Directors could have had their own way the +thing would have been done. There may have been good grounds for the +refusal of the Government, but in this instance the double Government +was productive only of a sacrifice of Indian to Imperial interests, +and it will not be easy to draw from this transaction any argument in +favour of abolishing the East India Company and the Leadenhall Street +Administration. + + +_London, December 2nd._--Yesterday morning Lord Sydney received a +letter from Lady Canning, who said that although undoubtedly many +horrible things had happened in India, the exaggeration of them had +been very great, and that she had read for the first time in the +English newspapers stories of atrocities of which she had never heard +at Calcutta, and that statements made in India had turned out to be +pure inventions and falsehoods. Yet our papers publish everything that +is sent to them without caring whether it may be true or false, and +the credulous public swallow it all without the slightest hesitation +and doubt. Shaftesbury too, who is a prodigious authority with the +public, and who has all the religious and pseudo-religious people at +his back, does his utmost to make the case out to be as bad as possible +and to excite the rage and indignation of the masses to the highest +pitch. He is not satisfied with the revolting details with which the +Press has been teeming, but complains that more of them have not been +detailed and described, and that the particulars of mutilation and +violation have not been more copiously and circumstantially given to +the world. I have never been able to comprehend what his motives are +for talking in this strange and extravagant strain, but it is no doubt +something connected with the grand plan of Christianizing India, in +the furtherance of which the High Church and the Low Church appear +to be bidding against each other; and as their united force will in +all probability be irresistible, so they will succeed in making any +Government in India impossible. + +[Sidenote: A QUEEN'S SPEECH.] + +B---- showed me the Draft of the Queen's Speech this evening after +dinner. Cobbett in his Grammar produces examples of bad English taken +from Kings' Speeches, which he says might be expected to be the best +written, but generally are the worst written documents in the world. +It would be difficult to produce any former Speech more deplorably +composed than this one. Long sentences, full of confusion, and of which +the meaning is not always clear, and some faults of grammar for which +a schoolboy would be whipped. B---- was so struck by one I pointed +out that he said he would beg Palmerston to alter it. If this Speech +escapes severe criticism and ridicule I shall be much surprised, as I +am already that George Lewis, who has so lately been a literary critic, +and is a correct writer himself, should have allowed it to pass in its +present shape, and indeed the sentence he himself put in about his own +business is as bad as any other part of it. + +I have no idea what they mean to propose about the Bank Charter Act, +but if it be what Lewis told me some time ago, to give the Queen the +power of suspending the Act by Order in Council, I much doubt if +they will carry such a proposal, and it appears to me on reflexion +thoroughly unconstitutional, and as such I expect it will be vehemently +attacked by all the opponents and the quasi-opponents of Government, +and indeed by all except those who are prepared to follow Palmerston +with blind submission, and to vote for anything rather than allow him +to be put in jeopardy. John Russell, for instance, would hardly be able +to resist the temptation of falling foul of such a proposal, though he +would approve of their having followed a precedent which he had himself +set in a case somewhat similar, though in some respects less urgent. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +Opening of the Session--Prevailing Distress--Lord John +reconciled--Ministerial Speculations--Contemplated Transfer of +India to the Crown--Military Position in India--Conversation +with Mr. Disraeli--Bill for the Dissolution of the East India +Company--Difficulties of Parliamentary Reform--The Relief of +Lucknow--Lord Normanby's 'Year of Revolution'--Brougham's Jealousy of +Lord Cockburn--Refutation of Lord Normanby's Book--The Crown Jewels +of Hanover--Labour in the French Colonies--The Death of General +Havelock--Gloomy Prospects in India--Inadequate Measures for the Relief +of India--Lord John Russell hostile to Government--Death of the Duke +of Devonshire--Mr. Disraeli suggests a Fusion of Parties--Marriage of +the Princess Royal--Weakness of the Government--Excitement in France +against this Country--Petition of the East India Company--Drowsiness +of Ministers--Decline of Lord Palmerston's Popularity--Effect of the +Orsini Attempt on the Emperor Napoleon--Opposition to the Conspiracy +Bill--Review of the Crisis--Lord Derby sent for by the Queen--Refusal +of the Peelites--The Catastrophe unexpected--The Defeat might have been +avoided--Mismanagement of the Affair--Ministers determined to resign. + + +[Sidenote: A BAD WINTER.] + +_London, December 4th_, 1857.--Parliament opened yesterday, very +quietly, and at present a quiet session seems probable, but such +appearances are often fallacious. The most alarming consideration +is the probability of a very hard and hungry winter for the working +classes, vast numbers of people being already out of employment. I +met Sir James Shuttleworth yesterday, who knows a great deal about +Lancashire, where he lives, and he told me that though the distress was +considerable and threatening to increase, the conduct of the people was +admirable. There was no disaffection or bad feeling towards the upper +classes and employers; they seemed to have greatly improved in good +sense and reflection, and were satisfied of the sympathy felt for them, +and the disposition entertained by the rich to do all in their power to +alleviate the distress of the poor. And he stated (what seemed to me a +curious fact) that they preferred that the time of working should be +shortened, or even mills closed, rather than a general reduction in the +rate of wages. This moral condition of the labouring classes is a most +satisfactory sign of the times. + +The Duke of Bedford has just been here, and tells me Lord John is in +a better frame of mind, and has already done two sensible things. He +has given notice to some of his supporters that he will have nothing +to do with the organisation of any party, and he has responded to an +invitation of Vernon Smith's by a promise to impart to him his opinion +and advice upon Indian affairs, and the best mode of providing for the +future government of that country. + + +_December 6th._--John Russell has begun well in the House of Commons +and _si sic omnia_ he will put himself in a good position, but it +is impossible to rely upon him. At present his disposition to the +Government appears friendly. I had a conversation about him and +his future relations with the Government last night with B----. I +infer from what dropped from him that he thinks the probability of +Palmerston's breaking down is not a remote and unlikely one. I do +not think he considers him broken in health, but that he thinks the +strength of his intellect is impaired, and that he begins to show signs +of decay to those who have the means of observing them. He particularly +noticed the failure of his memory, and he said, what I have no doubt is +true, that he will never be himself conscious, still less acknowledge, +that his faculties are less vigorous and active than they were. What +the nature and amount of the decay in him is I know not, and they will +not say, but from the uneasy feeling, and these speculations as to +future contingencies among his colleagues, I am sure they are prepared +for something. B---- said if the case occurred there were only two men +who could be Minister, Derby or Clarendon, and he fancies that John +Russell might be induced to take office under Clarendon, and he does +not believe that Clarendon really means what he says when he expresses +his extreme reluctance to take the post, or that he would not in +reality prefer it even to the Foreign Office. He treats his scruples +as a sort of _nolo episcopari_, in which I think he is partially, but +not entirely, right. There can be no doubt that in the present state of +affairs it is much to be desired that Palmerston should be able to go +on. I was amused by a trifling incident, so very Palmerstonian, told me +the other day. I have already alluded to the bad writing in the Queen's +Speech, and it seems one phrase was criticised and altered in the +Cabinet, but when he got back to his office he altered the alteration, +and made it as it was before. I am not sure that the alteration was not +the one suggested by B---- upon the strength of my criticism, and that +Palmerston declined to alter the passage. + + +[Sidenote: TRANSFER OF INDIA TO THE CROWN.] + +_December 7th._--I called on Lord Grey in the morning and dined with +Lyndhurst in the evening, and had much talk with both of them about +the pending questions, Reform, India, Bank Act. Lord Grey is bringing +out a book upon Reform. Lyndhurst is decidedly against any strong and +subversive measure about India, and is for improving and not upsetting +the present system. Public opinion, led by the Press, has hitherto +leant to the dissolution of the Company and the Directorial Government; +but as time advances and the extreme difficulty of concocting another +system becomes apparent, people begin to dread the idea of destroying +an ancient system, without any certainty of a better one replacing it, +and I think there is a general feeling of alarm at the notion of the +Indian Empire being placed under the direction of such a man as Vernon +Smith; more, indeed, than is quite just and called for, as his talents, +though of a second-rate calibre, are not so low as is supposed, and he +is not the cipher in his office he is thought to be, but is well enough +acquainted with all its details, and always able to explain everything +to the Cabinet clearly and correctly. But these merits, which are those +of a diligent clerk, are far from being sufficient to qualify him for +having the direction of an office which circumstances have rendered +by far the most important and difficult in the whole Government. +Till recently the Board of Control has been looked upon as a very +subordinate department, and one of mere routine, which anybody might +fill. I remember when John Russell offered it to Graham some years ago, +he treated the proposal as an insult. + + +_December 8th._--I went to the House of Lords last night and heard for +the first time Ellenborough speak--an admirable style of speaking. It +was a good night for Canning. The 'Times' has turned right round and +defends him, finding the Government are in earnest in doing so. The +account of Lucknow just come by telegram is very alarming, and keeps +one in a state of nervous excitement, difficult to describe. + + +_London, December 17th._--Though the last advices from India were +satisfactory as far as they went, it is generally understood that the +next mail must bring the account of a bloody battle at or near Lucknow, +in which, though no one doubts that the British will be victorious, it +is certain that there will be great loss of life. Sanguine people and +the Press, with hardly any exception, imagine that this anticipated +victory will terminate the contest and leave only some straggling +conflicts to go on for a short time longer, ending by a speedy +suppression of the rebellion. In this expectation I do not share, but, +on the contrary, believe it will be a protracted affair, not indeed +doubtful in its ultimate result, but which will cost as much time +and money and many men, for all who know anything of the matter tell +us that the wear and tear in India is enormous, and that a continual +stream of reinforcements must be poured into the country to keep the +army in a state of efficiency. Captain Lowe, lately aide-de-camp to +poor George Anson, and who was in the storm of Delhi, an intelligent +officer, confirms all these notions, and he says that nothing can +be more inexpedient than the scheme, propounded here with great +confidence, of forming the native force, on which we are hereafter to +rely, of Sikhs instead of Hindoos. He says that inasmuch as they are +very brave and excellent soldiers, it would only be to place ourselves +in a state of far greater danger and uncertainty, for though the Sikhs +have proved very faithful to us, and rendered excellent service, it +is impossible to predict how long this humour may last, and whether +circumstances may not arise to induce them to throw off our yoke and +assert their own independence. It is marvellous and providential that +on this occasion the Sikhs were disposed to side with us instead of +against us, for if they had taken the latter course, it would have +been all up and nothing could have saved us. _À propos_ of this +consideration he told me a curious anecdote. A Sikh was talking to a +British officer in a very friendly way, and he said, 'Don't you think +it very strange that we, who were so recently fighting against you, +should be now fighting with you? and should you be very much surprised +if a year or two hence you should see us fighting against you again?' + +[Sidenote: CONVERSATION WITH MR. DISRAELI.] + +Disraeli called on me a day or two ago, when we had a political +chat. He talked with much contempt of the present Government, except +of George Lewis, of whom he spoke in the highest terms. He said +Palmerston's popularity was of a negative character, and, rather more +from the unpopularity of every other public man than from any peculiar +attachment to him; he talked bitterly of Derby's having declined +to take the Government in 1855, which he seemed to consider as an +irreparable blow to his party. He is evidently not without hopes that +the Government may find themselves in some inextricable difficulty +about their Reform Bill, and thinks they will be incapable of +concocting an India Bill which will go down with the country. He does +not appear to have made up his mind what course to take on the Indian +question, and it is evident that at present the Tory party have decided +on nothing. The Cabinet has committed the scheme of Reform to a select +number of its members, as was done in 1830, but what they are doing +about India I do not know. There is certainly a difference of opinion +amongst them, as there no doubt is about Reform, but as little doubt +that they are all agreed upon not letting their conflicting opinions +break up the Government. + + +_December 21st._--I called on George Lewis the day before yesterday +and had a long talk with him. He told me that Palmerston had given +notice to the Chairs that the Government had come to the resolution +of bringing in a Bill to put an end to their dominion, and that the +plan was to have an Indian Secretary of State with a Council, and the +Council to have the distribution of the patronage. I was surprised to +hear him say that he saw no difficulty in the settlement of the Indian +question, either in passing it through Parliament or in producing a +good measure which would work better than the present system, and he +said he wished the other great question they had upon their hands, +that of Reform, was as easy, but that the more they went into it, the +more difficult it appeared. I need not enter into the details which we +discussed, as the Bill is not yet settled, and in a few weeks more it +will come forth. He said that the great misfortune was their having +thrown out Locke King's motion this year, for if they had done what +they had originally intended with regard to it, they should in all +probability have laid the question at rest for ten years longer at +least, and he then told me a curious anecdote on this matter, giving an +example of strange levity and incapacity on the part of the Government. +When Locke King brought forward his motion, it was considered in the +Cabinet, and they came to a unanimous resolution to let his bill be +read a second time, but to oppose the amount of his franchise in +Committee and raise it from 10_l._ to 20_l._, which they had no doubt +they should carry. On the very night on which the question was to be +moved Lewis went down to the House of Commons with this understanding, +never dreaming that any alteration was contemplated, when George Grey +said to him, 'You know Palmerston is going to oppose Locke King's +motion' (for leave to bring in his Bill). Lewis expressed his surprise, +and asked what had happened to set aside the unanimous agreement come +to in the Cabinet. Grey said there had been a dinner at Charles Wood's, +at which certain Ministers were present (whom he named, but I forget +if Palmerston was one), when the question had been discussed, and the +result had been to make a change in their opinions, and Palmerston +had agreed that Locke King should be opposed _in limine_. This Lewis +told me he regarded as a fatal error, to which they owed the dilemma +in which they found themselves placed. But what struck me most was the +mode of doing business of such importance, and that there should not +be found a single individual to protest against it, and to resign his +office rather than to submit to be so dragged through the mire; but +the present doctrine seems to be that _Palmerston's_ Government must +be held together at any price, and this is the more curious when it is +obvious to me that his colleagues, while conscious of the difficulty of +doing without him, have an exceedingly mean opinion of his intrinsic +value. I told Lewis all that Disraeli had said to me about him as well +as about Palmerston, when he expressed his surprise at the manner +in which Disraeli had spoken of _him_, for which he was not at all +prepared, but said _he estimated Palmerston at his real worth_. He told +me of Harrowby's resignation on account of his health, and that his +place had been offered to Clanricarde, and wanted to know if I thought +Clanricarde would be objected to.[1] We talked of the stories which +John Russell had heard of, about our being on bad terms with France, +and the Emperor Napoleon out of humour with us, and of Palmerston's +meditating hostile designs against Russia, all of which he said were +pure fabrications, as we were on the best terms with France, and +Palmerston entertained no hostile designs against Russia or any other +Power. We both agreed that our hands were too full to think of any +fresh quarrels or aggressions, and I found him of the same opinion as +myself about our arbitrary and dictatorial system, and of the mischief +it had done, and as much with reference to the slave trade as any other +question. + +[Sidenote: THE CASE OF THE 'NEWPORT.'] + +I told him of the slave case just decided in the Judicial Committee +of the Privy Council, and of the sum of money it would cost our +Government, to say nothing of the mortification. He said no doubt +Palmerston would proclaim it to be a wrong decision, and would defend +the Foreign Office and all the agents who had been concerned in the +outrage.[2] + +Footnote 1: [The Earl of Harrowby held the office of Lord Privy Seal. +He was succeeded by the Marquis of Clanricarde, which proved a very +unpopular appointment.] + +Footnote 2: [This refers to the case of the 'Newport,' a vessel which +had been condemned by the Vice-Admiralty Court at St. Helena for +alleged trading in slaves, together with penalties to the amount of +13,000_l._ on the shippers and owners of the cargo. The Lords of the +Judicial Committee reversed this sentence with costs and damages, and +declared that the owners of the ship must look to the Government for +their indemnity. They added that 'merchants who, having engaged only +in a lawful adventure, have been subjected to an unjust and illegal +sentence, are entitled to be indemnified against its consequences, and +against the costs which they have incurred in obtaining its reversal, +in relieving themselves from the heavy pecuniary loss which it +inflicted, and from the deep stain which it cast upon their characters, +and that the national honour must be vindicated at the national +expense.'] + + +_Hatchford, December 26th._--Christmas Day, usually coming in frost and +snow, was yesterday like a fine day in May, the glorious weather being +in unison with the general gladness at the good news from India and the +tidings that Lucknow, with its wounded and its long suffering band of +women and children, had been relieved at last, and for good and all. +This news arrived on Christmas Eve, to make the day itself as merry as +it is proverbially said to be. + +[Sidenote: LORD NORMANBY'S 'YEAR OF REVOLUTION.'] + +Brougham has taken Normanby's book, 'A Year of Revolution,' under his +protection, for what reason nobody can divine. He wrote to Mrs. Austin +begging she would exert her influence with her nephew Reeve to get it +noticed favourably in the 'Edinburgh Review,' that it was a good book, +had the merit of being true, and that it was much approved by Louis +Napoleon, who had encouraged its being translated. I had imagined +Brougham was improved, but it is evident from his conduct on this +occasion that he is the same man he ever was. The book contains page +after page of matter the most offensive to Guizot and to Louis Philippe +and his family, with which everybody is revolted, and its malice is +not redeemed by literary merit or attractiveness in any shape. That +Brougham should take up such a production is as unaccountable as +it is indecent, for he affected to be exceedingly attached to the +Orleans royalties, to be on very intimate terms with the King, and he +treated Guizot with a familiarity quite at variance with good taste +and propriety, and which had excited the astonishment, with no small +disgust, of Guizot himself. It might have been expected that he would +have resented such a production as Normanby's, instead of patronising +it. He told Mrs. Austin he could not himself speak to Reeve about it, +since he had made the 'Edinburgh Review' the vehicle of a personal +attack upon himself. What he alluded to was, that when Lord Cockburn's +life was published an article (anonymous of course) appeared in the +'Law Magazine' in which Lord Cockburn was very ill-used, and another +in reply to this, and in vindication of Lord Cockburn, but without a +word against Brougham, appeared in the 'Edinburgh.' This was what he +called a personal attack upon himself. He was the author of the paper +in the 'Law Magazine,' but the writer in the 'Edinburgh' had no right +to assume this, or to know anything about it, though as a matter of +fact he did know, or at least had good reason to suspect, that it was +penned by Brougham. It had already been settled that the 'Edinburgh +Review' should take no notice whatever of 'The Year of Revolution,' +and Mrs. Austin having sent Brougham's letter to Reeve, Reeve answered +it himself, utterly denying that he had made or intended to make any +attack upon him, and telling him in plain terms what the general +opinion is of Normanby's book. + +Meanwhile Guizot writes to Reeve that the book is full of lies, and +not worth notice; that he will take none of what concerns himself +alone, but cannot leave uncontradicted such parts of it as relate to +the King, and give utterly false statements of the relations between +the King and himself. He then refers to various passages which he says +are all false, and desires Reeve to show his letter to Lord Lansdowne, +Granville, and me, and to anybody else he thinks fit. All this will +contribute to bring Normanby into a very unpleasant dilemma about +this ill-advised book, and it must be said that it is all Clarendon's +fault for his weakness and good nature in abstaining from renewing +his prohibition, and when Normanby was here giving a sort of tacit +consent to its appearance, although that was accompanied with a strong +expression of opinion that it ought to be suppressed. And now a report +has got about that before the book came out Clarendon read and approved +of it, which I requested Mrs. Austin to deny in the most peremptory +manner, for it was to her that this assertion had been made.[1] + +Footnote 1: [Lord Normanby had written this narrative of the events +of 1847 to 1848 whilst he was Ambassador in Paris, and he proposed to +publish it at an earlier period when he was still in office. But upon +this coming to the knowledge of the Foreign Office, Lord Clarendon +(without having read the work) intimated to Lord Normanby that he +could not allow a diplomatic servant of the Crown of the first rank +to publish a polemical narrative of transactions in which he had been +engaged, at any rate whilst he held office. The book therefore was +suppressed for some years. But when Lord Normanby had quitted office, +he felt at liberty to disregard Lord Clarendon's injunction, and the +book was published, to the great detriment of his own reputation.] + + +[Sidenote: THE CROWN JEWELS OF HANOVER.] + +_December 29th._--The long-pending dispute about the Crown jewels +claimed by the King of Hanover was settled the other day. The history +of it is this. The late King of Hanover on the death of William IV. +claimed these jewels upon the ground that they were partly belonging +to the Crown of Hanover and partly had been bequeathed to him by +Queen Charlotte. Our Government, on behalf of the Queen, naturally +resisted the claim. After a good deal of wrangling they were at last +prevailed on to name a commission to investigate the question, and +Lord Lyndhurst, Lord Langdale, and Chief Justice Tindal were appointed +accordingly. After a considerable delay and a troublesome enquiry, +they arrived at a conclusion, but when they were just about to give +their award Chief Justice Tindal died. Lyndhurst and Langdale were +divided in opinion, so no award could be given. The Chancellor, Lord +Cottenham, refused to renew the Commission, and the matter has stood +over ever since. In the present year, however, the Government thought +the matter ought to be decided one way or another, and they issued a +fresh Commission, consisting of Lord Wensleydale, Vice-Chancellor Page +Wood, and Sir Lawrence Peel (ex-Indian judge), and they have given +judgement unanimously in favour of the King of Hanover, i.e., with +regard to the bulk of the jewels, some few seem to have been allotted +to the Queen. Lord Wensleydale came into my room at the Council Office +just after they had finished their award, and told me about it. I asked +him if they had decided it on _evidence_ or only by a sort of rough +estimate, but he said they had ample evidence, and they were all quite +satisfied upon the point. Last night I asked Lord Lyndhurst about his +share in the question, when he told me their difficulty had been to +make out whether the jewels which Queen Charlotte had disposed of by +her will had really been hers to leave, or whether she had only had the +use of them, but that this had been decided by the discovery of George +III.'s will, in which he expressly left them to her. Tindal entirely +agreed with Lyndhurst, and if he had lived a little longer, judgement +would have been given then in favour of Hanover. Lyndhurst said the +Court was very anxious about it, for Prince Albert had told him the +pearls were the finest in Europe. The value of them has been enormously +exaggerated, but is still considerable. Lord Lyndhurst said they were +worth about 150,000_l._, and Kielmansegge told me the same thing. + +By the Indian papers just arrived it appears that the relief of the +Residency of Lucknow and the deliverance of all who were confined in it +was complete, but there was no great battle (which everybody expected), +though much severe fighting, and Lucknow itself was still untaken. +The mutineers, though always worsted, seem to fight better than they +were thought capable of doing, and everything tends to show that the +suppression of the Mutiny is still far from being accomplished. + + +_December 31st._--I met Clarendon last night, who talked about the +Hanoverian jewel question; he said the Queen was very anxious to know +Lord Lyndhurst's opinion upon the award, so last night I went to his +house and asked him, telling him the reason why. He said he had no +doubt the award was correct; that in their case the jewels were divided +into two categories: first, those which came from George II. and were +undoubtedly Hanoverian; and secondly, those which George III. had given +Queen Charlotte. They had heard counsel on both sides, but neither +side chose to produce the will of George III., which they never had +before them, so they were in a difficulty about these latter stones. +Tindal died the day they were to have met to draw up an award. He and +Lyndhurst were agreed, Langdale doubted. Lyndhurst said he had no doubt +if they had had King George III.'s will, which Wensleydale and his +colleagues had before them, they should all three have agreed, and to +the same award. + +Clarendon complained of the recent pro-slavery articles in the 'Times,' +and told Delane they were calculated to encourage the French in holding +to their African operations. The French Government had told us that +they must have labour, but they did not care if it was black or brown, +and if we would undertake to find coolies for them in the same way +as Mauritius is supplied, they would give up their scheme. Clarendon +said this was fair enough, but it did not get rid of the difficulty, +because it was impossible to get the coolies in sufficient numbers, +and that our own Colonies, which were perishing for want of labour, +would complain loudly, and not unjustly, if we brought the French into +competition with them, thus enhancing the difficulty and the cost of +supply to themselves. The probability then is that the French will go +on, and that all other nations who have the same wants will follow +their example, and we shall be reinvolved in endless remonstrances and +squabbles under very disadvantageous circumstances. + + +_January 1st_.1858.--It is worth noticing that after a year of fine +weather, of which nobody can recollect the like, this first day of the +New Year has opened like one of a genial spring. This nearly unbroken +course of wonderful weather for about nine or ten months gives rise to +many speculations as to its cause, and no doubt there is some physical +cause, although it has not yet been ascertained. + + +_January 5th._--To-day the winter seems to have set in in earnest. + + +[Sidenote: THE CONTEST IN INDIA.] + +_January 7th._--Not many days ago the 'Times' concluded an article on +the Indian war in these words (it was after describing the relief of +the Residence at Lucknow by Sir Colin Campbell): 'thus ends the Indian +Mutiny of 1857;' and to-day we have the news of Wyndham having been +defeated by the Gwalior Force; of Sir Colin having been obliged to quit +Lucknow, _without having captured it_, in order to repair this check +(which he seems to have done very effectually) and deplorable event; of +the death of Havelock, the hero of this war, who, after escaping unhurt +through battle after battle, has succumbed to disease, not having lived +long enough to know all that is said of him and all that has been done +for him here. It is impossible not to feel the loss of this man as if +he belonged to one individually, so deep is the interest which his +gallantry and his brilliant career have excited in every heart. + +Every account we receive only confirms the impression that this +war will be a long and difficult affair, and if we are able by our +military successes to put down all opposition and suppress the mutiny +thoroughly, we shall have a still more difficult task to re-establish +order and a quiet and regular government in the country, and this +difficulty promises to be enormously increased by all that is passing +here on the subject. Shaftesbury is stirring up all the fanaticism +of the country, and clamouring for what he calls the _emancipation_ +of Christianity in India, and even the 'Times,' once celebrated for +its strong sound sense and its fearless independence, is afraid to +rebuke this nonsense, and endorses it by saying 'we have commited +great errors,' but without explaining what it means, or giving any +exemplification of the assertion. The real meaning, however, of the +Exeter Hall clamour is, that we should commence as soon as we can a +crusade against the religions of the natives of India, and attempt +to force Christianity upon them. I begin to have the most dismal +forebodings upon this Indian question. I continue indeed to believe +that by dint of enormous exertions, by a vast expenditure of money, +and sending out every man we can raise and make a soldier of, we shall +sooner or later conquer the mutineers and suppress the rebellion, but I +expect we shall lose our Indian Empire. I may possibly not live to see +the catastrophe, but those who are twenty or may be ten years younger +than I am in all probability will. All our legislation is conducting +us to this end. We are taking this moment of war and confusion to +revolutionize our Indian Empire and government, to root up all that +the natives have been accustomed to regard with veneration, and to +pronounce sentence of condemnation upon the only authority of which +they know anything, and which has been the object of their fears and +hopes, and sometimes of their attachment. The Government is about to +hurry into this measure as if the existing system had been the cause +of the present rebellion and conflict, and that the one they propose +to substitute would be so much better and capable of repairing the +mischief which the government of the Company has caused by its alleged +mismanagement. I have no prejudice or partiality for the Company, but I +believe any great change at this moment to be fraught with danger, and +that the notion of improving the state of affairs by the abolition of +what is called the double government is a mere delusion.[1] + +Footnote 1: [The experience of nearly thirty years has proved that +these gloomy forebodings were unfounded. The Government and the +condition of the Indian Empire have undergone enormous changes in that +interval of time, but upon the whole the suppression of the military +revolt of 1857 has placed British authority in India upon a more secure +basis, the loyalty of the native princes to the Crown has increased, +the native population is more enlightened and more prosperous, and +the dangers which may still threaten the British Empire in India are +not those which struck the mind of Mr. Greville in 1858. He himself, +however, soon changed his opinion. See entry of the 12th March, +_infra._] + + +_January 16th._--I went to The Grange on Tuesday and returned yesterday +morning, when I was met by the news of an attempted assassination of +the Emperor Napoleon, whose escape seems to have been providential. + +It is since I last wrote anything here that we have received the +news from India of Wyndham's defeat at Cawnpore, and of Sir Colin's +subsequent victory, but we are not yet informed of the details so as +to be able to pass a judgement on these events, and upon Wyndham's +conduct. It may be doubted, however, whether the small defeat in the +one case is not more prejudicial than the considerable victory in +the other is advantageous; and the inference to be derived from the +whole is to my mind of a gloomy character, for I think unless we can +manage to pour into India an unceasing stream of fresh troops for an +indefinite period, we shall succumb in the contest by the mere weight +of numbers, and the question is, whether we shall be able to do this, +which seems to me exceedingly doubtful. The Government appear never +to have been sufficiently alive to the danger and the difficulties of +this warfare, and have contented themselves with going on leisurely +and lazily, preparing reinforcements to be sent out from time to time, +but have never thought it incumbent on them to make the extraordinary +efforts that the case imperatively demands. + +[Sidenote: LORD JOHN RUSSELL IN OPPOSITION.] + +When Parliament meets I shall be surprised if there is not before long +a great storm in both Houses, and if Palmerston means to rest upon his +popularity, and to endeavour to conjure it by his habitual offhand +manner and assurances that they have done all they could, expecting +that such assurances will be accepted as a matter of course, I think he +will be greatly mistaken. In spite of all that has been said to John +Russell, and his not unfriendly disposition during the short autumnal +session, his patience and prudence are evidently well-nigh exhausted, +and we may soon expect to see him in vehement opposition. He writes to +his brother that 'he is appalled at the part he may be obliged to take +in the coming session,' and he seems to be under the influence of a +fresh feeling of antipathy to Palmerston. It is not unlikely that he +thinks it not worth his while to wait for the chance of Palmerston's +being withdrawn from the field, and that he may as well gratify his +inclination by going into Opposition, and it is likely enough that he +fancies he has more influence in the House of Commons and the country +than he really possesses, and may collect a party of his own, instead +of being grudgingly accepted by the present Government as a matter of +necessity, rather than one of choice. If this is his view, I believe +he is egregiously mistaken. Lowe, whom I met at The Grange, and who +knows something of both Parliamentary and public opinion, told me that +John Russell would find no support in the House of Commons where his +influence was extinct, and that so far from forming a party of his +own, he did not believe if Palmerston were to die to-morrow, and Lord +John take his place at the head of the Government, that the Government +itself would stand. + + +_Woburn Abbey, January 19th._--Yesterday morning we were astounded by +the receipt of a telegraphic message informing Granville that the Duke +of Devonshire had been found dead in his bed.[1] Nothing could be more +sudden and unexpected, and the immediate cause of his death is not +known. At different periods of my life I have lived in great intimacy +with him, but he was capricious, so the intervals were long and +frequent during which we were almost strangers to each other. Spoiled +by his mother as a boy, and becoming Duke of Devonshire with a colossal +fortune at twenty-one years old, and besides afflicted with incurable +deafness, his existence was _manqué_, and he was a disappointed and +unhappy man. His abilities were of a very high order, and if he had +not been relieved by his position and wealth from the necessity of +exertion and disqualified by his infirmities from taking an active part +in public life, he might have been a considerable and important as well +as a far happier man; but as he had unfortunately no positive tastes +or active pursuits, no domestic ties to engage his affections, and no +public duties to occupy his mind, he was reduced to fill up the vacuum +of his existence by capricious _engouements_ and frivolous society. +He was very clever and very comical, with a keen sense of humour, +frequently very droll with his intimate friends, and his letters were +always very amusing. The Duke lived very much like a _grand seigneur_, +hospitable and magnificent; he was very fond of his family, and very +kind to them, as he was also to those of his friends whom he took into +favour, many of the poorer of whom will have great reason to regret the +loss of a benefactor. There was for a long time a vague notion that +some mystery attached to his birth, and that he was not really the +son, or at all events not the legitimate son, of his reputed father. +The idea was that Lady Elizabeth Foster (whom the Duke afterwards +married as his second wife) and the Duchess had been confined at the +same time at Paris, and that the latter having a girl and the former a +boy, the children had been changed, the Duke being the father of both +children. I always treated this story as a myth, and this opinion has +been confirmed by the deposition of the woman who had received the +child in her arms upon his birth, which was conclusive evidence of his +legitimacy. It is remarkable that the whole of the vast property of +the late Duke was in his own power. The entail was cut off upon his +majority, and his father died before the estates were resettled. + +Footnote 1: [William Spencer, sixth Duke of Devonshire, born May 21, +1790, died January 17, 1858. He was Mr. Greville's second cousin, the +Duchess of Portland, mother of Lady Charlotte Greville, having been the +daughter of the fourth Duke of Devonshire.] + + +_January 20th._--The more I hear from India and about Indian affairs, +and the more I read and reflect upon the subject, the more desponding +I become as to our future prospects there; first, as to our means of +bringing the war to a successful issue, and secondly, as to our power +to govern the country and keep it quiet and contented when the first +object has been accomplished. + + +[Sidenote: DISRAELI'S OVERTURE TO THE WHIGS.] + +_January 23rd._--On arriving in town yesterday, I received a visit +from Disraeli, who said he had come to consult me _in confidence_, +and to ask my opinion, by which his own course would be very much +influenced. I was not a little surprised at this _exordium_, but told +him I should be glad to hear what his object was, and that he was +welcome to any opinion he wished for from me. He then began a rather +hazy discourse, from which I gathered, or at least thought I gathered, +that he thinks the present state of affairs very serious, and the +position of the Government very precarious; that he is meditating on +the possible chances there may be for him and his party in the event +of Palmerston's fall, and knowing that some sort of coalition with +some other party would be indispensable to form any other Government, +an idea had crossed his mind that this might be practicable with some +of the most moderate of the Whigs, especially with the younger ones, +such as Granville and Argyll, and he wished to know if I thought this +would be possible, and whether I could be in any way instrumental in +promoting it, and if I did not think so what my ideas were as to the +most advisable course in order to avert the threatened Reform, and to +give the country a better Government than this. This, with a great deal +of verbiage and mixed with digressions about the leading men of the +present day, seemed to me to be the substance and object of his talk. +He professed to speak to me of his own sentiments without disguise, and +with entire confidence about everything, but I cannot call to mind that +he imparted to me anything of the slightest interest or importance. It +would be difficult and not very interesting to write down our somewhat +vague and _décousu_ conversation, but I told him that I knew very +little of the dispositions of any of the men he alluded to, but I did +not believe they any of them would be parties to any such combination +as he looked to, or separate from their present colleagues. + + +_January 25th._--We are still without any advices from India. The +petition to Parliament of the East India Company, which is very able, +and was written by John Mill, has produced a considerable effect in the +world, and doubts are expressed in all quarters whether Government will +be able to carry their Bill. + + +_January 26th._--The Princess Royal's wedding went off yesterday with +amazing _éclat_, and it is rather ludicrous to contrast the vehement +articles with which the Press teemed (the 'Times' in particular) +against the alliance two years ago with the popularity of it and the +enthusiasm displayed now. The whole thing seems to have been very +successful. At the breakfast after the wedding, to which none but the +Royalties were invited, the French Princes were present, which was +amiable and becoming on the part of the Queen. + + +_January 28th._--As the day approaches for the re-assembling of +Parliament there is an increasing impression that this Government is +very likely not to get through the session, and the 'Times,' which is +always ready to assist in the discomfiture of a losing party, is now +showing unmistakeable symptoms of its own doubts whether the Government +is any longer worth supporting, and Delane told me yesterday he thought +they would not remain long in office, and that it is time they should +go, and he ridiculed the idea of its not being practicable to form +another Government. It is absurd, but nevertheless true, that nothing +has damaged Palmerston so much as his making Clanricarde Privy Seal. It +was an unwise appointment, but the fault of it is grossly exaggerated. +Everybody agrees that from one end of the country to another there is +a feeling of universal indignation against it. Then there is a great +turn in the public mind in favour of the East India Company, or rather +against the Government measure, of which nothing is known, but that the +result of it will be to place the Indian Empire in the hands of Vernon +Smith. + + +[Sidenote: EFFECTS OF THE ORSINI CONSPIRACY.] + +_February 2nd._--The Indian question has for the moment been superseded +by the French question as it may be called, that is, by the storm which +is raging in France against this country, its institutions and laws, +in reference to the assassination plot of January 14.[1] It was well +known that the French Government had been urging our Ministers to adopt +measures or to pass laws against the refugees and their machinations +in this country; but while this question was under discussion, we +were astounded by a speech made by Persigny in reply to an address +from the City, and still more by the publication in the 'Moniteur' of +certain addresses from corps or regiments of the French army to the +Emperor, full of insult and menace to this country. These offensive +manifestations naturally excited great indignation here, and the Press +did not fail to hurl back these insults, and to retort with interest +upon the persons from whom they had proceeded or who had permitted +their appearance. On Sunday I spoke to Clarendon on the subject. He is +very much annoyed and embarrassed by this posture of affairs as might +be expected, but more than this he is very much alarmed, more than I +think he need be. I said it seemed to be that the Emperor had forgotten +his usual good sense, and that he who knows this country ought to have +felt that if he wishes to have anything done here, he is taking the +most effectual means to prevent it by permitting the military addresses +to appear in the 'Moniteur,' since in the present state of the Press +this is tantamount to their being published by the Government itself. +I said I could not believe that these hot and enthusiastic expressions +were to be taken entirely as proofs of a passionate attachment to the +Emperor's person, but that these were outbreaks of that hatred of +England which sometimes slumbered, but never died. He said the Emperor +felt that his alliance with this country was indispensable to him, and +regretted sincerely the displays of feeling in France, but that he did +not dare to repress the sentiments evinced by the army, though he kept +them in check as well as he could, and the truth was, as I have said +above, that it was the undying animosity to us which had found a vent +upon this occasion. He added that he had not blamed Morny, who could +not say less than he did without being denounced by the Chamber as an +inadequate exponent of its sentiments. The French, seeing how all our +force is absorbed in our Indian war, think they may treat us as they +please, and Clarendon fancies that if any accident were to befall the +Emperor, any Government that might be able to establish itself would go +to war with us as the best means of ingratiating itself with the nation +and of being able to establish itself. He says they can march 50,000 +men at a moment's notice to Cherbourg, where there is an abundance of +war steamers ready to transport them across the Channel, while we have +no soldiers and no ships to defend us in case of such a storm suddenly +bursting. George Lewis says that Clarendon is haunted with this +apprehension, which he does not share in the slightest degree. + +Though there is some truth in this account of the Emperor's position, +I cannot believe that he might not have kept matters more quiet in +France than he has done, if he had exerted his influence and power +for that end. There can be no doubt that our international relations +are upon a very unpleasant and perilous footing, and that the evil is +not corrected by the fact of the two Courts being on friendly terms, +by mutual interchanges of soft sawder and proofs of friendship in the +shape of handsome bridal gifts from the Emperor and Empress to the +Princess Royal. We are going to do something to soothe the French; but +as it will, I believe, be no more than to make that a felony which is +now only a misdemeanour, it may be doubted if this will satisfy or +appease them; but it would be impossible to do more even if it were +desirable, which I think it is not, and I doubt if even this slight +concession will be obtained from Parliament without some strong and +indignant remarks upon the tone which has been adopted towards England. + +Footnote 1: [It was known in France that the explosive bombs with which +Orsini had attempted the life of the Emperor Napoleon were manufactured +in England, and that some of the accomplices of that conspirator were +still in this country, where the law could not reach them for a crime +committed abroad. These facts called forth a strong hostile feeling, +and England was accused of harbouring assassins. On January 20 Count +Walewski addressed a remonstrance to the British Government, which +remained unanswered, and on January 23 Count Persigny spoke in strong +language to a deputation from the City of London. Military addresses of +a violent character from several French regiments to the Emperor were +published in the _Moniteur_. On February 9 Lord Palmerston introduced a +bill, called The Conspiracy to Murder Bill, making conspiracy to murder +a felony. The opposition to this bill gave rise to the ensuing events +and overthrew the Ministry.] + + +[Sidenote: PETITION OF THE EAST INDIA COMPANY.] + +_February 3rd._--The Directors have got Tom Baring and Lord Grey to +present their petition in the two Houses, and they mean to adopt +the moderate and judicious course of not agitating any further, but +trust to the course of events, which is now turning in their favour, +and to ask for delay and a Committee. Graham, acting, I believe, +independently, means to move for a Committee. John Russell intimated to +him that he did not think he should support such a motion, but he has +not finally determined what to do, and I rather expect he will end in +voting for it. Palmerston's friends still tell him that his name is all +powerful, and that he is sure of carrying through the House of Commons +whatever he proposes, if the House thinks there is any possibility of +a defeat leading to his resignation, and such is evidently his own +opinion. In a Committee on Indian affairs and the intended bill, at +which Bethell was present, on some objection or possible objection +being suggested by one of the members, Palmerston said in his usual +jaunty way, 'Oh, they will fall in love with our bill when they see +it;' when Bethell, in his niminy-piminy manner and simper, said, 'Oh, +my dear Lord!' Granville, who told me, says it was very funny. They +all seem conscious of the diminution of Palmerston's energy and power. +He is always asleep, both in the Cabinet and in the House of Commons, +where he endeavours to conceal it by wearing his hat over his eyes. +Clarendon made me laugh heartily the other day at his account of the +Cabinet, where one half of them seem to be almost always asleep, +the first to be off being Lansdowne, closely followed by Palmerston +and Charles Wood. I remember his giving me a very droll account of +Melbourne's Cabinet, and of the drowsiness which used to reign there, +more particularly with Melbourne himself. + + +_February 11th._--I never remember Parliament meeting with much +greater curiosity and excitement. The situation of the Government is +generally regarded as so precarious, and the revolution in Palmerston's +popularity and therefore his power is so extraordinary, that everybody +is expecting some great events will occur, and the hopes of all who +wish for a change and who expect to profit by it are reviving. The +bill brought in by Palmerston on Tuesday for the purpose of punishing +conspirators and with a view to satisfy the exigency of the French +Government made a great stir. The leave to bring it in was carried by +a large majority, thanks to the Conservatives, but its success was +principally owing to the Emperor's apology arriving just before the +debate began. This pacified most of those who were enraged at the +publications in the 'Moniteur,' and disposed to oppose the measure on +account of the conduct of the French Government. I have no sympathy +with such a feeling, but it is well calculated to go down with the +public, and to afford a plausible pretext to the Ultra-Liberals and +the crotchety politicians. The greatest objection to this bill is that +it will probably be quite useless for its alleged object, and though +perhaps something more stringent might be useful, the Government do not +dare propose anything beyond the present measure. + +Perhaps the most serious reflexion to which this matter gives rise is +the suspicion that the conduct of the Emperor Napoleon betrays either +some strange infirmity in his faculties, or something so unsound and +dangerous in the state of France, as to be pregnant with possible +consequences it is frightful to contemplate. All that he has been +doing, or has allowed to be done of late, is indicative of a change; +for the moderation and prudence, together with firmness and decision, +which have hitherto formed his best claim to the admiration and +approbation of this country seem to have completely deserted him. The +penal laws enacted or to be enacted in France are considered as the +inauguration of a reign of terror, and there is rapidly growing up +the same sort of feeling about the French Empire that there is here +about the Palmerston Government. Nobody pretends to foresee what will +happen, but everyone thinks that the state of France is rendered more +combustible, and that any spark may produce an explosion. Those who +are most attached or most favourable to the Imperial Government are +the most alarmed, and, when they dare speak out, express the greatest +regret and alarm at all that is passing in France. + +[Sidenote: PERILS OF THE GOVERNMENT.] + +To turn to the Government here, their two great rocks ahead are the +India Bill and the Reform Bill, but with regard to these there seems no +knowledge how parties will act, and how leading individuals will vote. +Most people, however, are impressed with the idea that neither measure +will be carried, and that the Government will in all probability not +get through the session. It will be too absurd if Palmerston, after +being the idol of the public, in spite of or in consequence of all his +foolish speeches and his outrageous acts, should find himself deserted +and his power shaken because he made Clanricarde Privy Seal; but there +can be no doubt that this appointment has had more effect than any +other cause in the change of public opinion about him. + + +_February 14th._--Last week saw the debates in the House of Commons +about the Conspiracy Bill, and the first act of the India Bill. The +first is very unpopular, but it will be carried nevertheless. John +Russell has taken it up with extraordinary vehemence and anger. His +opposition to it is furious, on high constitutional grounds, which +appear to me absurd and uncalled for. If I were in Parliament I should +be puzzled how to vote, for there is much to be said against the Bill, +and much against voting against it, particularly against leave to bring +it in. Almost all the Tories voted with Government, and John Russell +carried very few with him, and neither of his own nephews. He is more +than ever exasperated against Palmerston for bringing it in. The +apology tended by the Emperor, which was read to the House, reconciled +a great many to the bill, but I have no notion that it will do any +good, or that the French Government will be satisfied with it. After +such a bill, which will certainly be carried, the British Lion must put +his tail between his legs, and 'Civis Romanus' give up swaggering so +loftily. If Aberdeen had attempted such a measure when Louis Philippe +was King and Guizot minister, what would Palmerston have said, and what +would not have been the indignant outcry throughout the country? The +balance of opinion now seems to be that Government will carry their +India Bill, and the report is that they are willing, if the second +reading is carried, to consent to any alterations that may be pressed +upon them in Committee. Lewis seems to have made a good speech on +Friday, though rather of a didactic character. + + +[Sidenote: A CRITICAL SITUATION.] + +_February 20th._[1]--Unless I were to write down day by day the +events and the _impressions_ of each day I should fail in giving +anything like a picture of the time, and I regret that my indolence +or other occupations have prevented my doing this. I have each day +promised myself I would not neglect it, and then, failing to keep +that promise (to myself), I have found some fresh occurrence sweeping +away the interest, and generally the accurate recollection, of what +the preceding days have produced. The varieties of the aspects of +public affairs have been like the figures in a kaleidoscope, and one +ought to catch each fleeting symmetrical arrangement before it is +changed into some other equally fleeting in order to comprehend the +rapidity and importance of the changes which are going on. Not long +ago (that is, not many weeks) a vague idea began to circulate that +the Government would have difficulty in getting successfully through +this session, and that their power had suffered some diminution. It +was thought that the India Bill and the Reform Bill would be too much +for them, and when a little later the events in France induced them to +bring in the Conspiracy Bill, the excessive unpopularity of this last +measure strengthened the impression of their instability. Everybody +out of the pale of the Government itself admitted that Palmerston was +not the man he was, and the diminution of his popularity was visible +universally. This was attributed to several smaller causes, but the +great one was the appointment of Clanricarde; which beyond all doubt +has been regarded with a disgust and indignation to the last degree +exaggerated and uncalled for. Such was the state of public feeling and +opinion when the Parliamentary campaign opened with the discussions +first of the Conspiracy Bill, and secondly of the Reform Bill. After a +few days, however, a great change seemed to have taken place, though +the country and the Press watched with great jealousy the progress of +the Conspiracy Bill, keeping up a very loud growl of dislike to the +Bill, and resentment against the French Government. In the division +on the question of leave to bring in the bill the majority of the +Conservatives came over to the Government, and they got a majority of +the Conservatives of three to one. A few days after Palmerston brought +in the India Bill, about which for a moment it was thought Baring +with his amendment might run him hard, but after a very poor debate, +in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a very good speech, +and the President of the Board of Control made no speech at all, the +Government got a majority of near 150. These two victories, though +the first was obtained by the aid of opponents, raised the spirits of +the Ministerialists, and were generally taken as indicative of more +strength than they had been supposed to have, and as pretty clear +proofs that Palmerston would at all events get unscathed through this +session with not much diminished authority and influence. + +But while they were triumphing in the fancied security which these +divisions seemed to promise them, a storm was gathering, for the +bursting of which, they were far from being prepared, nor did they +estimate its importance. The public feeling had become more and more +exasperated at the Conspiracy Bill, and at the conduct of France. +The first reading of the bill would not have been carried as it was, +perhaps not at all, but for the _apology_, as it was called, of the +Emperor, and the soothing effect of Walewski's despatch carrying +expressions of his master's regret and a sort of half disclaimer of +the military addresses. But this soothing effect was very transitory. +It was remarked that while the 'Moniteur' continued to insert fresh +addresses of an offensive character, the apologetic despatch did not +appear at all, and the original despatch of Walewski (January 20), +which had excited so much indignation here, and which was not denied +to have been the origin of the Conspiracy Bill, lay upon the table +of the House of Commons unanswered by our Government. On this point +a good deal of surprise and anger had been evinced in the Press and +in society, and the discontent against the Government generally, and +Palmerston in particular, was still spreading, when Milner Gibson took +advantage of the prevailing temper, and moved a resolution in the shape +of an amendment to the second reading of the bill, very skilfully +concocted, but which was a direct vote of censure upon the Government +(particularly of course directed against Palmerston and Clarendon) for +not having answered that despatch. + +[Sidenote: DEFEAT OF THE GOVERNMENT.] + +Palmerston, I have been assured, when he saw the terms of this +amendment, perceived that it might be dangerous, and that it was +well calculated to get votes; but it is certain that the Government +generally were in no apprehension, and that nobody of any party (I +believe literally nobody) had the least idea that any vote of censure, +which of course involved the existence of the Government, had the +slightest chance of being carried. I met Sir Edward Lytton at the +Athenæum on Friday, just as he was going to the House, and had some +conversation with him. He treated Palmerston's position as impregnable, +and said he would have a very large majority that evening. So confident +were the Government whippers in that they made no exertions, and Hayter +actually allowed some of his people to go away unpaired, telling them +that they were quite safe, and their presence not necessary. I went +to the House of Lords that evening to hear Macaulay, who was to have +spoken but did not speak, and afterwards went home, hearing nothing +more that night. Great was my astonishment when I read in the 'Times' +this morning that Government had been beaten on Milner Gibson's motion +by 19, and a few minutes after Granville came in and said that this +defeat must be conclusive and nothing left for them but to resign. +A Cabinet was held in the afternoon, at which it was decided that +Palmerston should repair to Buckingham Palace with the resignations of +himself and his colleagues. + +Footnote 1: [On February 19 the Government were defeated on the +Conspiracy Bill, in the House of Commons, by a majority of 234 to 215, +Mr. Milner Gibson's amendment having been carried against them. The +majority consisted of 146 Conservatives, 84 Liberals. Mr. Gladstone, +Lord John Russell, Sir James Graham, Mr. Cardwell, and Mr. Sidney +Herbert voted against the Bill. Lord Palmerston immediately resigned.] + + +_February 21st._--Nothing more was known last night, but it was evident +that Derby had been sent for in preference to Lord John, whom I met +at Brooks's in the morning, and who did not expect the Queen to send +for him. He told me Gladstone, he believed, and Graham, he knew, would +not join Derby, and he thought neither Sidney Herbert nor Cardwell +would either. As to the future, there really are _quot homines tot +sententiæ_. Some think Derby cannot form a Government, some that he +will not try. The sanguine Palmerstonians think all other attempts will +fail and Palmerston remain in power, as Lord Grey did in 1831, and some +fancy he will endeavour to propitiate the House of Commons and public +opinion by throwing overboard Clanricarde, to whose appointment the +mischief is in great measure attributed. Such is at this moment the +state of doubt and confusion which generally prevail. + + +_February 23rd._--Nothing is yet known of Derby's progress except +that he tried the Peelites, not one of whom would join. He sent for +Newcastle from Clumber, who came up, saw him, and declined. It is +evident that they mean to act in concert, except probably Graham, who +has espoused John Russell, and who will not separate himself from Lord +John's fortunes. There was a prevailing expectation yesterday that +Derby would abandon his attempt, and that Palmerston would come back, +but Derby seems quite determined to go on. The Palmerstonians certainly +expect their exclusion to be of short duration, and nobody thinks that +any Government Derby can possibly make will last long. + +Never was there a great catastrophe so totally unexpected. Within an +hour of the beginning of the debate no one doubted that the Government +would have a majority, but Milner Gibson's speech was not concluded +before it was evident that his amendment would be carried, and +Palmerston's conduct was very unaccountable. It was clear from the tone +of his speech, which was as bad as possible, feeble and intemperate, +that he was aware of what was going to happen, and yet when the true +state of the case was urged upon him, and he was pressed to adjourn the +debate till Monday, which could easily have been done, he obstinately +refused. If he had done this, there is little doubt that he would have +whipped up a majority by Monday. Certainly no people ever so mismanaged +their affairs. There is no excuse for their having put on the table of +the House of Commons such a despatch as Walewski's, without any reply +being made to it. It required no great sagacity to anticipate that such +a course of proceeding could not fail to throw the House of Commons +into a flame, and exasperate the country, already much excited, and all +the excuses they made only made their case worse, and were generally +inconsistent with each other. George Grey's was the most pitiful, +when he said that after the second reading an answer should be sent. +Then they made shuffling statements: at one time that they had sent +no answer, and that to have answered it as alone it could be answered +must have increased the irritation. Then, that they had given a verbal +answer, and at last it transpired that an answer had been sent in the +shape of a _private_ letter from Clarendon to Cowley. + +[Sidenote: MISMANAGEMENT.] + +There were two courses open to the Government, either of which might +have been very naturally and not improperly taken. Palmerston might +have announced that it was not his intention to produce any of the +correspondence between the two Governments, and asked the House of +Commons to place confidence in him, and allow him to take the steps +he deemed best to satisfy the French Government, and at the same +time vindicate the honour and dignity of this country, and if he had +stated that he thought it would be injurious to the interests of +peace and amity to produce any papers, it is perfectly certain he +would have met with unanimous acquiescence. The only objection I have +heard to this is that the French Government published the despatch +in the 'Moniteur;' but if Palmerston had resolved upon silence here, +he could have informed Cowley of his resolution, and instructed him +to come to a common agreement with Walewski that they should publish +nothing in the 'Moniteur,' and we should keep the correspondence from +Parliament here. Not acting in this way, he ought to have sent an +answer, and who can suppose that such men as Palmerston and Clarendon, +whose lives have been passed in writing despatches, and who are both +so remarkably expert at that work, should be unable to concoct a +reply to Walewski which should be conciliatory in tone and matter, +and at once suffice for the fears and exigencies of France and for +the national pride and honour of England? Clarendon's private letter +is said to have been excellent, and of course it must have been well +adapted for its purposes. What difficulty could there have been, +therefore, in converting the private into a public letter, which if +it had accompanied the French letter would have pacified both the +House of Commons and the country, for the Government ought not to +have forgotten, as it seems they did, that the English and French +Governments were not the only parties in this transaction, but there +were the English Government and the House of Commons and the country, +between whom accounts had to be settled. There are people who fancy +that Palmerston was not sorry to be beaten on Milner Gibson's motion, +thinking it better to go out upon that than upon the motion against +Clanricarde on March 4 (the abolition of the Privy Seal), on which they +think they certainly would have been defeated, and on which they must +have resigned; but I don't think their defeat on the latter was so +certain, and they might have been saved by Clanricarde's resignation +before the debate came on. The conduct of those who brought forward and +those who supported the vote of censure, and that of the Government in +going out upon it, admits of much diversity of opinion. The friends +of the Government, and those who were averse to a change, maintain +that the amendment was inexcusable, and that the House of Commons +had no business to meddle with the functions of the Executive, or to +express any opinion as to the propriety of answering or not a despatch +which ought to have been left to the discretion of the Minister, and +the ex-Ministers say that the vote made it impossible for them to do +anything but resign, and that their opponents must have been fully +aware that this would be the consequence of their victory. + +[Sidenote: DETERMINATION TO RESIGN.] + +Their conduct is inexplicable to me, for I believe they were very sorry +to go out, and yet if they had wished it they might have very well +stayed in. According to ancient practice any vote of censure produced +resignation as a matter of course, no matter what the subject of it, +but it did so because a vote of censure, and indeed any adverse vote on +any important measure, implied that the House of Commons had withdrawn +its confidence from the Government, the fact of which rendered it +impossible for them to carry on the affairs of the country, and obliged +them to resign. But it is impossible to pretend that the late vote +indicated the withdrawal of the confidence of the House of Commons +generally. They had had two immense majorities a few days before, and +they would have had another as large a few days after if they had gone +on with the bill. If I had been able to advise the Queen, I would have +recommended her to refuse Lord Palmerston's resignation, and have +insisted on his testing the question of confidence on the Conspiracy +Bill, or on some question in which the national passions were not +concerned, and he could not have refused to take this course. Even +after she had sent for Derby he gave her the opportunity (though not I +suppose the advice to do so), for he said she had better take another +day for consideration, and then if she decided on wishing him to form a +Government, he would undertake it. + + +_February 26th._--I met George Lewis yesterday, and talked over +with him the whole affair. He thinks that it has all been fearfully +mismanaged, and that the catastrophe might have been avoided in many +different ways: first, by answering the despatch; secondly, by doing +what I have suggested, producing no papers and asking for confidence; +then by the Speaker's declining to allow the amendment to be put, as he +well might have done, and as a _strong_ Speaker would have done. Lord +Eversley advised him to do this, and gave his strong opinion that the +amendment was inadmissible. It is curious that Palmerston's overthrow +should be the work of a Parliament elected expressly to support him, +and immediately caused by the act of a Speaker whom he insisted upon +putting in the chair, contrary to the advice of many others who thought +he would prove inefficient. + +I told Lewis I thought their resignation was not called for, and what I +would have advised the Queen. He said the whole question was well and +most calmly and dispassionately considered, and they were unanimous +as to the necessity of resignation, with the sole exception of Vernon +Smith, and that was without any _arrière pensée_ of returning on an +anticipated failure of Derby; that the Queen had begged Palmerston +not to resign upon this vote, and he had returned to the Cabinet, +and reported what she said, but they were all without exception for +adhering to their resignation. Derby, too, had evidently wished to +afford Palmerston an opportunity of recalling it, for he had begged the +Queen to take twenty-four hours to consider of it; but it is probable +that Her Majesty, having failed to persuade Palmerston in the first +instance, had thought it useless to make any further attempts. + +Lewis gave me such strong reasons for their determination, that +I confess they materially shook my opinion. He said there was no +possibility of mistaking the feeling there was against Palmerston, +which if I had been present and seen what passed in the House that +night, I could not have doubted; that the only way in which they could +have stayed in was by getting somebody to move a vote of confidence, +which was too dangerous an experiment, as in the present state of +the House of Commons it was at least an even chance that such a vote +would not have been carried, and certain that they would have had +all the great guns of all sides thundering against them. He thought +Palmerston's speech had been very ill advised, and had done much harm, +and that it was a mistake not to have adjourned the debate, when it was +very probable that they might have had an opportunity of changing the +fortune of it. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +The Second Derby Administration--Lord Derby's first Speech--Lord +Clanricarde defends himself--The New Ministry--Coincidences--Lord +Derby's favourable Position--Opinion of the Speaker--Lord Derby's +Liberal Declarations--Dinner to Mr. Buckle--Instability of the +Government--Mr. Disraeli's sanguine Views--India--Prospects of the +new Government--A Visit to the Duc d'Aumale--Delicate Relations +with France--Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston--Irritation of +the Whigs--Marshal Pélissier Ambassador in London--The Peelites +and the Whigs--Failure of the India Bill--An Overture from Lord +John Russell--Dissensions of the Whigs--Lord Derby resolves to +remain in Office--Lord John Russell proposes to deal with the +India Bill by Resolutions--Mistake of the Whigs in resigning on +the Conspiracy Bill--Withdrawal of the India Bill--Policy of +the Whigs in Opposition--Lord Cowley on the Relations of France +and England--Strong Opposition to the Government--Lord Derby +on the State of Affairs--Disunion of the Whigs--Lord Canning's +Proclamation--Littlecote House--Vehemence of the Opposition--Lord +Lyndhurst displeased--Debates on the Indian Proclamation--Collapse of +the Debates--Triumph of the Ministry--Disraeli's violent Speech at +Slough--Lord Palmerston's Discomfiture--Prospects of a Fusion--Success +of the Government--Concessions to the Radicals--The Queen's Visit to +Birmingham--Progress of the India Bill--The Jew Bill--The Jew Bill +passed--Disturbed State of India--Baron Brunnow on the Russian War. + + +_London, 27th February_.1858.--All yesterday lists of the new +appointments were put forth from hour to hour, unlike each other, and +proving what changes had been made during the last hours. Nobody was +prepared for Bulwer Lytton having no place, and still less for Lord +Stanley taking office in this Government, which must have been settled +at the eleventh hour. On the whole it presents a more decent-looking +affair than anybody expected, but the general impression is that it +cannot last, and must be overthrown by the mere weight of numbers, +whenever the different sections of the House should unite on any +question whatever. Their staff is not so despicable, but their rank and +file are sadly inadequate if they are attacked in earnest.[1] + +Footnote 1: [The second Administration of the Earl of Derby was +composed as follows:-- + + First Lord of the Treasury Earl of Derby + Lord Chancellor Lord Chelmsford + Lord President Marquis of Salisbury + Lord Privy Seal Earl of Hardwicke + Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Disraeli + Home Secretary Mr. Walpole + Foreign Secretary Earl of Malmesbury + Colonial Secretary Lord Stanley + War Secretary Colonel Peel + Board of Control Earl of Ellenborough + Board of Trade Mr. Henley + Duchy of Lancaster Duke of Montrose + Admiralty Sir John Pakington + Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland Earl of Eglinton + Chief Secretary Lord Naas + Woods and Forests Lord John Manners] + + +[Sidenote: LORD DERBY'S ADMINISTRATION.] + +_March 2nd._--Last night Derby made his statement. He was very nervous +and unlike himself, scarcely audible at first, much less fluent than +usual, and he spoke from notes, which I never saw him do before. +It was, however, a very judicious and becoming speech. Granville +and Clarendon both spoke very well, and the whole affair was very +creditable and satisfactory, civil, courteous, and good-humoured on +all sides. Clarendon made a very plausible defence of his own conduct +in not answering Walewski's despatch, which was so good that Hardwicke +crossed the House to compliment him, and said if that speech had been +made in the House of Commons there would have been no division. The +impression left on me is that though it was a pretty good defence, he +would have exercised a sounder discretion if he had sent an answer, and +that there was no difficulty in doing so. Clanricarde has given notice +of what the 'Times' calls favouring the House with some leaves of his +autobiography. He has been advised to take this course by some of his +friends and colleagues, particularly Lord Lansdowne; but in spite of +such respectable authority, I think it an ill-advised step, from which +he is likely to derive little if any benefit. He is going to defend +himself against something intangible, for no accuser will appear, and +there is no charge which he is called upon to rebut. No doubt his +appointment has been the real cause of the downfall of the Government. +It is this which ruined the popularity of Palmerston. It is only fair +to admit that they could not have been expected to anticipate all the +hubbub it made, nor anything like it. + +People are now wondering that Palmerston's fall has made so little +sensation and the event fallen so flat, considering what his popularity +was only a few months ago, but this proves what an unsubstantial +and factitious popularity it was. Derby has done better than his +predecessor in one way, for he has brought forward some new men who +have a good reputation, and may distinguish themselves in Parliament, +and show us that we have something to look to beyond the old worn +out materials of which everybody is tired. The first class of this +Government is not worse than that of the last, and the second class +is a great deal better. There are some rather curious coincidences +noticeable in this smash. The majority by which the Whigs fell was +nineteen. It was the same on the China question last year, and nineteen +turned out Derby in 1853. Derby has been three times called on to form +a Government, and each time on the 21st of February. At the present +moment there appears to be a disposition to give him what is called a +fair trial, but it is difficult to say how long this will last. The +Whigs are in great perplexity. Some talk of Palmerston coming back +again, others want to bring about a reunion between him and Lord John, +and others still talk of setting them both aside and electing a new +leader of the party. + + +_March 3rd._--The discussion, for there was no debate, on Monday has +produced a very favourable effect. Derby's speech is much admired for +its calm and dignified tone, and the matter of it considered judicious +and satisfactory. As an exhibition the whole proceeding is thought +eminently creditable to the country, and such as must strike foreigners +particularly. This is unquestionably true, and it has been a very good +start for Derby. As far as one can judge in so short a time, there is +a growing opinion that he ought to have fair play and no vexatious +opposition, and Granville this morning told me he thought he would get +on very well. Palmerston has begged Cowley not to resign, which is very +honourable and becoming. There are symptoms of a disposition on the +part of the 'Times' to support the new Government and I have little +doubt that they can secure this great advantage if they manage their +affairs with common prudence, and set to work diligently to frame such +measures of improvement and utility as will satisfy public opinion. I +entreated Jonathan Peel to lose no time in dealing with the matter of +the health of the soldiers and the mortality amongst them brought to +light by Sidney Herbert's Committee. This alone, well and quickly done, +would be of prodigious service to the new Government. + + +_March 6th._--I gather from what I hear that Lord Palmerston is +preparing to buckle on his armour, and to wage war against the new +Government with the hope and expectation of forcing himself back into +office speedily, and that the new Opposition mean to attack the new +Government as quickly and as vehemently as they can. John Russell +says they 'ought not to be recklessly or prematurely opposed.' Guizot +it seems, has written to Aberdeen about the 'union of all shades of +Liberals' as a desideratum, to which Lord John says 'whether it be +possible he knows not, but that he is an obstacle to it on our side, +and Palmerston on the other.' + +The Speaker, with whom I had a long talk yesterday, thinks this +Government never can stand, and he says, truly enough that though Derby +and Co. did not _make_ the situation which compelled the resignation of +the last, they _accepted_ it with full knowledge of the consequences of +their vote, and are therefore responsible. He considers that what has +happened and is likely to happen is all to the benefit of the Radicals, +who well know this, and rejoice at it accordingly and he thinks Milner +Gibson framed his amendment with the design of its leading to the +defeat of Palmerston, and the advent of Derby to a power which he never +desired to be of long duration. All this I could not gainsay, and it +is certainly true that this change has only produced a fresh set of +difficulties and dangers, the result of which who can foresee? + +Derby's liberal declaration in his programme last Monday has been taken +up and extended by his followers, but it is very improbable that the +enunciation of such principles and intentions will carry with it the +assent of the old and genuine Tories, many of whom will most likely ere +long declare their adhesion to their old creed, and their abhorrence +of the new-born liberalism of their chief, and Derby may one day find +himself in a lesser degree in something like the position of Peel when +he gave notice of his intention to propose the Repeal of the Corn Laws. +Derby's declaration now affords a practical justification of Peel's +course then, for Peel was never so much opposed to Free Trade as Derby +and all his followers to Reform, and his excuse is based on similar +grounds, namely, the progress and irresistible force of public opinion. + + +[Sidenote: A LITERARY DINNER PARTY.] + +_March 10th._--I dined with Grote yesterday to meet Mr. Buckle, the +literary lion of the day. He is not prepossessing in appearance, but he +talks very well and makes a great display of knowledge and extensive +reading, though without pedantry or dogmatism. There was a small party +of literary men to meet him, and Lady William Russell and I acted the +part of gallery. The guests were Count Platen the Swedish Minister, +the Master of the Rolls, Dr. William Smith, young Bunbury (Sir Henry's +son), and Lowe. It was pleasant enough. + +There is a prevailing and an increasing impression that this Government +will not last long, and I think its days are numbered. The old +Government are evidently impatient to resume their places, and within +the last two or three days there is an evident change in their spirits +and their expectations. Whether it is desirable or not that Derby +should be permitted to go on for some time I know not, but I doubt if +it is possible. John Russell might perhaps prefer keeping Derby in +place for a time, in order to prevent Palmerston's coming back, but I +do not think he will be able to do so if he wishes it, and even those +Liberals who are not very fond of Palmerston seem to be indignant at +a Tory party holding office with an immense majority against them in +the House of Commons. It is certainly a question whether any set of +men have a right under any circumstances to accept office with full +knowledge that there is a majority of at least two to one against +them, and if one set of ministers are bound to resign, not merely on +finding the majority against them, but upon a single adverse vote, _à +fortiori_ must another set be precluded from taking office without +the power of commanding the assent and support of Parliament upon any +question whatever. Sir Francis Baring writes to John Russell, 'that +the _existence_ of the present Ministry is contrary to Parliamentary +Government,' and this seems to be the general sentiment of the Liberal +party, of course loudly insisted on by those who expect to profit by +ousting them. + + +_March 11th._--My mind fluctuates back to a notion that the Government +will be able to maintain themselves for some time. Ellice said +yesterday that he for one would not join in any attempt to oust them +till he saw his way to the formation of a better Government, and thinks +time ought to be afforded for a reunion of the Liberal party. In the +afternoon I called on Disraeli, and found him rather sanguine about +their prospects. He said they should settle, in fact had settled, the +French question 'with flying colours.' He sees no difficulty about +finance, as there can be no quarrels on the score of principles, and +he will only have to provide for the expenses either by some increased +taxation, or if that is opposed, by a loan, and he does not think the +Palmerstonians will venture to refuse the supplies, or that they would +succeed in such an attempt. His Indian Bill he thinks will be a better +and more popular measure, and he knows of nothing else but the chapter +of accidents on which they will have any serious difficulty. + +Afterwards I fell in with Charles Villiers, and talked over the fall +of the Government, which he attributed, as I do, to the enormous and +inconceivable blunders which his friends committed. He is always +sensible, unprejudiced, and the most satisfactory person to talk to I +am acquainted with. John Russell is in great indignation at Disraeli's +speech at his election, and his attributing all sorts of bad motives to +the Whigs in their Reform of 1831, which was certainly very imprudent +to say the least of it, for in his condition it was most desirable for +him to avoid giving offence to any of the influential people, whose +hostility may be very dangerous to him. I had not read his speech when +I saw him, or I should have told him so. + + +_March 12th._--It is remarkable how completely the affairs at home have +superseded the interest belonging to those of India. Nobody seems to +think about what so recently absorbed everyone's thoughts and feelings. +This is, however, in great measure owing to the general belief that +the great question of suppressing the rebellion and re-establishing +our rule is virtually settled, and though we may yet have a great deal +of trouble and even difficulty, all serious danger is at an end, and +that we are as secure of possessing India as of any of our colonies. +The apprehensions I had on the subject, and which I have expressed, +have been very far from realized, and those who took more sanguine and +confident views of the issue of the contest have been justified by the +event. + + +[Sidenote: ATTACKS ON THE GOVERNMENT.] + +_March 17th._--The new Government is looking up. On Monday evening +Bernal Osborne attacked Disraeli in his usual style, and gave him an +opportunity of making a speech in reply, which everybody acknowledges +to have been most able and successful. Bernal was very bad, Palmerston +spoke feebly, professed moderate intentions towards the new Government, +but clearly indicated that he meant to take office again if he could. +His speech was tamely received, and furnished a fresh proof of the +loss of his popularity and influence. Last night again, in a little +skirmish between Disraeli and George Lewis, the former had the best of +it. Clanricarde having had the egregious folly to announce to the House +of Lords his intention to make 'a personal statement,' in which he +was unaccountably supported by such men as George Lewis and Lansdowne +amongst others, found out that everybody thought he was making a great +fool of himself and withdrew it, but his colleagues are annoyed at his +putting himself forward to ask questions of Derby. He sits on the front +Opposition bench in the midst of his late colleagues, who would be glad +to be rid of him, particularly as they know that in the event of their +return to office he would be left out. + + +_March 20th._--I went on Friday with M. de Jarnac to Orleans House to +pay a visit to the Duc d'Aumale and see his interesting collection of +books and pictures. He is very courteous, obliging, and intelligent, +and the Duchess very civil and pleasing. His house was formerly +occupied by his father, Louis Philippe, improved and enlarged by Lord +Kilmorey, who lived there with Miss Hoste, and bought from him by the +Duke, who has filled it full of objects of historical or artistic +interest, especially of memorials of the great Condé. The family +portraits, of which there is a vast collection, are particularly +curious. He has two sons, who bear the fine titles of Prince de Condé +and Duc de Guise, but it is melancholy to contemplate the _avenir_ +of these boys, whose high birth is their misfortune, and to whom no +profession or occupation seems open. They have lost their own country +by no fault of their own, and are so situated that they cannot or +will not get adopted in any other.[1] It is a false position if ever +there was one. The family appear to have been alarmed by the recent +events in France, and the indirect effect which those events might +have upon them, for they have reason to believe that they are exposed +to a constant system of _espionnage_ by the French Government, who +wish very much to implicate them if possible in some of the plots that +they believe to be constantly going on here, and great vigilance on +their part is necessary not to commit themselves in any way to unknown +Frenchmen who approach under pretences of attachment to their family or +to make appeals to their charity. + +The other day I got a note from Lord Derby about a Council, at the end +of which he earnestly begged me if I had any influence with the 'Times' +to get them to abstain from writing any more irritating articles about +France, for that these articles provoked the French to madness, and, as +matters are, that nothing but the utmost care and moderation on both +sides enabled the two Governments to go on in harmony. I accordingly +sent his note to Delane, who promised to attend to it, though it was +hard to leave the French press without replies. It is curious that I +should be found acting a friendly part towards Derby's Government, he +being of all men the one to whom I have felt the greatest political +repugnance; but I am now so free from all political predilections, +and regard constant changes as so objectionable, that I wish this +Government to be fairly tried, especially as it appears to me quite +as good as any other we are likely to have; disposed to work hard and +promote good measures, and to be unable, even if they were disposed, to +do any harm. + +[Sidenote: SETTLEMENT OF THE FRENCH QUARREL.] + +I find a disposition to carp at the settlement of the French quarrel, +though without any good reason. Lord Malmesbury's letter might have +been better composed, and more showy, but the object was to close +the quarrel in a manner that would satisfy the pride and allay the +irritation of this country, without being so exacting towards France +as to pique her into fresh ebullitions offensive to us, and this has +been done, though it cannot be said with truth that they had settled +the dispute 'with flying colours.' The French Government have had the +last word, and exhibited some spleen, which is not very unnatural +considering the part they have had to play, eating humble pie and +retracting almost everything they said. + +The Duke of Bedford is in town, having been urgently pressed to come up +and see what he could do to effect a political reconciliation between +Lord John and Palmerston, which he has certainly not effected, and +probably will fail in effecting. Lord John said some months ago that he +never would take office again but as Premier, but what the Whigs want +is that he should join them, consent to co-operate in ousting Derby, +and then to take office under Palmerston; but if he would not do this +before the present session began, much less would he be inclined to do +so now. He knows very well that they are only trying to make it up with +him, because they feel that they cannot do without him, and as they +still prefer Palmerston, and mean to stick to him, and to come back +with him as their chief, there is very little chance of any negotiation +being brought to a successful issue. The best chance of the Whigs being +reunited is, that the present Government should take sufficient root, +and stay in office long enough to show that nothing but a complete +reconciliation of the Liberals of all shades and opinions can drive +them out, and for this time is required. The notion the late Government +cherished of being able to turn out their opponents in a very brief +space is already gone, and they find that the majority of the House of +Commons will be no party to such an overthrow. + +Footnote 1: [Alas! both these interesting and promising young Princes +were cut off in early life, the Prince de Condé dying in New South +Wales, at the outset of a journey on which he had started under +the most auspicious circumstances. The Duc de Guise, then the sole +surviving child and heir of the Duc d'Aumale, also died soon after the +return of the Royal Family to France in 1871.] + + +_March 21st._--The Duke of Bedford has just been here; he has been +occupied with vain attempts to bring about the reconciliation so much +desired by his political friends, but without success or any hope of +it; he finds the estrangement between Palmerston and Lord John great as +ever, and even between Lord John and Clarendon, the latter complaining +bitterly that Lord John 'went out of his way to insult him,' which +meant that in his speech the other day he spoke civilly of Malmesbury, +saying he had no doubt he would uphold the honour and dignity of the +country. All this shows the excessive soreness and ill-humour of the +outgoing party, and though Clarendon expresses the most unalloyed +satisfaction at being out of office, it proves there is the _amari +aliquid_ to detract from his pleasure at being free; and it is not +unnatural that the great part he has himself had in bringing about the +catastrophe should make him very sore and uneasy, and a blow has been +given to his reputation the effects of which may be hereafter serious. + + +_March 25th._--Marshal Pélissier is going to replace Persigny here as +Ambassador, a strange choice. He is a military ruffian, who knows no +more of diplomacy than he does of astronomy. Persigny goes because +he cannot agree with Walewski; I don't know the details of his +dissatisfaction. His departure is regretted, as he is believed to be +honest and true, and sincerely anxious to promote a good understanding +between the two countries. + +[Sidenote: RECONCILIATION OF STATESMEN.] + +The Duke of Bedford has just been here; he came from Lord Aberdeen, +who tells him the Peelites are all verging towards a union with Lord +John, some more, some less; Graham is devoted to him, Sidney Herbert +and Cardwell perfectly well disposed, the Duke of Newcastle gradually +becoming so, and Gladstone at present the least friendly, but Aberdeen +thinks is getting more friendly, and will eventually join his standard, +and Aberdeen himself is doing all he can to bring about this union. He +is going to speak to the Queen about it, with a view of reconciling +her to Lord John without knowing how necessary it is. The Duke said he +rather doubted the expediency of Aberdeen's speaking to Her Majesty, +but I told him it was better he should, and very necessary to take all +means to remove her feeling against Lord John. I also told him what +had passed between the Queen and Clarendon, and how he had endeavoured +to persuade Her Majesty that it would be impossible for himself to +be Prime Minister, and that if Palmerston failed from any cause, her +only course would be to send for Lord John, and to do so frankly and +graciously. I begged him to let Lord John know this, as it was so +desirable to bring about a reconciliation between them, which this fact +would be calculated to promote. The Duke owned it was very handsome +conduct on the part of Clarendon, as it is indeed on the part of +Aberdeen, after all that Lord John did in breaking up his Government; +but Aberdeen is a gentleman and a patriot, sincerely attached to the +Queen, and to the best interests of the country, and while he has +retired altogether from public life and the turmoil of politics, he is +anxious still to exercise the great moral influence which he possesses +to advance the public interests according to the dictates of his +judgement and his conscience. + + +_Hatchford, March 30th._--On Friday last Disraeli brought on the +Government India Bill, which Ellenborough told some of his friends +would be 'a great success,' and which everybody expected would be an +improvement on Palmerston's. Never was there a greater failure; the +bill was received with general aversion and contempt. The Radicals, +who want to keep the Government in for the present, could not stomach +it, Roebuck pronounced it a sham, and Bright, who detests Palmerston, +said he preferred his bill of the two. It is evidently impossible that +this bill can pass, and everybody sees what a fix it places public +affairs in, and what difficulties and uncertainties present themselves +on all sides. The only people who are pleased are the Palmerstonians. +They think that when this bill has been rejected or withdrawn theirs +will pass, and this will, _ex necessitate_, compel Derby to retire +and open the way to Palmerston's return to office. They are therefore +chuckling over the dilemma, but it may be without its leading to the +realization of their hopes. There are a great many men in the House +of Commons, Peelites or Radicals principally, but also some others, +who cannot endure the notion of Palmerston's coming back, and who +will oppose his bill, after the other has been swept away, merely +to prevent his return. What the Radicals would like is that both +bills should be referred to a Select Committee, and a third bill be +concocted out of the two; but this scheme would not be likely to meet +with general approbation, for it would be in fact a delegation of the +proper functions of government to the House of Commons. It appears not +unlikely that both bills will fail and that no measure at all will pass +this year. The Government people are extremely dejected at the state of +affairs, but it is said they do not mean to resign upon the defeat of +their bill. + +Meanwhile John Russell has made a sort of overture to Granville, i.e. +he sent George Byng to him on Sunday to invite him to say what he +thought would be the most eligible course to adopt in the present state +of affairs, and with reference to the Government bill. This was not +very judicious on his part, and Granville was an odd man to select, +being in a different House of Parliament, and so bound to Palmerston +that he could not avoid communicating to him the overture and his reply +to it. George Byng says Granville appeared a good deal surprised, but +he thought rather pleased. Granville said he could give no immediate +answer, but would write to him, which he did the next day, and told him +George Lewis would go down to Pembroke Lodge to see Lord John. I have +no idea that anything will come of this, for none of the late Cabinet +can or will transfer their allegiance from Palmerston to Lord John, +unless the former consents to it, and abdicates his position of chief +of the Whig party, which he seems to have no thoughts of doing, and it +is impossible to conciliate their rival claims and pretensions. + + +[Sidenote: MR. DISRAELI'S INDIA BILL.] + +_April 2nd._--A letter from the Duke of Bedford this morning says +that Lord John is inclined to throw out the India Bill, as it is too +bad to admit of any improvement, and that he thinks if he does this +Palmerston will support him; but the Duke adds that it is rumoured +that the Government will not go out if their bill is defeated. It is +easy to understand that Palmerston can desire nothing so much as that +Lord John should take the lead in opposing the India Bill, and that he +should support him, because in that case, and the defeat of the bill +by a large majority, which probably would happen, and the Government +going out, he would infallibly be sent for again, and in re-forming +his Government he would no doubt invite Lord John to join it, but this +would only lead to a fresh series of difficulties, and most likely to +a long course of abortive negotiations. How the junction between the +two leaders is to be effected it is difficult to conceive, although +there are several ways in which it might be brought about, if they +were disposed to make mutual concessions. The starting point might +be the complete union of the whole Whig and Liberal party, which all +profess to desire most anxiously, and which the mutual antipathies and +disagreements of the two leaders at present prevent. If Palmerston +would consent to go to the House of Lords as Premier, and to leave Lord +John with a high office (India, for example) as leader in the House of +Commons, something might be done. Lord John might possibly be induced +to cede his claim to the highest place on this condition, but it is not +unlikely that he would require more than that: first, that Clarendon +should not be at the Foreign Office, which Palmerston would no doubt +not agree to; and secondly, certain places and seats in the Cabinet +for the Peelites, who have recently consented to follow his standard +and cast their own lots with his. Then various complications present +themselves connected with these questions. + + +_April 4th._--The Duke of Bedford has written to Lady Derby that her +lord must make up his mind to be beaten on his India Bill, but that +he hopes he will not think it necessary to resign upon it when he is. +Brougham writes from Paris that the feeling against us there has been +greatly exaggerated, that the Emperor _alone_ is friendly to us, but +that though the general sentiment is unfriendly, nobody dreams of going +to war with us, nor indeed with any other Power. + + +_April 8th._--Derby made a striking speech at the Mansion House the +other night, which has been severely ridiculed by the 'Times,' but +which nevertheless contained a good deal of truth. He said that there +were very few questions nowadays in which different Governments _could_ +act differently, and he invited not only every sort of criticism, +but of suggestion, as to the Indian Bills and measures now before +Parliament. The inference deducible from his speech (and in which I +have since been confirmed) is that, happen what may, he does not mean +to resign, and that the Government will not go out, unless they are +positively turned out. They say this unlucky India Bill was the sole +work of Ellenborough, and that the democratic clauses are the result +of an old fancy of his, but nobody can be desirous of admitting the +paternity of such a measure. + + +[Sidenote: LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S RESOLUTIONS.] + +_April 16th._--I have been confined to the house for several days, and +unable to mix in the world and hear what is going on, but have seen +enough to know that there is nothing but confusion, perplexity, and +irritation in the political world. During the brief recess everybody +was speculating about what would be done when Parliament met again, +what was to be the fate of the rival India Bills, and how far the +Government would be affected by the result of contests concerning them. +The Government hangers-on affected to be very well satisfied with the +state of affairs, and proclaimed their intention not to go out whatever +might happen with regard to their bills. The Palmerstonians evidently +expected that such storms would arise as the Government would not be +able to weather, and that something would turn up advantageous to them. +John Russell, who must be doing something, said that the Government +bill was so bad that no alterations could make it tolerable, and that +he was disposed to move some Resolutions, which might be the foundation +of a really good measure. He concocted these Resolutions, and wrote +word to the Duke that 'he had written to George Lewis and to Macaulay, +who both approved of his scheme.' Accordingly, as soon as Parliament +met he announced that Resolutions ought to be drawn up, and that he was +ready to draw them up. This produced great excitement. The Government +saw in this move a plank of safety for themselves, and Disraeli said he +was ready to receive Lord John's Resolutions, or to draw up Resolutions +of his own; many people said that if Resolutions were to be drawn up at +all, it ought to be by Government, and not by any independent member, +and it was eventually settled that Disraeli was to do it. Everybody saw +that this, as far as it went, was advantageous to the Government; it +gave them certainly a reprieve, and possibly an opportunity of ridding +themselves of the Indian difficulty altogether for this year, and the +consequence was a burst of indignation and resentment against Lord John +for thus coming to their aid as it was called, and concerting such a +measure (as he was accused of doing) with Disraeli himself. The 'Times' +attacked him with the utmost bitterness, and there is a general clamour +against him on the part of the late Government and their friends. It +is not very easy to divine his true motives in this matter. To judge +by the asperity with which he has spoken of the Government bill, one +should not suppose he could be moved by any auxiliary purpose to them, +and I do not believe there has been any concert, direct or indirect, +between them; but as all parties agree that the Government have derived +advantage from his move, the rage he has excited is not unreasonable, +and the breach between him and the Palmerstonian Whigs is much widened, +and become more difficult to heal. Granville, who I suppose speaks the +sentiments of his colleagues, says that it is evident they could not +return to office with the _same_ Government exactly as before, and +that it is not desirable to turn the Government out at present, even +if they could, and he thinks it would not be wise to attempt to carry +Palmerston's India Bill, in which it is not sure they should succeed. +He thinks there _was_ concert between Lord John and Disraeli, not +direct, but through Horsman, and he says that George Lewis, so far from +approving his Resolutions, strongly protested against them; but it is +not impossible to reconcile two statements which seem at first sight to +be directly opposed to each other. Lord John says he imparted to George +Lewis and Macaulay his _scheme_ (i.e. of drawing up Resolutions), not +the Resolutions themselves, while George Lewis seems to deny approval +of the Resolutions; but this is only a possible solution of the +apparent contradictions. + +I told Granville that all that was now happening only served to confirm +my original opinion, that they were wrong in resigning, and that there +was no occasion for their doing so, and they now saw how difficult +it was, when they had let this Government in, to get them out again, +and he not only had not a word to say in reply, but all he did was +rather indicative of concurrence in my opinion. In the most palmy days +of party government, and when the old traditions with regard to the +relations of Government with the House of Commons were in full force, +it was not considered as an invariable and unavoidable necessity that +a Government when beaten on an important question must go out. I +recollect the Government of the day in 1815 being beaten on the Income +Tax, without therefore resigning, and it is so obvious that the vote on +the French despatch did not imply any general withdrawal of confidence +and support, that I never shall believe they would have resigned as +they did unless they had thought they should gain more strength and +power by doing so without losing their places, and consequently that +they were caught in a trap of their own setting. + + +[Sidenote: MR. DISRAELI'S BUDGET.] + +_April 24th._--The events of the past week have been Disraeli's Budget, +which has been received with favour and excited no opposition in any +quarter, and the withdrawal of the Government India Bill, which was +done by Disraeli, rather unwillingly; but their maxim seems to be +'anything for a quiet life,' and they agree to whatever is proposed or +opposed in any influential quarter. The general notion is that they +are safe for this session, but it is a very inglorious safety. It now +appears as if they would scramble and hobble on until the whole Liberal +party is reunited, and a reconciliation effected between Palmerston and +John Russell, to bring about which it is clear that much exertion is +being made. + +While I was at Newmarket this week I had several letters from the Duke +of Bedford, all bearing upon this matter. He writes on the 16th: 'I +hear that the feeling against John has been very strong and that lies +have been told as usual. It is said that he has been in communication +with Derby indirectly, through Lady Derby, and that he wrote to +Disraeli. If he did, it was only on a matter of ordinary courtesy, +to ask him to postpone the second reading of the India Bill, to give +time for a different course which he intended to suggest and did the +first day the House met. John has been left by circumstances or by +his old colleagues to pursue his own independent course, and ought +not to be found fault with, if he pursued that course, as he did in +this instance, after conferring with the friends I named to you, and +receiving their approval. No doubt his move was very successful to +the Government, and helped them out of an enormous difficulty, but +I can see no harm in that.' There was a great deal more about the +communications between Lord John and George Lewis, which now only +signifies as demonstrating the extreme difficulty of getting at the +truth. It is evident that there is a great desire on the part of the +Whigs to bring about a reunion with Lord John and those who follow +him, in order to get the Government out, for which the rank and file +are getting more and more impatient. Lewis told me last night that +_they_ are holding constant Cabinets, which always ended with the same +resolution, not to do anything, or to make any serious attack; and +they have made up their minds to acquiesce in Derby's going on through +this session; but nothing can exceed the contempt and aversion with +which Lewis speaks of the Government and of all their proceedings, +certainly not without reason, for there is no example of any Government +consenting to hold office on terms so humiliating, and to such a +powerless existence. They dare not originate anything, and they submit +to everything that anybody proposes or suggests, having seemingly no +object but that of currying favour, and avoiding to give offence. The +way in which Disraeli withdrew his India Bill upon a few words spoken +by John Russell is a curious exemplification of their forlorn state. + +Lord Cowley, whom I saw yesterday, is desirous, like everybody else, to +see the end of this feeble rule; but he thinks Palmerston's disposition +is very unbending, and doubts his and Lord John's being brought +together, notwithstanding that Lady Palmerston tells the Duke of +Bedford that Palmerston 'has a great affection for John.' Cowley talked +a great deal about French affairs and the state of things between the +two countries, and he expressed great apprehensions lest Malmesbury +should make too many concessions to the French Government,[1] which, +however, he meant to prevent if he could. He mentioned one or two odd +things. First of all he told me that he had foreseen all the effects +produced by the Walewski letter, and had done all he could to prevent +its being sent, and he was amazed at Clarendon having taken it so +quietly, and that he should have seen no impropriety or danger in it, +but on the contrary thought it would do good. Then with regard to +Walewski's other letter in reply to Malmesbury, which, objectionable +as it was, had been greatly softened from the original draft, had it +been despatched as at first composed by Walewski, he said it would have +raised an inextinguishable flame here. Cowley said that the Emperor's +nerves were shaken to pieces by the _attentat_, and he was greatly +changed. + +Footnote 1: [The publication of Lord Malmesbury's autobiography has +proved that he was not at all disposed to make any undue concessions to +the French Government, and that he acted as long as this Administration +lasted in strict union with Lord Cowley. The Emperor Napoleon +complained that his old friend assumed too stern an attitude towards +France in the course of the events which followed in the next few +months and led to the Italian War.] + + +[Sidenote: DECADENCE OF THE MINISTRY.] + +_April 29th._--Every day the position of the Government gets worse +and worse. The disposition there was to give them a fair opportunity +of carrying on public affairs as well as they could has given way to +disgust and contempt at their blundering and stupidity, and those +who have all along resented their attempt to hold office at all are +becoming more impatient and more anxious to turn them out. There +is a very temperate, but very just, article in the 'Times' to-day, +which contains all that is to be said on the subject, stated without +bitterness or exaggeration. The Whigs, however, seem aware that it +is not expedient to push matters to extremity, and to force their +resignation, until the quarrels of the Liberal party are made up, and +till Palmerston and John Russell are brought together and prepared to +join in taking office, and to effect this object the most strenuous +efforts are making. What the pacificators aim at is, that Palmerston +should go as Premier to the House of Lords, and leave Lord John to +lead the House of Commons. This is the most reasonable compromise, and +one which ought to be satisfactory to both; but even if this leading +condition were agreed to, it is not certain that there might not be +others presenting great obstacles to the union, such as whether Lord +John would agree to join without bringing a certain number of men +with him, and whether Palmerston would consent to exclude so many of +his former Cabinet to make room for them. Graham, Lord John would, I +suppose, certainly insist upon; Gladstone would probably be no party +to any arrangement, and he has recently evinced his extreme antipathy +to Palmerston by a bitter though able review in the 'Quarterly' on +France and the late Ministry, in which he attacks Palmerston with +extraordinary asperity. + +Ever since he resigned Palmerston has been very active in the House of +Commons, and kept himself constantly before the public, evidently with +the object of recovering his former popularity as much as possible, +and he made a very clever and lively speech two nights ago, which his +friends praise up to the skies. + +I met Derby in the Park yesterday, and soon after the Chancellor in +Piccadilly, and had some talk with both of them. They were neither +of them in a very sanguine mood, and apparently well aware of the +precariousness of their position. Derby attributed the state of +affairs, which he owned was very bad, to the caprice and perverseness +of the House of Commons, which he said was unmanageable. I did not, as +I might have done, tell him that he had no right to complain of this +House, and that it was the mismanagement of his own colleagues which +was the cause of the evil. Lyndhurst made an extraordinary speech on +the Jew Bill on Tuesday night. + + +_May 1st._--Ellice flattered himself that he could get up a party +in the House of Commons which would have power enough to stop the +progress of the Indian measure, and to lead to a better measure next +year, as well as to the formation of a Government; and in pursuance +of this scheme it was arranged that Lord Harry Vane should move the +postponement of Indian legislation, and Ellice told me they should be +supported by 150, and many men of note. All this went off in smoke +last night. After a short debate the motion was rejected by an immense +majority, and Ellice could only muster 55 people. + +The hopes of those who are trying to bring Lord John and Palmerston +together are damped by a letter I have received (and shown to George +Byng) from the Duke of Bedford, who says: 'I saw much of Palmerston and +Lady Palmerston last week, but could see no disposition to reunion, +although we came to that point more than once. I suggested to Lady +Palmerston the wish of many that Palmerston should go to the House +of Lords. She said that Palmerston had always entertained a great +dislike to it, and hinted, or more than hinted, that he would place +no confidence in John as leader of the House of Commons.' I went to +hear Professor Owen lecture yesterday. His style of lecturing is very +good, but the subject (vertebrated animals) was too scientific for my +ignorance. + + +_Savernake, May 11th._--I have been out of town all the last week, +at Chester, and came here on Saturday. While I was at Chester the +Duke of Bedford sent me a note he had received from Lord John, which +looked like the beginning of a _rapprochement_ between him and +Palmerston, though it did not amount to a great deal, and may lead +to nothing. I was obliged to return it, and was too much occupied +to copy the contents of it here. I refer so often to this subject, +because it appears to be the one upon which the existence of the +present Government depends, for as soon as the Liberals can come to +an understanding and act in concert, the doom of the Ministry will +be sealed. Without their committing any great faults they seem to be +falling into greater contempt every day. + +[Sidenote: LORD CANNING'S OUDE PROCLAMATION.] + +The only point of attack the Opposition have found has been the affair +of Canning's recent Proclamation.[1] Canning has not been lucky in +his Proclamations, the first having been severely criticised for its +clemency, and the second for its severity. The complaint against the +Government is for having made public their disapproval of it and their +censure of his acts. I think their disapprobation quite right, and +that they were right in conveying it to Canning, but they might have +refused to express any opinion or to publish or half publish any of +the correspondence that passed, though it cannot be doubted that such +refusal would have drawn upon them all sorts of attacks and reproaches, +but it would have been the proper course for them to adopt. It is, +however, certainly premature to express any definite opinion upon an +act of which we are not yet furnished with an explanation. + +I went yesterday to see Littlecote House, Mr. Popham's, a very curious, +interesting old house, and the scene of the Wild Dayrell story and +murder, the tradition of which has been often narrated, but the truth +never ascertained. I saw all the rooms, including the one in which +the murder is supposed to have been committed, but they have been +much altered. There is a fine old hall, hung round with the armour +and buff coats of Colonel Popham's troopers, and it is a remarkable +fact that they are all so small that no man of ordinary size could +wear them, a clear proof that the present generation are much bigger +than our ancestors of two centuries ago. King William III. slept at +Littlecote for two or three nights in 1689 (while King James was at +Salisbury), and he seems to have left behind him a good many papers, +which have ever since been preserved in the house. There is also a +large collection of miscellaneous letters of the time of the Civil War, +more or less curious, which were preserved by a lucky accident. Popham +told me that his father told him there was a mass of papers in an old +box under the roof of the house which had better be destroyed. His son +went up for the purpose, and discovered the contents of the box, saved +the papers, and had them arranged in a book. I urged him to publish +them, and I hope he will. I had only time to look over a few of them; +as autographs alone they are valuable.[2] + +Footnote 1: [The Proclamation of March 3, addressed to the chiefs +and people of Oude, is here referred to. It was strongly opposed and +attacked as a wholesale measure of confiscation, before the motives +and policy of the act were understood; but Lord Canning's object was +to reinstate the talookdars in their possessions by a tenure under the +British Crown, and subsequent events have shown that the resettlement +of the conquered province was accomplished without violence or +injustice.] + +Footnote 2: [Amongst these Littlecote papers was found the +correspondence of Queen Henrietta Maria with Charles I. when she went +to Holland to raise money for carrying on the Civil War. I am not aware +that they have been published.] + + +[Sidenote: THE WHIGS NEGOTIATE.] + +_London, May 13th._--Nothing ever was like the state of confusion +and excitement which has prevailed here during the last fortnight, +while I have been out of town, particularly on the resignation of +Ellenborough, which took everybody by surprise. Before I went away the +impression had become general that this Government neither could nor +ought to be endured much longer, and that their repeated and enormous +blunders made them a nuisance which must be abated. All the Liberals +(except some of the extreme Radicals who wished them to stay on some +time longer), however they differed on other questions, were agreed +on this. Numerous meetings took place, and there was a prodigious +activity of negotiation, communication, and going backwards and +forwards, with a view to some general organisation and combination of +attack on the unfortunate Ministry. The Duke of Bedford was brought up +to see what he could do to bring Lord John and Palmerston together. +Lord John joined heartily in the plan of turning the Government out, +and said that _anything_ was preferable to leaving them any longer +in office. Clarendon, who had been informed of Lord John's peculiar +grudge against him, expressed a wish to have an interview with him, +which the Duke brought about. Lord John called on Clarendon, and +they had a frank communication, so far as Lord John telling him all +that he thought about foreign affairs, and in what he disagreed with +the late Government on various questions; but he did not allude to +Vienna, which is the real gist of his grievance and the source of his +hostile feeling, so that with that reticence it is not strange that +they should have parted much as they met. Then Palmerston expressed a +wish to have a _tête-à-tête_ conversation with Lord John, which the +latter assented to, but Palmerston seems to have changed his mind, and +to have shrunk from it when the opportunity presented itself. Charles +Wood is the man who has been constantly communicating with Lord John in +behalf of the Whig Cabinet, and one day Palmerston came into Charles +Wood's while Lord John was there. It rained, and Palmerston offered +to take Lord John home, which he accepted, but nothing passed on the +way, nor did Palmerston propose to get out and enter the house when he +might have had the conversation he had expressed a wish for, and so it +ended. The plans imagined by mutual friends for effecting a political +reconciliation have vanished into air. Palmerston is resolved not to go +to the House of Lords, and Lord John is equally determined not to take +office under him. Palmerston says he cannot trust Lord John to lead the +House of Commons. Personally, meanwhile, they are ostensibly friends, +and Lord John dines at Cambridge House to-morrow. Charles Wood asked +the Duke of Bedford, supposing the Government resigned, and Palmerston +was again sent for, what he thought Palmerston ought to do, to which he +replied that he ought to accept the task, send to Lord John, and on his +refusal to join (as he probably would), to do the best he could with +the materials he could command. This advice would, I conceive, be very +palateable to Palmerston, and it is what he would naturally do without +any advice. + +I called on Lyndhurst the night I came to town, and found him very +dissatisfied with the Government, both on account of their management +and errors, and because they have treated him with personal neglect; he +had begged Derby and Disraeli to do something for his son-in-law, but +both put him off with excuses, and would do nothing. He is particularly +disgusted with the state of the Jew question, and with the foolish and +obstinate conduct of the Government in the House of Lords about it, on +which he was very eloquent, particularly for their having made a great +whip, and getting up every man they could lay hands on to come and +vote, instead of leaving it to take its chance, and at least making an +open question of it. + + +_May 16th._--The first great battle took place in the House of Lords +the night before last, at which I was present.[1] + +[Sidenote: DEBATES ON THE OUDE PROCLAMATION.] + +It was a very spirited fight, and I never recollect seeing the House +of Lords so crowded both with ladies and lords. Pretty good speaking; +Lord Grey's was about the best speech and the one I most agreed with. +I cannot see the matter of Canning's Proclamation and Ellenborough's +despatch in the light that either side does, and think there is much +to be said both ways. In the Commons the fight began on Friday also, +and the most remarkable speech in it was that of Cairns, the new +Solicitor-General, which was very clever and effective. John Russell +also spoke very well and vigorously, quite in his old style. There is +much difference of opinion as to the amount of majority, though it is +generally expected there will be one against Government, and I now hear +that they have determined positively to dissolve if they are beaten, +though with little or no chance of their bettering themselves by a +dissolution. + +Footnote 1: [On May 14, Mr. Gardwell moved a resolution condemning the +despatch which Lord Ellenborough had written and published, censuring +the Proclamation of the Governor-General of India. A similar Resolution +was moved by Lord Shaftesbury in the House of Lords, where it was +defeated by a majority of nine. The debate in the House of Commons +lasted four nights, and in the interval Lord Ellenborough resigned. Mr. +Cardwell then withdrew his motion, and the attack on the Government +suddenly collapsed.] + + +[Sidenote: MR. CARDWELL WITHDRAWS HIS MOTION.] + +_May 23rd_.--The excitement of Epsom during the whole of last week +was not greater than that which prevailed in London during the great +debates in the House of Commons, the result of which, on Thursday +night, produced such unusual surprise, with so much triumph on one +side and such mortification and disappointment on the other. In my +long experience I do not recollect to have seen so much political +bitterness and violence (except perhaps during the great contests of +the Catholic question and Reform), and certainly there never was a +great Parliamentary battle distinguished by so much uncertainty and so +many vicissitudes, and in which the end corresponded so little with the +beginning and with the general expectation. For a considerable time +not only all the late Cabinet and their supporters, but the whole body +of Whigs, both Palmerstonians and Russellites, had been growing more +and more impatient of the Derby Government, and they were considering +how they could make a final and irresistible attack upon them, and +for the last three weeks there had been nothing but negotiations and +_pourparlers_ to effect a coalition between the rival leaders and their +friends for the purpose of their at least uniting in one great hostile +vote, which should drive the Derbyites to resignation or dissolution, +hoping and expecting that their majority would be so large as to put +the latter out of the question. The occasion seemed to present itself +upon Ellenborough's letter to Canning censuring his Proclamation. A +meeting took place at Cambridge House, when the whole plan was matured, +and though John Russell did not attend it, he agreed to be a party to +the Motion of Censure. Shaftesbury was put forward in the Lords, and +Cardwell was induced to take the initiative in the House of Commons. +Nobody doubted of success, and the only question was (much debated and +betted upon) by how many the Government would be beaten. Meanwhile +Ellenborough resigned, which gave a new aspect to the affair, and the +Government got a small majority in the Lords. It was evident that no +popularity attached to the motion, and many of the Liberals were of +opinion that upon Ellenborough's resignation the affair ought to drop +and the motion be withdrawn. But the die was cast, the Palmerstonians +were quite confident and eager for the fray, and would not hear of +stopping in their career. The debate began, the speaking being all +along better on the Government side, and every day their prospects as +to the division appeared to be mending and public opinion more and +more inclining against the Opposition and the Proclamation, though +still blaming Ellenborough's letter. If the debate had ended on Tuesday +as was expected, Government would probably have been beaten, but Sir +Charles Napier had got Tuesday, and would not give it up, so that the +decision was of necessity adjourned; the delay was all in favour of +the Government, and on Thursday night arrived the Indian despatches +with Canning's explanations and the Outram correspondence, which was +immediately published, and although Palmerston and his friends and +newspapers pretended that they considered these documents favourable +to their cause, the general impression was rather the other way. All +this time the Government people found their cause improving, and +their chances in the division mending, and though their enemies still +pretended to be certain of success, and I was told on Thursday night +that I might safely lay any odds on their having a majority, the best +informed of them in the House of Commons began to see danger, and at +last they confessed only to expect a bare majority, and the Speaker +told somebody it was very likely he should have to give a casting vote. +The Radicals, or those of them who professed to be adherents of the +Whig Cabinet, strongly urged the withdrawal of Cardwell's motion, and +at last on the Thursday seem to have made up their minds that defeat +in some shape was inevitable, and that the best thing left for them to +do was to get rid of the debate in any way they could. Henry Lennox +called on me yesterday morning to tell me what had passed, to this +effect: that on Friday Disraeli had received a letter from Cardwell, +in which he asked if Disraeli would allow him to withdraw his motion, +and subsequently Palmerston desired to confer with him, when he put the +same question to him, to which (according to Henry Lennox's statement) +Disraeli replied, in a very lofty tone, that he would hear of nothing +which could possibly be construed into any admission on their part +of their meriting any part of the censure which the Opposition had +been labouring to cast upon them. The Government had by this time +ascertained that the Opposition had made their minds up to back out of +the motion as best they might, and their retreat was not very cleverly +done, beginning with Cardwell's refusal to withdraw, and ending with +Palmerston's recommendation to him to yield, which was a got up thing. +The scene in the House was most extraordinary, and particularly +mortifying to Palmerston, who saw himself involved in inevitable +defeat, and without the power of rallying again for some time. If +anybody could be excused for the impatience which brought him and his +party into this dilemma, it was Palmerston, who in his seventy fourth +year, and resolved to die in harness if he could, had no time to lose. +This affair has been the battle of Marengo of political warfare. The +Whigs appeared to be victorious, and carrying everything before them up +to the eleventh hour, and then came a sudden turn of affairs, and the +promise of victory was turned into rout and disaster. The campaign is +lost, and for the rest of this session the Government have it all their +own way. The Whigs are in the condition of a defeated army, who require +to be completely reorganized and re-formed before they can take the +field again. The general resentment and mortification are extreme. They +have naturally lost all confidence in their leaders, and they are now +all ready to complain of the tactics of which they entirely approved +till they found that defeat had been the consequence of their adoption. +It is not probable that Palmerston and his late Cabinet will attempt +anything more during this session, and everything is in such a state of +confusion and uncertainty that the best thing they can do is to remain +quiet, merely in a state of watchfulness, and to see what the _volvenda +dies_ may bring about in the course of the next six months, leaving +the Derbyites unmolested during that time. Derby will get Gladstone if +possible to take the India Board, and this will be the best thing that +can happen. His natural course is to be at the head of a Conservative +Government, and he may, if he acts with prudence, be the means of +raising that party to something like dignity and authority, and +emancipating it from its dependence on the discreditable and insincere +support of the Radicals. + + +_June 7th._--At Cleveden, at Ascot, and at Hatchford all the past week, +during which I heard little or nothing about politics. The matter which +made the most stir was Disraeli's impudent and mendacious speech at +Slough, in which he bitterly attacked the last Ministry and glorified +his own. The Whigs were stung to madness, and two or three nights were +occupied in both Houses, principally by Palmerston and Clarendon, in +answering this speech, and demonstrating its falsehood. The proceeding +was not very dignified, and they might just as well have left it alone, +particularly as nobody cared much about what Disraeli said; but there +was so little sympathy for the ex-Ministers, that no indignation was +excited by it, except among themselves and their immediate friends. +There seems little chance now of anything but a desultory warfare +going on in the House of Commons, without any serious attack on +the Government, who seem safe for this session at least. The most +interesting event last week was the virtual settlement of the eternal +Jew Question, which the House of Lords sulkily acquiesced in. It was +very desirable for many reasons to put an end to it. + + +[Sidenote: UNPOPULARITY OF LORD PALMERSTON.] + +_Norman Court, June 16th._--Every day it appears more and more evident +that Palmerston's political career is drawing to a close, and he alone +seems blind to the signs which denote it. Few things are stranger +than the violent reaction which has deprived him of his popularity, +and made him an object of bitter aversion to a considerable part of +the Liberals, not only to such men as Graham and Bright, but even to +many of his former followers and adherents. I cannot say I am sorry +for it, but I do in fairness think that this reaction is overdone and +exaggerated, and the hostility to Palmerston greater than there is any +reason for. I do not wish to see him again at the head of affairs, but +I should be sorry to see a man so distinguished, who has been exalted +so high, and who has many good qualities, end his life, or at least his +political career, under circumstances of mortification and humiliation. +If this happens it will be owing principally to his obstinacy in +persisting in leading a party who have no longer any mind to be led +by him, and the insatiable ambition which cannot brook the notion of +retirement at any time of life. If he was wise, and was not blinded +by vanity and the flattery of his hangers-on, he would take a juster +and clearer view of his position, and supposing him still intent on +playing the political game, he would endeavour to act a part as nearly +like that which Peel acted in his last years as the difference of +circumstances would admit. + +But the determination to have no more to do with Palmerston has not +made the Whigs and Liberals more disposed to throw themselves into +the arms of Lord John, and as yet, so far from any appearance of a +reorganisation of the Liberal party, they seem more disunited and +scattered than ever. Even Lord John and Graham, who seemed to be most +closely allied, are now continually voting different ways; and as to +the other leading men, it is impossible to predict how they will vote +on any subject that comes before Parliament. In this state of confusion +many Liberal-Conservatives are beginning to wish for the consolidation +of the Government, and are inclining to support it, if the Government +itself will give them an opportunity of doing so, by asserting their +own independence as a _Conservative_ Government, and will leave off +truckling to the Radicals, by accepting measures which everyone knows +to be repugnant to their feelings and opinions, and inconsistent +with the principles they have always professed. Men who supported +Palmerston's Government because they considered it to be a Conservative +one, foresee that before long parties must assume the character of +Radical and Conservative, the Whigs being merged in the former, and +that the party of the present Government forms the only force capable +of resisting the Whig and Radical union when it takes place, and that +their best course will be to join the Conservative camp, if the present +Government do not, by unprincipled and inconsistent concessions for the +sake of an easy official existence, render it impossible for them to do +so. I do not know to what extent this feeling prevails, but I believe +it is extending, and Lord St. Germans, who is a very staunch friend to +the late Government, and latterly belonged to them, told me the other +day that Granville had great difficulty in keeping his people together. +Ashburton is very warm and eager in this sense, and though neither of +these men have much weight, I have no doubt they are exponents of the +sentiments of a much larger number. I called on Lyndhurst on Monday +evening, and talked this question over with him, and entreated him to +speak to Derby upon it. We were very well agreed, and he said he would +endeavour to talk to Derby, but he is rather embarrassed, because he +does not know what Derby is going to do about the Jew Bill, there being +some strange signs of an intention on the part of Derby to throw it +over after all, though this would be so extremely foolish, as well +as so false and dishonourable, that I cannot believe it is in his +contemplation. + + +[Sidenote: MINISTERS GAIN GROUND.] + +_June 22nd._--During the week I passed at Norman Court the Government +here were gaining ground. They had two good divisions in the House of +Commons, sufficient to prove that if they cannot command a majority +here, they have at least as much influence and power and are as well +supported as any other leader or party. Then the publication of the +Cagliari papers, and the way in which that question was settled, +was a real triumph to the Foreign Office, and acknowledged to be so +by the whole Press of every shade, and by everybody in Parliament, +not excepting the ex-Ministers themselves. They are undoubtedly +gaining strength, while the chances of another Palmerston Government +become more and more faint and remote. All information coincides in +representing Palmerston's unpopularity as great and general, certainly +the most extraordinary change that ever took place in so short a time. +The Duke of Bedford writes to me from Endsleigh: 'I hear of only one +general feeling against Palmerston in the West. What a change since +this time last year!' + +I had a long talk with Tom Baring at Norman Court about the Government, +their proceedings and their prospects, and we agreed entirely on the +subject. I wanted him to speak to some of his friends the ministers, +and to endeavour to get them to act a bolder and more consistent part +as a Conservative Government, and he urged me to speak to Disraeli, +which I told him I would do, and only refrained from doubting if I +could do any real good with him. The Government are certainly placed +in a difficult position. The Government and party whom they replaced +were determined to thrust them out again as soon as possible, and their +weakness and danger drove them into a quasi-alliance with the Radicals, +or at least into so much deference and so many concessions to Radicals +and Ultra-Liberals, that the Whigs, who were baffled and kept out by +this policy, held them up to bitter scorn and reproach for acting in +this manner, and now, when they agree to any measure with regard to +which concession is reasonable and prudent, they are always assailed +with the same reproaches instead of getting credit for so doing. To be +sure they often contrive to make their concessions in such a way as to +deprive them of all grace and merit. This has been pre-eminently the +case with the Jew Bill. + +[Sidenote: ADMISSION OF THE JEWS TO PARLIAMENT.] + +Among the events of last week one of the most interesting was the +Queen's visit to Birmingham, where she was received by the whole +of that enormous population with an enthusiasm which is said to +have exceeded all that was ever displayed in her former receptions +at Manchester or elsewhere. It is impossible not to regard such +manifestations as both significant and important. They evince a +disposition in those masses of the population in which, if anywhere, +the seeds of Radicalism are supposed to lurk, most favourable to the +Conservative cause, by which I mean not to this or that party, but +to the Monarchy and the Constitution under which we are living and +flourishing, and which we may believe to be still dear to the hearts +of the people of this country. This great fact lends some force to +the notion entertained by many political thinkers, that there is more +danger in conferring political power on the middle classes than in +extending it far beneath them, and in point of fact that there is so +little to be apprehended from the extension of the suffrage, that +universal suffrage itself would be innocuous. Amongst the concessions +of last week was the passing of Locke King's Bill for abolishing a +property qualification, which was done with hardly any opposition. +There can be no doubt that the practice was a mere sham, and that +a property qualification was very often a fiction or a fraud, and +such being the case, that it was useless to keep up the distinction; +but it struck me, though I do not find that it occurred to anybody +else, that the abolition might sooner or later have an indirect +influence upon the question of the suffrage, for it may be urged, not +without plausibility, that if it be held no longer necessary that +a representative should have any property whatever, there is great +inconsistency in requiring that the elector should have a certain +amount of property to entitle him to vote. + + +_June 26th._--The India Bill appears now likely to pass rather rapidly +and in the shape presented by the Government. Everybody is tired to +death of the subject and anxious to have it over, and the general +impatience is increased by alarm at the foul state of the Thames, which +(long discussed in a negligent way, and without much public attention +or care) has suddenly assumed vast proportions, and is become an object +of general interest and apprehension. This makes the House of Commons +eager to finish its business as expeditiously as it can, and members +impatient to betake themselves to a purer and safer atmosphere. The +Government continues to maintain its ascendency there, and last night +Palmerston was beaten by considerable majorities on two amendments he +moved to the India Bill. + +The Chancellor has drawn down great obloquy on himself by a speech +which he made at the Mansion House a night or two ago. Derby's illness +having prevented his going to the dinner (given to the Ministers), +Thesiger had to speak for him, and he made the very worst, most +injudicious, and unbecoming speech which was ever delivered on such +an occasion. No rule is more established than that politics are not +to be introduced at these dinners, and yet his speech was nothing but +a political song of triumph and glorification of his own Government +and colleagues, as somebody said, a counterpart (though less offensive +one) of Disraeli's Slough speech. All their heads are turned, and the +Chancellor's as much or more than any. + +Then there is a grand mess about the Jew question, which is hung up +in a sort of abeyance in consequence of Derby's not being able to +come down to the House of Lords. From the moment that Derby took +upon himself to announce his abandonment of the contest, which he +did not frankly and fully, but sulkily and reluctantly, he seems +to have half repented of what he did, and to have, if not made, +permitted and connived at, all sorts of difficulties and obstacles, +while his subordinates and some of his colleagues have interposed to +prevent or delay the final settlement. It is difficult to believe +that he himself ever cared a straw about the Jew question, or that +his opposition had any motive except that of pleasing the bigoted and +narrow-minded of his party. His good sense saw that the moment was come +when surrender was the best policy if not an absolute necessity, and +having given utterance to this conviction, no doubt to the enormous +disgust of many of his followers, it was his interest to get rid of +the question as quickly as possible, and dismiss what as long as it +remained on the _tapis_ in any shape was a source of disagreement and +ill-humour between him and his party. It is marvellous, therefore, +that so clever a man should have acted so foolish a part as he has +done. Having disgusted his own party by his concession, he is now +disgusting everybody else and all other parties by his hesitation and +pusillanimity in carrying it out, and, with an absence of dignity and +firmness which is utterly unworthy of the high position he holds, he +has permitted his Chancellor and some half-dozen subordinate members +of his Government to do all they can to thwart the settlement of the +question, and prolong the exclusion of the Jews. Instead of taking the +matter into his own hands, and dealing with it according to the plain +suggestions of common sense and sound policy, he has permitted a sort +of little conspiracy to go on, which is exceedingly likely to bring +about a collision between the two Houses, and to raise a flame in the +House of Commons the consequences of which may be more serious to the +Government than any one contemplates. Lyndhurst, whose wise head is +provoked and disgusted to the last degree at all these proceedings, has +bitterly complained of them, and at the way in which they have treated +him, and the bill he drew up for the express purpose of putting an end +to the dilemma. + + +_July 9th._--After all Derby ran true to the Jew Bill, and if he did +it in an awkward way, allowances must be made for him and for his +difficulties with his party, who are full of chagrin at being compelled +to swallow this obnoxious measure. It is on the whole better that the +bulk of them should have voted in conformity with their notorious +opinions, as it made no difference as to the result, and has a better +appearance than if they had whisked round at Derby's bidding. The India +Bill has passed the House of Commons pretty harmoniously, and people +seem to think it has been licked into a very decent shape. + +The most interesting event of the present day is the marriage of Lord +Overstone's daughter to a Major Lindsay,[1] who has got the greatest +heiress who ever existed, that is, supposing she inherits her father's +prodigious wealth, which since old Jones Loyd's death is reckoned to +amount to six or seven millions. + +Footnote 1: [Afterwards Sir Robert Loyd Lindsay, V.C., raised to +the Peerage in 1885 by the title of Lord Wantage. The property of +Lord Overstone, as disposed of by his will, amounted to about three +millions, and would pass in reversion to the Loyd family on the failure +of issue by his daughter.] + + +_July 13th._--After an ineffectual attempt on the part of the +Opposition to get rid of the 'reasons' of the Lords, the Jew Bill has +passed, Granville and Lansdowne protesting against the absurdity of the +conduct of Derby with regard to it. It is remarkable that though Lord +Lansdowne has for some time appeared much _baissé_, his speech was as +good and sensible a speech as he ever made in his life. As to Derby, +as it is impossible that so clever a man as he is could willingly act +so foolish and even ridiculous a part as he has done on this occasion, +I conclude that he felt obliged to do what he has done in order to +avoid quarrelling with his own friends, who without doubt are intensely +disgusted at the bitter pill he has obliged them to swallow, and as +he knows best what he can venture with them and what not, it is more +reasonable to accept the measure on his own terms than to be angry with +him for the way in which he has contrived it. + +[Sidenote: CONTINUED WARFARE IN INDIA.] + +The last accounts from India are far from satisfactory, and the +apprehensions which I long ago felt and expressed, but which I had +begun to think unfounded, seem not unlikely to be realised. It is +clear that the contest is neither over nor drawing to a close. Our +danger consists in the swarms of armed and hostile natives, and in +the climate. The rebels we always beat when we can grapple with them, +but we cannot crush and subdue them. They gather together and assail +our people when a good opportunity presents itself, and when they +are repulsed (as is always the case) their masses are dissolved and +scattered abroad, without any material diminution of their numbers, +and ready to assemble and attack any other vulnerable point, while the +British troops are harassed to death by unceasing pursuits of foes +so much more nimble and able to endure the climate than themselves. +This species of warfare must be disheartening and disgusting, and it +involves a consumption of life requiring more reinforcements than we +can supply. All the accounts we receive concur in the insufficiency of +the European force and the necessity of fresh supplies. One letter I +saw yesterday talks of 40,000 men being requisite. + + +_Petworth, July 31st._--I came here from Goodwood, not having been here +for twenty years, and am rather glad to see once more a place where I +passed so much of my time in my younger days. I think it is the finest +house I have ever seen, and its collection of pictures is unrivalled +for number, beauty, and interest. Parliament is to be up on Monday, and +the Council for the prorogation is to take place to-day at Osborne. + +[Sidenote: CONVERSATION WITH COUNT BRUNNOW.] + +I met Brunnow at Goodwood, who talked over the political events of the +Russian war, and assured me that the part he had played in it had been +much misrepresented, that he had never been misled by Aberdeen, nor +had he ever misled the Emperor Nicholas, but on the contrary had told +him, without any disguise, the real state of affairs, and the almost +certainty that war would ensue, that he was well aware himself, and had +impressed on his master, that although Aberdeen was most anxious to +avoid war, he had no power to do so, and that though he was nominally +Prime Minister, he was destitute of the authority of one. He said the +Emperor was quite sincere in all he had said to Hamilton Seymour, and +if we had had at Petersburg a minister with more tact and judgement, +war would not have taken place. + +He (Brunnow) had urged Aberdeen to send Granville there for the +purpose, who, he thinks, would have done very well, and of whom he has +a high opinion. + + +_London, August 15th._--I returned to town from Petworth last Monday +week, and on Tuesday a fit of gout came on, which has laid me up +ever since, leaving me no energy to do anything, and least of all to +execute the purpose I entertained of sketching the past session of +Parliament, and the curious events which it evolved; the decline and +fall of Palmerston and his Government, the advent of Derby, and the +vicissitudes of his career, deserve a narrative which might, if well +handled by some well-informed writer, be made very interesting: but +I am conscious of my own unfitness and dare not attempt it. It is in +truth time for me to leave off keeping a journal, for by degrees I +have lost the habit of communicating with all the people from whom I +have been in the habit of obtaining political information, and I know +nothing worth recording. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +Lord John Russell and Lord Stanley--Lord Palmerston's +Leadership--Dissensions in the Liberal Party--The Queen and her +Ministers--Lord Stanley at the India Office--The Queen's Letter to +the Prince of Wales--Reform Speeches and Projects--Lord Palmerston's +Confidence--Prosecution of Count Montalembert in France--Lord +Clarendon's Visit to Compiègne--The Emperor's Designs on Italy--The +Emperor and the pope--Approach of War--Lord Palmerston's prudent +Language--Lord Palmerston's Italian Sympathies--The Electric +Telegraph--Opposition in France to the War--The Emperor's +Prevarication--Opening of Parliament--Debates on Foreign Affairs--Lord +Cowley's Mission to Vienna--General Opposition to the War--A +Reform Bill--Mr. Walpole and Mr. Henley resign--Duplicity of the +Emperor--Mr. Disraeli's Reform Bill--The Emperor denies his Warlike +Preparations--The Whigs oppose the Reform Bill--Anxiety to defeat the +Government--Lord Cowley returns from Vienna--War impending--Dishonest +Conduct of both Parties--Lord Cowley's Account of Cavour's Policy--His +Mission to Vienna--A Congress proposed--Indifference to Reform--Debates +on the Reform Bill--Defeat of the Reform Bill--An Emissary from Cavour. + + +[Sidenote: LORD JOHN RUSSELL AND LORD STANLEY.] + +_Hinchinbrook, September 5th._--At The Grove last week, and on Friday +to Osborne for a Council. At the Grove I met Charles Villiers and the +Duke of Bedford, and had much talk with both of them about affairs +in general, particularly with the Duke about Lord John. He is busily +employed in concocting a Reform Bill, which he had probably better +leave alone. He seems to have shown his project to several people, +and recently to Aberdeen, who wrote him word that he must take care +not to make it too mild, so much so as to be inconsistent with what +he has before proposed. It seems it is very mild, for it embraces no +Schedule A, no disqualification, though a good deal of addition to the +constituency. Lord John has recently struck up a great intimacy with +Lord Stanley, and has had him repeatedly down to Pembroke Lodge. They +take very kindly to each other, and Lord John is evidently anxious to +cultivate him, for he asked the Duke to invite Stanley to go to Woburn, +where Lord John and all his family are gone to stay. He has been +talking a great deal to Stanley on past politics, but not on present, +which would have been rather awkward in their relative positions, but +he has told Stanley a great deal about the political affairs in which +he has been engaged, especially with respect to the great Reform Bill, +its history and incidents, which details no doubt were very interesting +and useful to him, and I am not surprised at Stanley's being much +pleased with Lord John's society and conversation, for Lord John is +very agreeable and full of that sort of political information in which +Stanley takes the greatest delight and interest. Although Lord John +has abstained from making any attempt to establish political relations +between them, it is highly probable that he should look forward to the +possibility of some such relations being hereafter established, for +in the present state of parties a fresh organisation and combination +is almost inevitable, and he may very naturally look forward to a +combination into which they may both enter, and with this view he may +be very glad to cultivate a personal and social intimacy, and the Duke +thinks he has some such view in his mind. + +The Duke told me that he was at Lord Broughton's the other day, when +Broughton said he had been applied to by some of Palmerston's former +followers to make a representation to Palmerston of the present +state of affairs and of the Liberal party, and to suggest to him the +expediency of his abdication of the lead of it, and the impossibility +of that party regaining its ascendency so long as he insisted on +continuing its chief and retaining his pretensions of returning to +office. To this request he sent a refusal. He said he entirely agreed +with the people making it, but that it would have no effect whatever +except that of making a personal quarrel between himself and the +Palmerstons, with whom he had always been on very good terms. I did not +learn the names of these Whig malcontents. Charles Villiers takes a +similar view, but does not think that anything would induce Palmerston +to retire, or that his former colleagues and immediate adherents +would transfer their support to any one else as long as he continues +to claim it from them. He thinks, moreover, and he has very good +means of judging, that his position and that of John Russell and the +impossibility of their reunion will effectually paralyse the Liberal +party and secure the possession of office to the present Government, +and that there is on the whole rather a preference for the continuation +of the present state of things than any desire for a change which would +bring the Whigs back again. He had recently been with George Lewis, and +found him at length rather disposed to come into my view of the matter +of their resignation, and to regret it. It is entirely the opinion +of Charles Villiers himself, and he said there would have been no +difficulty in obtaining from the House of Commons a vote of confidence, +for there was no wish to turn them out, and having administered the +rebuke which the Government so well merited, the majority would have +seized with alacrity an occasion to make it up with them, and to show +that they had no desire to quarrel with them outright. + +The Opposition now found all their hopes on the dissensions which +they expect to arise in the Tory Government and camp, which is a +very uncertain prospect, and as to which they are very likely to +be disappointed. The day I went to Osborne I had some conversation +with Disraeli, who gave me to understand that he was well aware the +Opposition relied on this contingency, but that it was not likely to +happen. He was aware of Lord Stanley's _liaison_ with Lord John, and +it was evident that the former had made no secret of it, and had told +Disraeli that there was (at present) nothing political in it. Lord John +had not said a word about his Reform Bill to Stanley, and Disraeli knew +that he had not. All this looks like union and confidence between them. + +[Sidenote: THE QUEEN AND THE MINISTRY.] + +As far as outward appearances go, the Queen is on very good terms with +them, for she gave audiences to several of them, and long ones. Her +conduct at the time of the breakup was certainly curious and justifies +them in saying that it was by her express desire that Derby undertook +the formation of the Government. If Palmerston and his Cabinet were +actuated by the motives and expectations which I ascribe to them, +Her Majesty certainly did not play into their hands in that game. +When Derby set before her all the difficulties of his situation, and +entreated her again to reflect upon it, a word from her would have +induced him (without having anything to complain of) to throw it back +into Palmerston's hands. But the word she did speak was decisive as to +his going on, and there is no reason to believe that she was playing +a deep game and calculating on his failure. Nor do I believe that she +would herself have liked to see Palmerston made all powerful. She can +hardly have forgotten how inclined he has always been to abuse his +power, and how much she has suffered from his exercise of it, even +when he was to a certain degree under control, and although she seemed +to be quite reconciled to him, and to be anxious for the stability of +his Government, it is difficult to know what her real feelings (or +rather those of the Prince) were, and it is more than probable that her +anxiety for the success of Palmerston's Government was more on account +of the members of it whom she personally likes, and whom she was very +reluctant to lose, than out of partiality for the Premier himself. To +Clarendon she is really attached, and Granville she likes very much; +most of the rest she regarded with indifference. + + +_London, November 4th._--Two months have elapsed during which I have +felt no inclination to note down anything in this book, but now that +the Newmarket meetings are at an end, and I must needs think of +other things, I shall jot down the very few things that have come +across me in the interval. When I was at Hillingdon a few weeks ago, +I was surprised to hear from Charles Mills a glowing panegyric on +Lord Stanley, who has gained golden opinions and great popularity +at the India House.[1] I was prepared to hear of his ability, his +indefatigable industry, and his businesslike qualities; but I was +surprised to hear so much of his courtesy, affability, patience, and +candour, that he is neither dictatorial nor conceited, always ready to +listen to other people's opinions and advice, and never fancying that +he knows better than anybody else. I afterwards told Jonathan Peel what +I had heard, and he confirmed the truth of this report, and said he +was the same in the Cabinet; but he made me comprehend his popularity +with the Council by telling me that he espoused all their views and +interests, and co-operated with them in endeavouring to retain certain +powers which belonged to the extinct Court of Directors, but which +ought, as a consequence of the change, to pass into other hands, +particularly military appointments and matters of military control. +This received confirmation not long ago from the Duke of Cambridge, +whom I met at Cheveley, and who gave me an account of some matter in +which he had received and executed certain orders from the Secretary of +War, and soon after received a very sharp letter from Stanley calling +him to account for having interfered in what, he said, belonged to +the Indian Secretary. The Duke referred him to the War Office, so +that there seems already a conflict of jurisdiction between the two +offices. From all this it is apparent that we shall have fresh Indian +discussions when Parliament meets, and there will be a necessity for +fresh arrangements for the transaction of business. This may seem to be +a very trifling matter, and not worth noticing, but Lord Stanley is so +completely _the man_ of the present day, and in all human probability +is destined to play so important and conspicuous a part in political +life, that the time may come when any details, however minute, of his +early career will be deemed worthy of recollection. + +I hear the Queen has written a letter to the Prince of Wales announcing +to him his emancipation from parental authority and control, and +that it is one of the most admirable letters that ever were penned. +She tells him that he may have thought the rule they adopted for his +education a severe one, but that his welfare was their only object, +and well knowing to what seductions of flattery he would eventually be +exposed, they wished to prepare and strengthen his mind against them, +that he was now to consider himself his own master, and that they +should never intrude any advice upon him, although always ready to give +it him whenever he thought fit to seek it. It was a very long letter, +all in that tone, and it seems to have made a profound impression on +the Prince, and to have touched his feelings to the quick. He brought +it to Gerald Wellesley in floods of tears, and the effect it produced +is a proof of the wisdom which dictated its composition. + +Footnote 1: [Lord Stanley, the present Earl of Derby, had succeeded to +the Presidency of the Board of Control upon the resignation of Lord +Ellenborough, and was the first Secretary of State for India upon the +abolition of the former office.] + + +[Sidenote: LORD DERBY'S REFORM BILL.] + +_November 17th._--The principal topics of interest for the last +fortnight have been Bright's speeches, the visit of Palmerston and +Clarendon to Compiègne, the Portuguese and French quarrel, and the +pamphlet and approaching trial of Montalembert, on all of which there +is plenty to say. Bright's speeches have evidently been a failure, and +if they produce any effect, it will probably be one rather useful to +the Government; but the very failure only proves more strongly the bad +policy of Derby in bringing forward a Reform measure, and how much more +safe he would have been if he had let it alone. There is a considerable +though not universal impression that by some means and through the +operation of the chapter of accidents this Reform Bill will prove fatal +to him. Mr. Elwin, the editor of the 'Quarterly Review,' told the +Duke of Bedford he thought so, and that he had been told by a Cabinet +Minister that there had been such serious differences of opinion +amongst them on this subject that if the session had been prolonged the +Government would probably have gone to pieces at that time, and Lord +John told the Duke that Walpole had intimated to him something of the +same kind. Lord John is expecting, and Palmerston is hoping, that the +Government will fall, and the latter is still confident that his day +will come again, a confidence which no one else seems to partake of. +Clarendon, who is the staunchest of Palmerston's allies and colleagues, +has been endeavouring to dissipate this illusion and to bring him to +take a more accurate view of his own position, but without success. 'He +cannot see why John Russell should not again take office under him,' +and it is in vain that Clarendon assures him that nothing on earth will +induce Lord John to do so. Lord John seems disposed to bide his time, +and evidently cherishes a hope and expectation that the Whig party +will return to their allegiance to him and enable him to form another +Government. He seems to have a liking for Bright, though he does not +agree with all his views of Reform. At this moment my own belief is +that the present Government have the best chance in this race for power +from the mere fact of their being in possession, and from the hopeless +disunion and confusion in which the Whigs and Liberals are plunged. + +Montalembert's paper is admirable, and I agree with almost every part +of it, especially about the Indian debate and Indian policy, and +the causes of Palmerston's extraordinary fall and the loss of his +popularity. His prosecution by the Imperial Government is either an +enormous mistake and political error, or a stroke of policy so deep and +refined as to be beyond my comprehension. Here everybody regards it as +a great imprudence. + + +[Sidenote: PROSECUTION OF COUNT MONTALEMBERT.] + +_December 2nd._--I returned to town yesterday, having been to Badger +Hall, thence to Grimstone, then to Ossington, and yesterday from +Hinchinbrook. If I have written nothing it is not from want of +interesting events worth notice, but because I have known and heard +nothing more than all the world learnt from the newspapers. The chief +topics of interest have been the pamphlet and the trial of Montalembert +and the visit of Palmerston and Clarendon to Compiègne. The first seems +to have excited more interest here than in Paris, where the tyrannical +proceeding was taken very quietly, and little sympathy felt for a +man who wrote so enthusiastically about England, and rebuked his own +countrymen, and particularly his co-religionaries, for their unworthy +conduct and language towards us. There appears to have been a general +feeling of regret or disapproval of the visit to Paris, even on the +part of those who are most friendly to the two Lords. I think it is a +pity they should have gone just at this moment, when the Montalembert +affair and the Portuguese quarrel have made the Emperor Napoleon very +unpopular here; but it does not seem to me to be a matter of much +consequence, or to be worth the indignation which in some quarters it +has elicited. + + +_Hillingdon, December 12th._--I went to The Grove on Wednesday last +and came back on Friday. There I had long talks with Clarendon for +the first time for many a day, when he told me a great deal that was +interesting, just as he used to do formerly, first about his visit to +Compiègne and his conversations with the Emperor. The Emperor told him +that his motive for prosecuting Montalembert was that he was aware that +there was a conspiracy of literary men, enemies of his Government, to +write it down in a very insidious manner, not by any direct attacks, +but, under the pretence of discussing subjects either not political +or not French, to introduce matter most hostile and most mischievous +to him, and that it was necessary to put down such a conspiracy, and +he thought the best course was to proceed at once against a man so +conspicuous as Montalembert, and to make an example of him, by which +others would be deterred. This was his excuse, whatever its value. +It appears to me a very bad one, and I doubt if the fact itself is +true, though Clarendon seemed to think it was. They had a great deal +of conversation about Italy and the anti-Austrian projects attributed +to France, touching which the Emperor's ideas were most strange and +extravagant. He said there had been two questions in which France was +interested: one the regeneration of Poland, the other the regeneration +of Italy; that in the pursuit of the first France naturally became the +ally of Austria against Russia, in the pursuit of the other she became +the ally of Russia and Sardinia against Austria; that the peace with +Russia had put an end to anything being done about the first, and the +second alone became possible. Clarendon then pointed out to him all +the difficulties of involving himself in such a contest as this scheme +supposed, that Austria would sacrifice her last florin and her last +man in defence of her Italian provinces, that to go to war with her +would almost inevitably sooner or later plunge all Europe into war, +and that the object to be gained by it, even by France herself, would +be wholly incommensurate with the cost and the danger that would be +incurred. The Emperor appeared to have no reply to make to Clarendon's +remonstrances, nor did I gather that His Majesty had any _casus belli_ +against Austria, nor even any just cause of complaint to urge against +her, from which I draw the inference not only that his policy is of +a very wild and chimerical character, but that at any moment when he +might see, or think he saw, any advantage in attacking another Power, +no consideration of justice and good faith, still less of moderation +and care for the happiness and peace of the world, would restrain him, +and from such a contingency England would be no more exempt than any +other country.[1] + +Footnote 1: [It is remarkable that this conversation of the Emperor +with Lord Clarendon at Compiègne took place within a month of the +speech to Baron Hübner on New Year's Day, which was the signal of war +between France and Austria, and at a time when the secret alliance +between the Emperor and M. de Cavour had been already concluded. The +Emperor's object was evidently to delude his English guests, and Lord +Clarendon was partially deceived by him, although he clearly perceived +that there was danger of war ahead.] + + +_December 12th._--Another day the Emperor asked Clarendon to come into +his room, when he told him that he wanted his advice, that he was in +a great dilemma and embarrassment in regard to his Roman occupation, +and in a false position, from which he did not know how to extricate +himself. He was dying to recall the French troops and yet unable to +do it. He had always hoped to be able to get the policy laid down +in the Edgar Ney letter carried out, but as soon as the Pope and +his ecclesiastical councillors returned to Rome they refused to do +anything, and whenever he held out any threat of withdrawing his troops +they always said he might do so whenever he pleased, for they knew very +well the reasons which prevented his doing it: the moment the French +troops marched out there would be an uprising in Rome and in the Papal +States. The religious party in France would deeply resent his exposing +the Pope to any such danger, and as soon as the French went away the +Austrians would march in and be masters of the whole country. Clarendon +acknowledged the gravity of the situation and the difficulty, but could +suggest no solution of it. They discussed the possibility of inducing +the Pope to relinquish his temporal sovereignty, and to accept a great +revenue instead, but neither of them seems to have thought this plan +feasible. + + +[Sidenote: NAPOLEON'S SPEECH TO BARON HÜBNER.] + +_January 14th_,1859.--I purposed at the close of the last year to say +a few words about a year which might well be called _annus mirabilis_ +and _annus mæstissimus_ besides, for I do not remember any year marked +by a greater number and variety of remarkable events and occurrences, +and certainly none which has been so fatal to the happiness of so many +of our friends. One calamity has succeeded another with frightful +rapidity, till it is difficult to point to any one who has not +sustained some terrible bereavement in the persons of near and dear +relations or intimate friends. A severe fit of gout which attacked +me on Christmas Day, and has kept hold of me ever since, prevented +my executing my purpose, and now I have forgotten all I intended to +say, and can only take up the present condition of affairs as they +present themselves at the beginning of this year, and this is dark and +unpromising enough. All Europe has been thrown into alarm by the speech +which the Emperor Napoleon made to the Austrian Ambassador Hübner on +New Year's Day, and by the announcement which followed it that Prince +Napoleon was going to Turin to marry the King of Sardinia's daughter. +The language of the King of Sardinia in his speech to his Parliament +shortly afterwards confirmed the general apprehensions. The menacing +manifestations having produced their effect, the Emperor seems to have +thought it adviseable to draw in his horns, and to try and calm the +effervescence he had produced. This, however, was not so easy, and in +spite of certain tranquillising articles which the French Press was +instructed to put forth, the impression that mischief is brewing cannot +be effaced, and though many think that there will be no immediate +outbreak, and the money dealers and speculators comfort themselves with +thinking that want of money will prevent the great military Powers +from going to war, the best informed persons, and those who are most +accustomed to watch the signs of the times, are convinced that the time +is near at hand when the peace of the world will be broken, that the +Emperor is determined upon an aggression on Austria, and that he is +only undecided as to the time when the operation shall be begun. It is +now evident that when our Ex-Ministers were at Compiègne, and when the +Emperor pretended that he wanted to consult Clarendon confidentially, +he only made a half-confidence of his views and his position, and that +he concealed from Clarendon the important fact of the marriage of +Prince Napoleon, which was arranged at the time. + + +_The Grove, January 25th._--I have passed three days here very +agreeably; a large party on Saturday and Sunday, after which Clarendon, +George Lewis, and I, talking over everything interesting at home and +abroad. There has been a good deal of correspondence between Clarendon +and John Russell in a very friendly spirit, quite different from the +terms they have been on till lately, and indicating the possibility +of their coming together again in Opposition and in office. I saw +also some letters of Palmerston's upon foreign affairs, exceedingly +sound and judicious. I am bound to say that all I hear and see of +Palmerston's views, opinions, and conduct is highly creditable to him, +and very different from what I expected. He evinces no impatience to +return to office, and no misconception of his own position. All he +writes on foreign affairs, on France and Austria and Italy, is marked +by great wisdom and moderation. He is taking his proper place as head +of the Liberal and Whig party, prepared to go to Parliament and wait +for the development of the policy and measures of the Government, +before forming any plan of a political campaign. Reading at the same +time the letters of Lord John and those of Palmerston on the same +subject, that of foreign policy, I am struck with the great superiority +of the latter. + + +[Sidenote: LORD PALMERSTON'S VIEW OF THE ITALIAN WAR.] + +_Bretby, January 27th._--I left The Grove yesterday morning, and came +here to-day. At breakfast yesterday Clarendon handed over to me a +letter from Reeve, enclosing one from Guizot upon the aspect of affairs +in Europe and the chances of war and peace; an admirable letter, as all +his are. Reeve said that he had been told that Palmerston was likely +to give utterance to some sentiments very anti-Austrian, and in favour +of Italian nationality, than which nothing could be more mischievous +or more conducive to the objects of Louis Napoleon. This seemed to me +so inconsistent with the spirit of moderation and good sense which I +had remarked in the letters I had already seen of Palmerston's, that +I said I could not think it possible that he was meditating anything +of the sort, and I was greatly surprised when Clarendon replied, and +George Lewis agreed with him, that nothing was more possible, and +that he should not be at all surprised if he expressed sentiments +which were very much those which he had always entertained. Of course +they both deprecated any such language in the strongest manner. When +I got to town I told Reeve what had passed, and he then told me his +authority for what he had written, and that his informant had gathered +it from conversations with Palmerston himself. It was at all events +satisfactory to find that the language of the 'Times' had undergone +no alteration, and that they adhered to the same judicious course and +vigorous argumentation which they have all along adopted. Clarendon +and George Lewis are equally afraid of what John Russell may say, but +they are aware that though he may do considerable mischief, his _dicta_ +are infinitely less important than Palmerston's. Granville arrived +last night from Paris and Rome, and I saw him for a few minutes as +I was starting to come here. I had just time to ascertain that his +views are identical with those of Clarendon and George Lewis, and that +his efforts will be joined to theirs in attempting to persuade both +Palmerston and John Russell to refrain from saying anything which may +serve as an encouragement to the Emperor, and George Lewis said that on +Palmerston's language in the House of Commons the peace of the world +might possibly depend. There seems no reason to doubt that one of the +things which keeps the Emperor's mind in suspense and uncertainty is +his desire to hear what passes in our Parliament, and to ascertain what +amount of sympathy and support the Italian cause and a war against +Austria are likely to find in this country. Palmerston must have +already taken such a measure of the public feeling here as to know +that any appeal to anti-Austrian and pro-Italian sympathies would meet +with no response either in or out of Parliament. The most, therefore, +that he will probably venture to do will be strenuously to recommend +a complete neutrality, and that this country should determine to keep +aloof from any contest that may ensue. This would be playing the +Emperor's game, and might perhaps be more useful to him than any other +course we could take, for it would find pretty general concurrence, +and most likely elicit many expressions of opinions which the Emperor +would be able with some plausibility to construe in the manner most +favourable to his own pretensions and designs. + + +_January 31st._--Dined with Lord Salisbury on Saturday at the Sheriffs' +dinner, when I met all the Cabinet, except Malmesbury, Hardwicke, and +John Manners. Derby told me a curious thing. An experiment was made of +the possible speed by which a telegraphic message could be sent and an +answer got. They fixed on Corfu, made every preparation, and sent _one +word_. The message and return were effected in six seconds. I would not +have believed this on any other authority. + +[Sidenote: UNPOPULARITY OF THE WAR.] + +Granville is just come from Paris, where he spent a week; he saw and +conversed with everybody, beginning with the Emperor and ending with +Thiers. All the Ministers he talked to, Walewski, Fould, and Rouher, +are dead against war, Morny the same, Baroche said to be for it, and +Fleury, who wants to distinguish himself in the field. The Emperor +talked over the whole question and assured him he had not committed +himself to the King of Sardinia, but on the contrary had told him he +would not support him if he committed any imprudence towards Austria. +Granville's impression is that the question is adjourned for the +present, owing to the clear manifestation in France, but much more to +the unanimous tone of the German and English Press. He is, however, +waiting in great anxiety for the debates in our Parliament, and still +hopes for some anti-Austrian expression which may favour his own views. +He has such a contempt for his own nation and for the opinions of +the French people that these last do not weigh much with him, and he +fancies that they may be at any moment changed and run in a warlike +current. Granville thinks our Government have acted properly throughout +these transactions, so far as he can judge. + + +_February 5th._--Parliament opened on Thursday with, as everybody +owned, a very good speech, and the discussions in both Houses were in a +very good tone, and all that could be desired as to foreign policy. It +will be impossible for the Emperor to derive from what passed a single +word from any quarter favourable to his projects. The disappointment +of his expectations in this respect may be very annoying to him, and +possibly induce him still to defer his final resolution, but it is +too much to hope that the language of our Parliament will turn him +altogether from his design. Indeed it has now become equally difficult +for him to advance without danger or to retreat without discredit, and +in his position discredit is in itself fraught with danger. + + +_February 12th._--The Emperor Napoleon's speech, looked for with +so much anxiety here, arrived a few hours after its delivery on +Monday last, and was on the whole regarded as rather pacific than +the contrary, but still so reserved and ambiguous that it might mean +anything or lead to anything or nothing. The general opinion seems +to be that nothing will take place _for the present_. The Government +have begun their campaign so quietly, and with so little disturbance +or threatening of any, that if such calm appearances were not often +fallacious, one should predict their passing smoothly through the +session; but when one thinks of this time last year, of the apparent +strength and security of Palmerston's Government, and of the suddenness +of his fall, it is impossible to rely upon the continuance of this +unclouded sky. + + +_February 19th._--The general complaint is that nothing is done in +Parliament, and that there is a general apathy, under the continuance +of which the Government gets on without hindrance, while their faults +or blunders pass unchecked. The Chancellor incurred a momentary odium +by his attempt at perpetrating a very shameless job, by making his +son-in-law a Judge in Lunacy without having any qualifications for +such an office; but after a little spurt in the House of Commons, the +result of which was the appointment being rescinded, the matter quietly +dropped. Gladstone's extravagant proceedings at Corfu[1] have elicited +something like an attack led on by Lord Grey, but although this subject +will probably be more seriously and warmly discussed after he comes +home, it does not seem likely to lead to much at present, and Derby +will probably parry Grey's attack on Monday next. + +Footnote 1: [Mr. Gladstone had accepted, temporarily, the office of +Lord High Commissioner of the Ionian Islands, under Lord Derby's +Government. His proceedings there excited great surprise in England. +The eventual result of his mission was the surrender of the +Protectorate of the Ionian Islands to the Kingdom of Greece.] + + +[Sidenote: LORD COWLEY'S MISSION TO VIENNA.] + +_February 27th._--Derby prevailed on Grey to defer his Ionian motion +till Gladstone's return, which he said would be in a fortnight at +least. Palmerston had given notice of his intention to call the +attention of the House of Commons to the present state of Europe, and +to ask if the Government could give the country any information on the +subject. The Government tried to persuade him to defer his intention, +but without effect, and he persisted in his course. In the meanwhile +Cowley suddenly arrived in England, sent for by the Government, as it +was said, for the purpose of receiving instructions in respect to the +conferences expected at Paris on the Danubian affairs. On Thursday +morning the world was electrified at reading an article in the 'Times' +stating that Cowley was going on a special mission to Vienna for the +purpose of making matters up, if possible, between France and Austria. +The day before I had been apprised of the fact by Granville, who had +heard it from Clarendon, to whom Cowley had imparted the secret of +his mission. The mission was in fact rather one from the Emperor than +from our Government, who had really done nothing whatever, but were +too happy to allow Cowley to go and try his hand in patching matters +up. He has done it all off his own bat. Seeing how day after day war +appeared to be becoming more imminent, he resolved to see if he could +not do something to arrest the evil; he found the French Ministers +quite agreed with him, and the Emperor in a state of mingled rage, +disappointment, and perplexity, clinging with his characteristic +tenacity to the designs on which his mind has been so long fixed, and +to which he probably stands committed more than we are aware of, by +his own professions, and by his cousin, who no doubt gave Cavour to +understand he might certainly count upon the Emperor's aid. This course +also he is the more reluctant to abandon, as he has certainly persuaded +himself, or has been persuaded by others, that in no other way can he +secure himself from the attempts of Italian conspirators and assassins, +so that it is personal fear which is the real ground of what is called +his policy. On the other hand, he is intensely disgusted and enraged +at finding the whole feeling and opinion of England so decidedly +pronounced against him, and that in no quarter whatever, neither in +Parliament nor the Press, which represents the mind of the whole +country, nor in any public men, can he find the slightest sympathy or +encouragment, or anything but the most indignant disapprobation.[1] The +sentiment of England is if possible still stronger in the same sense +in Germany, and it is universal in France, where it is only prevented +from manifesting itself with as much force and vivacity as in Germany +and here by the fettered and subservient condition of the Press. In +addition to this I am informed that the project of war is not popular +with the army itself; and as it is not morally certain that by plunging +into war the Emperor will be secure from the danger of assassination, +and there is at least as good a chance of war bringing with it perils +of another sort quite as formidable, so his very selfishness makes +him doubt and waver, and inclines him to listen to the remonstrances +which are addressed to him. Upon this uncertain and varying state of +mind Cowley has been endeavouring to work, and he has so far succeeded +as to have been entrusted by the Emperor with a commission to go to +Vienna and negotiate with the Austrian Government a settlement of +their differences, or rather, as there are in fact no differences to +settle, to obtain from the Austrian Government some concessions by +virtue of which he may be enabled to withdraw from his present false +position without discredit, by which means he may give satisfaction to +France and Europe, though at the risk of disappointing Sardinia and +exasperating the Italian Carbonari. + +When Palmerston's discussion came on upon Friday last, it was already +known (through the 'Times') that Cowley was going to Vienna, though +he himself had told nobody of this expedition (except Clarendon), and +he evidently did not mean it should have been proclaimed. On Friday, +Disraeli and Malmesbury said nothing of Cowley's mission, but they both +announced that the Papal territories would be evacuated by the French +and Austrian troops, and the public inferred that this evacuation +was going to take place by a mutual agreement, and everybody asked, +'Why then is Cowley going to Vienna?' but the truth was that the +Pope had requested the two Governments to withdraw their troops, and +one of Cowley's objects is to procure the assent of Austria to that +withdrawal, France having no doubt agreed to it on certain conditions, +of which I do not know the details, but which are committed to the +management of Cowley. Clarendon seemed to think that there was no more +danger _now_ of the pacific purpose of Cowley being obstructed at +Vienna than at Paris, for he said that the Austrians are so proud, and +moreover so greatly incensed at the conduct of France, that it is very +doubtful whether they will be induced to make any concessions at all, +and whether the Emperor of Austria will not prefer to encounter all the +danger of war, prepared as he is, than consent to anything which should +have the appearance of humbling himself before the outrageous pretences +and intolerable insolence of the Emperor of the French. + +[Sidenote: MR. WALPOLE AND MR. HENLEY RESIGN.] + +In the midst of the absorbing interest of this great question, the +Government Reform Bill is coming on. They appear to have thought it +adviseable to bespeak the good word of the 'Times,' and accordingly +they sent Delane a copy of their Bill. This morning the heads of it +appear in the 'Times' with an approving article. Mild as it appears to +be, it is too strong for Walpole and Henley, who have resigned, but why +they did not resign before it is difficult to understand. At Kent House +yesterday afternoon there was a little gathering of Clarendon, Charles +Wood, and George Lewis, when they all agreed that if the Government +measure was such a one as they could possibly support, their proper +policy would be to assist the Government in carrying it. + +Footnote 1: [The war of 1859 is now judged of more favourably than +it was at the time of its inception, and the result obtained--the +independence and unification of Italy--has led men to condone the +tortuous and deceitful policy by which it was arrived at. The object +of M. de Cavour was a noble one, although the means he employed were +unscrupulous. The chief motive of the Emperor Napoleon was the fear +of his old allies the Carbonari. Orsini's attempt on his life had +powerfully affected him. + +To English statesmen of all parties (with one or two exceptions) it +was apparent that the declaration of war by France on Austria was the +destruction of the great compact of 1815, which (whatever may have been +its defects) had given forty-four years of peace to the Continent of +Europe, and which had survived the Revolution of 1848 and the Crimean +contest of 1854. It was the first outbreak of the military power of +the French Empire and it was likely to lead to future wars, as the +result has proved. The defeat of Austria and the dissolution of the +Germanic Confederation in 1866 was the result of the combined action of +Prussia and Italy, north and south of the Alps; and the Franco-German +War of 1870 was the result of the military ascendency Prussia had thus +acquired in Europe. The policy of England was simply based on the +principle that the duration of peace depended on the maintenance of the +existing territorial arrangements of Europe.] + + +_March 1st._--According to all political calculations Cowley's mission +ought to succeed, but I feel no confidence in his success, and rather +believe that the Emperor Napoleon is acting with his usual duplicity +and treachery, and duping Cowley to gain time, which is necessary to +his plans.[1] It is revolting to see that the peace of the world and +so much of the happiness or misery of mankind depend upon the caprice +and will and the selfish objects and motives of a worthless upstart +and adventurer, who is destitute of every principle of honour, good +faith, or humanity, but who is unfortunately invested with an enormous +power for good or evil. And this is the end of fifty years of incessant +movement, of the progress of society, of the activity and development +of the human intellect in the country which is eternally mouthing about +its superior civilisation and its mission to extend the benefits of +that civilisation over the whole world. + +Disraeli brought forward his Reform Bill last night in a well-set +speech, only too elaborate. It was coolly received, except by its most +angry opponents, who lost no time in denouncing it. + +Footnote 1: [This was the fact. It was not known until long afterwards +that positive engagements had been entered into at Plombières between +the Emperor and M. de Cavour in the preceding autumn, including the +marriage of Prince Napoleon to the daughter of the King of Sardinia, +and the cession of Savoy and Nice as a compensation for the conquest of +Northern Italy. Cavour had the Emperor in his power, and threatened, if +he drew back, to publish the correspondence.] + + +[Sidenote: THE GOVERNMENT REFORM BILL.] + +_March 3rd._--It would be difficult to say what the feeling of the +House of Commons really is on the subject of the Government Reform +Bill. The night it came out everybody who spoke spoke against it. The +Ultra-Reformers, from Bright down to John Russell, naturally express +nothing but abhorrence and contempt for such a measure; half-and-half +Reformers, who consider Reform a necessity, and who would be glad +to have the question settled for the present on such easy terms, +do not venture to say much in its favour; and the Whigs generally, +particularly at their head-quarters, Brooks's, discuss with much +variety of opinion whether the second reading ought to be resisted or +not, the prevailing opinion being that the principle of the Bill (which +is the equalisation of town and county franchise) is so inadmissible +that it ought to be rejected, and they come to that conclusion the more +readily because they think its rejection in that stage would put an +end to the Government. On the other hand, Derby brought together two +hundred of his supporters the day after the Bill appeared, and obtained +their assent to it, and an engagement to support it. The resignations +of Henley and Walpole have been prejudicial to the Government. Their +explanations, which were full of half-suppressed bitterness towards +their colleagues, were considered damaging, and to have revealed +trickery on the part of Derby, though they seem to me to have rather +exhibited weakness on the part of the retiring Ministers. But what +they have clearly shown is the extreme penury of the party in point +of intellectual resources, when they can find no man of any weight or +reputation to fill up the vacancies. But if the Government is weak, and +their position very precarious, the state of the Opposition is at least +as deplorable, for there is no union or agreement amongst them, and +Granville acknowledged to me last night that if Derby should fall on +the second reading, and Palmerston be sent for, as it may be expected +he would be, by the Queen, that it is impossible to see how another +Government could be formed. This state of affairs and the magnitude +of the embarrassment will probably at last make some of those who so +obstinately insisted upon their being right in resigning last year +after the Vote of Censure, begin to think that they would have done +better to accept the rebuke and stay in. All that is now occurring +serves to confirm my own opinion upon that point. + +Since Cowley's arrival at Vienna nothing has been heard of his mission, +but there is nothing apparent tending to lead to the conclusion that he +has been able to do any good, and the general impression is that the +Emperor Napoleon is only endeavouring to gain time, and making a tool +of Cowley in hopes of thereby committing this country in some degree +to his ulterior designs, and there are not wanting persons who believe +that it will after all be against this country that his arms will be +turned, and not against Austria. + + +_March 8th._--On Saturday morning the 'Times' published the article in +the 'Moniteur' (evidently the Emperor's composition), in which a formal +denial was given to the imputed warlike intentions of France. The +general impression produced by this manifesto was that the Emperor had +at last been diverted from his purpose by the various manifestations +which he had seen at home as well as abroad, and that he had resolved +to abandon it altogether. Many, however, refused to believe in this +happy result, and thought that he was only trying to throw dust in +the eyes of the world, and endeavouring to gain time. All things +considered, I incline to believe that he has resolved to postpone his +warlike designs _sine die_, though retaining his wish to employ the +vast means on which he has expended so much money, and looking forward +to some pretext which the chapter of accidents may afford him to +execute his purpose. + +Strenuous efforts are making to bring about an understanding and +agreement between the Whig leaders as to opposing the Government Bill, +in which nobody is so active as George Lewis, who being very intimate +with John Russell, and much in his confidence, and at the same time +still on a footing of an adherent of Palmerston, is better qualified +than any one to form a link between the two and to produce a mutual +accord. John Russell has drawn up certain Resolutions which he intends +to move on the second reading. These Resolutions have been shown to +George Grey and to Palmerston, who have agreed to support them, and it +may be presumed that if all the Whig leaders, or even most of them, +take this course, they will be followed by the majority of the rank and +file. The Government and their friends are considerably alarmed at this +hostile demonstration, and the more disappointed because they had been +led to believe that Palmerston intended to support the second reading, +and they knew that many moderate Whigs were inclined to take the same +course. Some may do so still, but if the rival leaders can agree upon +an attack on the Bill, though they may be agreed on nothing else, it is +certainly probable that the Government will be beaten. Then will come +the question of dissolution or resignation. This will probably depend +on the amount and composition of the majority, and it will be a knotty +point for Derby to decide upon. + + +[Sidenote: OPPOSITION TO THE REFORM BILL.] + +_Savernake, March 9th._--I met George Lewis at the Athenæum yesterday, +and had a talk about the state of affairs here. He told me that +the whole Liberal party, he believed, would support John Russell's +Resolutions. There had been considerable doubt at first whether the +second reading of the Bill should be opposed or not, but upon a close +examination of the Bill they found that it was such a dishonest measure +that it could not be allowed to pass, and therefore it was better to +throw it out at once. Palmerston and Lord John are now on very good +terms. Lord John had sent his Resolutions to Palmerston, and Palmerston +had sent him word he would support whatever he proposed. Lewis thinks, +though there is no agreement between them further than this with regard +to the Reform Bill, that if this Government falls, and the Whigs return +to power, means will be found of adjusting the rival pretensions of +the two leaders, and getting them to act together. To effect this, +his reliance is mainly on the Queen, who he thinks may and will exert +her influence and authority for this end. There is, however, a notion +abroad that if John Russell persists in his Resolutions, the Government +will withdraw the first clause, which is tantamount to withdrawing the +Bill itself. Lewis believes in this intention, and that if they do +it they will become so unpopular, and incur so much discredit, that +it will be impossible for them to go on or to attempt a dissolution. +Another notion is that they will withdraw the Bill, and endeavour to go +on without any Bill at all, trusting to the Opposition not daring to +propose a vote of want of confidence, which it is very doubtful if they +could carry. The only thing clear is that they are very anxious to turn +the Government out, and to take their chance of the consequences. Their +success seems not at all unlikely, but when they have accomplished +their object their embarrassments will begin. First there will be Lord +John and Palmerston, then _l'embarras des richesses_ of the numerous +candidates for office, and settling who is to come in and who are to be +thrown overboard. + + +_March 15th._--Cowley arrived from Vienna on Saturday. I have not yet +seen him, but Clarendon told me yesterday that he brings back the most +satisfactory assurances on the part of Austria, who is ready to give +every pledge of her pacific intentions, and to come to any agreement +with France upon the withdrawal of both their forces from the Papal +States, but that she will make no concessions inconsistent with her +rights and her dignity, or which could seem to damp the enthusiasm +now prevailing in Germany in her favour; in fact, that she has no +concessions to make. Within the last few days the symptoms from France +have been more menacing. At Paris the conviction is general that war +is meant, and I am obliged to believe it likewise. The resignation of +Prince Napoleon seems to have been a mere sham, and his intimacy with +the Emperor as close as ever. There is no reason to believe that the +military preparations in France are suspended, and in Piedmont they are +certainly going on actively. + +[Sidenote: LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S RESOLUTIONS.] + +The other great topic of interest, viz. the Reform Bill and John +Russell's Resolutions, does not look in a more satisfactory state. +While many sensible people deprecate this move of John Russell's, +and lament that Palmerston should have consented to support it, the +probability seems that it will be carried, but the greatest uncertainty +prevails as to the course which the Government will adopt, and whether +they will try to go on, dropping their Bill altogether, or continue +the fight with its remaining clauses, or whether they will take the +chance of a dissolution. It is now clear enough that Derby made a great +blunder in undertaking to deal with the question of Reform at all, +and that a consistent Conservative course would have been the most +honourable and the wisest, and have afforded him the best chance of +staying in office. By bringing forward a measure to the principle of +which it is well known that he and his whole Government and party are +in their hearts adverse, and then trying to vitiate the principle by +certain contrivances in the details, by which the scruples of his own +party may be obviated, he exposes himself to the charge of producing +a dishonest measure, and this is what the Whigs urge as their ground +for attacking it in front and at once. This is what Lewis said to me, +'We are bound to defeat a measure which is so dishonest that it is +not susceptible of such improvement in Committee as would warrant our +passing it.' The conduct of the Whigs, however, is not a whit more +honest. Their allegation is a mere pretext, and their real motive is +that they think they see their way back to office through an attack +upon the Government Bill; they are indifferent to the consequences, +and all they want is to get the coast clear for themselves, and take +the chance of settling the difficult questions which will arise as +to the formation of a Government and the conditions on which it can +be formed. All this appears to me quite as dishonest as anything the +Government have done or are doing. Palmerston never was a Reformer. He +was opposed as much as he dared and could be even to the great measure +of 1832, which all the world was for. When he brought forward a measure +of his own two or three years ago, he did it without sincerity or +conviction, and merely for a party object, and now he is uniting with +John Russell without any real agreement with him in opinion, and with +full knowledge that if they succeed and climb into office on the ruins +of the Government Bill he will be obliged to propose a measure much +stronger than he believes to be either necessary or safe. Believing +that Palmerston and John Russell were agreed no further than upon the +Resolutions on Monday next, I thought that a difference must arise +between them (in the event of their coming into office) on the Reform +Bill they should produce, but I was told just now that upon this point +they are already nearly if not completely agreed. They are, however, +not yet agreed upon the great question of the Premiership, or which of +them shall go to the House of Lords. The impatience and confidence of +Lord John seems to be unbounded, and in spite of his being the younger +by seven years, his eagerness to be in office again much more intense +than that of Palmerston. Although this is such a miserable Government, +both discreditable and incompetent, and it is a misfortune to have the +country ruled by such men, I cannot desire the success of such selfish +and unpatriotic manoeuvres as those by which the Whigs are endeavouring +to supplant them, and consequently I regard the whole state of affairs +with indescribable disgust and no small apprehension. I believe the +country to be in nearly equal danger from Louis Napoleon abroad and Mr. +Bright at home, and I fear that there is no capacity in the Government +to cope with the one, and no such amount of wisdom and patriotism +amongst the chief men of all parties as is requisite to defeat the +designs of the other. + + +_March 16th._--Cowley called on me yesterday at the Council Office. +He said that he had never believed there would be war, and he did not +expect it now; that all the agitation and turmoil that had been vexing +Europe for the last three months were to be attributed to the conduct +of Cavour and his attempts to drag France into assisting Piedmont +in her aggressive policy, and to misunderstandings which had been +produced by the strange conduct of the French Government, the imprudent +speech of the Emperor to Hübner on January 1st, and the ambiguous +manifestations which had followed it. To comprehend all these things it +was necessary to be acquainted with the whole course of Cavour's policy +and his dealings with France, and to understand the peculiar character +of the Emperor and the motives and impulses by which he is actuated. +When Austria refused to join England and France in the Russian War, +Cavour thought that an opportunity presented itself of which he might +take advantage, and which would lead to a realisation of his views for +the aggrandisement of Piedmont, and he offered to join the alliance +and send an army to the Crimea. This offer (as Cowley thinks very +imprudently and unfortunately) was accepted. He thinks it was unwise, +because the assistance of Piedmont was not required, and could not have +any material effect on the result of the contest, while it was sure to +excite hopes and expectations, and to give rise to demands which would +be afterwards found very inconvenient and embarrassing. Accordingly +Cavour took the earliest opportunity of expressing his hopes that when +peace should return Sardinia and her services would not be overlooked. +General expressions of goodwill were given, but Cowley cannot answer +for what more the Emperor may have said. + +[Sidenote: LORD COWLEY'S VIENNA NEGOTIATION.] + +His account of his mission does not quite correspond with what I had +before heard of it, and is an additional proof of the difficulty of +arriving at truth. He told me that he had written to Malmesbury and +told him he thought it very expedient to send somebody to Vienna to +talk to Buol and the Emperor, and to try and mediate between Austria +and France, to which Malmesbury had replied he had better go himself, +as nobody else would be so likely to effect the object. The consent of +Buol having been previously obtained, he proposed it at Paris, where +his services were gladly accepted. He had already spoken very openly +to the Emperor, and told him very plain truths as to his position and +his conduct, and when he went he told His Majesty without disguise what +his intentions were and his wishes, and what he desired that Austria +should do. The Emperor was very frank, totally disdained any wish to +make war, but said he should like Austria to do certain things, which +amounted to full security for Piedmont and renunciation of any unfair +and unjustifiable predominance in Italy. He found them at Vienna more +angry than alarmed; suspicious, but not unreasonable; their military +condition so good and powerful that, believing France really bent on +attacking them, there was a very general feeling that it was better war +should come at once than have it indefinitely hanging over them, and +at first it seemed unlikely that they would return any conciliatory +assurances which he might carry back to France. At last, however, he +got them to say what he thought was as much as could be expected from +them, and what ought to satisfy the French Government. Since he left +Paris (now three weeks ago or more) he has not had a line from thence, +and he is wholly ignorant of the march of affairs during his absence; +but he hopes and expects to find a pacific disposition, and his object +is to prevail on the Emperor to put an end to the general state of +uncertainty and alarm by announcing to Sardinia that she is in no +danger from Austria, and that therefore no assistance from France will +be necessary, and she may safely desist from her warlike preparations. +This is in fact the only way by which the crisis can be put an end to, +and if the Emperor really has been sincere in his professions and means +to make his acts correspond with them, he will forthwith put forward +some clear and unambiguous declaration, and some definite communication +to Piedmont which will leave no room for doubt or suspicion, and +restore confidence and tranquillity to Europe again. + + +_March 22nd._--Yesterday the 'Times' announced that a Congress had been +agreed upon, which was believed, so the funds rose and there was a +general belief that a solution was at hand, but it turns out not to be +true. The Emperor wishes for one as a means by which he may back out of +his scrape, which Cowley writes is now his object, but it is impossible +to believe that Austria will listen to it, and Clarendon thinks that +she would do wrong to consent to it, and that we should get into a +scrape by being a party to it, as no reliance whatever can be placed on +the good faith or honesty of France, who would deceive us and Austria, +as she has often done before. + +Yesterday the Neapolitan exiles arrived at an hotel in Dover Street +in several hack cabs, decorated with laurels, and preceded by a band +of music. I did not see the men, but saw the empty cabs; there was no +crowd. + +Nothing could be more uninteresting than the first evening of the +debate on John Russell's Resolutions last night. Lord March told me in +the morning that the Government would certainly dissolve as soon as +the Resolutions were carried. Every day makes the folly of Derby more +apparent in bringing in any Reform Bill at all. + + +[Sidenote: DEBATE ON REFORM BILL] + +_March 24th._--When I think of the Reform Bill of 1832, and compare +the state of affairs at that time with that of the present time, +nothing can be more extraordinary. Then the interest was intense, the +whole country in a fever of excitement, the Press rabid, the clamour +for Reform all but universal, party running tremendously high, no +doubt or hesitation about individual wishes and opinions, and each +camp perfectly united in itself, and full of energy and zeal. In +this condition of the public mind and of politics the debates began +and continued. This debate has begun and seems likely to continue, +how differently! There are neither zeal nor union on one side or +the other, everybody is dissatisfied with the state of affairs, and +nobody can see a satisfactory issue from the general embarrassment. +There have been two nights of debate, and as yet all the speaking has +been one way, all on the anti-Reform side. John Russell was flat, and +Stanley, who replied to him, actually read his speech, which, though +it was much complimented by his own friends, seems to have been far +from effective. Horsman made a very good speech the first night, and +Bulwer Lytton spoke with great eloquence and effect on Tuesday, far +better than anybody thought he could speak, and the Solicitor-General +made a magnificent speech, in which he attacked John Russell with +great vigour and complete success. The only tolerable speech on the +Opposition side was Sidney Herbert's. Nobody has the least idea what +course the Government will take of the three open to them, whether they +will resign, dissolve, or go on with the second reading. The inference +from Stanley's speech was that they will dissolve, but Lytton and +Cairns seemed anxious to do away with the impression that speech had +made, and one is led to infer from what they said that the Government +will most likely proceed to the second reading, which would probably +be their wisest and certainly their most popular course. The majority +of those who are going to vote for the Resolutions do so unwillingly, +and would have preferred going into Committee, or to have fought the +battle on the second reading. As it is, if Government do not throw up +their cards, the second reading is in my opinion sure to pass, and not +improbably the Bill itself with great alterations. + +The state of foreign affairs is as uncertain as ever. So incurable is +the distrust of the Emperor Napoleon that the greatest doubts prevail +whether he means peace or war, and whether even this Congress which he +is trying to bring about is not a mere dodge for the purpose of gaining +time, and in order to extract out of it a plausible case for a complete +breach with Austria. + +Gladstone is come back from Italy completely duped by Cavour, who has +persuaded him that Piedmont has no ambition or aggressive objects, and +that Austria alone is guilty of all the trouble in which the world has +been plunged. He told this to Aberdeen, who treated his delusions and +his credulity with the utmost scorn and contempt, but he is said to +have found John Russell more credulous, and ready to accept Gladstone's +convictions. + + +_March 26th._--The debate goes on, to the intense disgust of everybody, +though enlivened by a few clever and telling speeches. But everybody +is disgusted with the whole affair, from which all see that no good +can come, and probably much mischief will ensue. The Government side +continues to have the best of the debate, Horsman, who spoke for them, +and Lytton and Cairns having been very superior to all the speakers on +the other side. On Friday Palmerston spoke, with great vigour, but not +much effect. His speech was very jaunty, but very insincere. When he +said that he cordially supported the Resolutions of his noble friend, +everybody knew that it was not true, that he really disapproved of them +and that he only consented to go with Lord John in order to evince +his willingness to make up their political difference, and to lend +himself to the reunion of all the Whig party; but in his speech he said +enough to show that there is not likely to be an entire or lasting +agreement between them, and that the two Kings of Brentford will not +long continue to smell at the same nosegay. The Opposition have been +all along quite confident of victory on the Resolutions, and it has +been impossible to make sure of the intentions of the Government in +the event of their being beaten, as they have severally held such very +different language on the point. + +But an incident has occurred which is very likely to extricate the +Government from their difficulty, and of which I presume they will +avail themselves. Owen Stanley (brother of Stanley of Alderley) the +other night blurted out, without previous concert with anybody, a +notice of a motion of want of confidence in the event of the second +reading not passing. The Opposition are unanimously disgusted at +this piece of folly and meddling, while the Government are of course +delighted at such a plank of safety being held out to them, and if +they use it dexterously, they may completely defeat Lord John and +Palmerston, and prolong their own tenure of office for some time at +least. + + +[Sidenote: DEFEAT OF THE MINISTRY] + +_April 1st._--The great debate came to an end last night. The majority +was greater than either side expected, and the Government and their +friends were sanguine to the last that they should win by a few +votes.[1] Although there was a great deal of tedious speaking, it was +on the whole a very able and creditable debate, and there were several +very powerful speeches, but principally on the side of the minority. +Gladstone's was particularly good, and Dizzy's reply, with a very +effective philippic against John Russell, was exceedingly clever, +and delivered with much dignity and in very good taste. Although +the question of Reform was regarded with so much indifference, as +the debate proceeded and party spirit and emulation waxed hot, the +interest and curiosity became intense. They have become still more +intense to-day, and the town is in a state of feverish anxiety to know +what is going to happen, and, as usual on such occasions, there are a +thousand reports, speculations, and guesses afloat. This morning the +prevalent idea was that they would resign, but this evening, and since +Derby's brief notice in the House of Lords, it is rather that they will +dissolve. Certainly the Queen might very well refuse her consent to a +dissolution if proposed to her, and this would of course compel the +Government to resign; but nobody knows whether she wishes Derby to stay +in, or would prefer to take the chance of forming another Ministry. I +have no idea that happen what may she will send for Lord John Russell; +but no doubt she knows all that has recently passed between him and +Palmerston, and about the formation of another Government, and it +is not impossible that she may shrink from being plunged into the +difficulties which would attend the attempts to form a Government in +which they were to divide the power and authority between them. + +Footnote 1: [The numbers were: for the second reading of the Bill +291, for Lord John Russell's Resolutions 330; majority against the +Government 39.] + + +_April 4th._--The report yesterday was that Derby does not mean to +resign or dissolve, or to go on with the present Bill, but perhaps +bring in a fresh one. As we shall hear it all this evening, it is +useless to speculate on the subject. The Opposition are evidently +puzzled what to do. I went to Kent House, where Lewis said the +Government were much mistaken if they imagined they should be left +alone; he did not know what would be done, but certainly they must look +to be attacked in some shape or other. Granville in the evening took +the opposite line, and said the best party game would be to let them +alone. Nothing, however, will ever induce John Russell to keep quiet. + +[Sidenote: M. DE CAVOUR'S POLICY] + +Clarendon came in, and we talked of foreign affairs. He thinks war +inevitable, and that the French are only gaining time to complete their +preparations. I said I thought Cowley had been duped by the Emperor, +but he thought not. Cowley had all along seen all the objections to +the proposed Congress and suspected the _arrière pensée_ of it, but +said it was impossible when proposed to object to it, as the Emperor +would put forward such a refusal as a pretext, and say that it would +have prevented war. Two years ago he had a reliance upon the Emperor +which he had no longer; that he was completely changed now from what +he was, and it was difficult to know what he really meant, and when +he was sincere or the reverse. Clarendon told us he had lately seen +Marliani, an old acquaintance of his, a Spanish Liberal and friend of +Cavour's. Marliani said that the Italian question was ill understood +in England, and he had come over for the express purpose of seeing +Clarendon and talking it over with him, and putting before him a paper +he had written upon it. The conversation was curious. Clarendon told +him he was quite mistaken if he thought the Government or any other +Government could take any part at variance with the existing treaties, +or that the country would allow them to do so, even if inclined. He +then asked him what his friend Cavour meant to do in the dilemma in +which he had got himself and his country, and expressed very strong +opinions on his conduct. Marliani replied that it was not quite just +to censure Cavour with such severity, and without considering his +position, that during his whole life his most ardent desire and fixed +idea was that of purging Italy of the Austrians and aggrandising his +own country, and now when he saw before him the probable realisation of +his fond hopes, that he was backed up and encouraged by the master of +300,000 men in the game he was playing, and taught to rely upon that +aid, could it be wondered at that he should yield to the seduction? +Clarendon asked what would happen if the Emperor proved faithless to +him, as he had done to others, and in what position Cavour would find +himself. Marliani replied that he had no hesitation in telling him what +he thought need not be a secret, at least to him, as he was sure Cavour +would tell Clarendon himself if he saw him, and that Cavour had fully +made up his mind what to do. If the Emperor ended by throwing over the +Italian cause and refused to go to war, Cavour would resign, the King +would abdicate, and the whole correspondence with all the Emperor's +letters (of which they had an immense number) would be published and +circulated over all Europe to show the baseness and perfidy of the +man in whom they had trusted, and to force him to hide his head from +the indignation and contempt of the world. Everything indicates that, +whether from fear of this vindictive explosion or because he thinks +it his policy, he is hastening his preparations, has renewed his +engagements to Cavour, and that he means to go to war as soon as he can. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +The Government determine to dissolve the Parliament--Apathy of the +Country--Hopes and Fears as to the War--The Congress a Trick--Disraeli +on the approaching Elections--War declared--Mr. Greville resigns the +Clerkship of the Council--Result of the Elections--Mistakes of the +Austrian Government--Policy of the Opposition--Reconciliation of Lord +Palmerston and Lord John Russell--The Reconciliation doubtful--Meeting +of the Liberal Party--Resolution of the Meeting--Debate on the +Resolution of Want of Confidence--Defeat of Ministers--Lord Derby +resigns--Lord Granville sent for by the Queen--Lord Granville does not +form a Government--Lord Palmerston sent for--Lord Palmerston's Second +Administration--The Queen confers the Garter on Lord Derby--Successful +Progress of the French in Italy--Causes of Lord Granville's +Failure--Lord John claims the Foreign Office--Lord Clarendon declines +to take Office--Lord Clarendon's Interview with the Queen--Mr. +Cobden declines to take Office--The Armistice of Villafranca--Peace +concluded--The Terms of Peace--Position of the Pope--Disappointment of +Italy--Conference of the Emperors--Alleged Sensitiveness of the Emperor +Napoleon--Details of the War--A Visit to Ireland--Irish National +Education--Dublin--Howth Castle--Waterford--Killarney--Return from +Ireland--Numerous Cabinets--A Dispute with China--Lord Palmerston and +Lord John Russell--Lord Clarendon at Osborne--Spain and Morocco--The +Duc d'Aumale--Perplexity of the Emperor Napoleon--The Emperor Napoleon +and the 'Times.' + + +[Sidenote: DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT.] + +_April 7th_, 1859.--The determination of the Government, announced +in both Houses on Monday evening, took the world by surprise. Nobody +thought there would be a dissolution. Derby's speech was very bad, +much below his usual level. The attack on John Russell which formed +a chief part of it was merely a _réchauffé_ of that of Disraeli, but +very inferior to it in every respect. Disraeli in the other House spoke +much better, and with more taste and temper. The Opposition leaders are +evidently much taken aback; the Derbyites assert that they have reason +to expect a gain of forty votes, but nobody believes it. Many think a +much more Radical and an angry Parliament will be returned, but there +is no excitement, and it seems to me more probable that those are right +who think the relative proportions will not be materially altered. The +Whig chiefs are very angry with John Russell for committing himself as +he did on Monday night by his speech and announcement of his own plan +of Reform. Great attempts were made to dissuade him from doing this, +but he would not listen to reason. Palmerston made a speech clearly +indicative of disagreement with Lord John, though with a semblance of +union. The Resolutions on one side and the Dissolution on the other +have both been great faults, of which the mischievous consequences may +be very serious, but which cannot be made manifest till we see the +result of the election. + + +_April 15th._--I have been reading over to George Lewis my account +of what took place about the Reform Bill of 1832, to assist him in +reviewing that period of history, and in so doing it is impossible +not to be struck with the contrast between the public excitement +which prevailed then and the apathy and absence of interest which we +witness now. At every general election there is a great deal of bustle, +activity, party zeal, and contention, but there are not more of these +now than on ordinary occasions, if anything less. Both parties are +confident that they shall gain, and the Derbyites are making great +efforts, and have collected a very large sum of money. Derby has given +20,000_l._ to the fund, but candidates are slack in coming forward +with the prospect of the new Parliament not lasting many months. The +question of peace or war is still in abeyance, but inclines rather +towards war; the public securities oscillate like a barometer, and +people are puzzled and unable to form any opinion. + + +_April 20th._--The long promised statements were made in both Houses +on Monday night, but they told us nothing that was not already known, +and merely expressed hopes that war might still be averted. Disraeli +in the Commons was more sanguine than Malmesbury and Derby in the +Lords. Clarendon and Derby both made excellent speeches, the former +particularly; all he said was sound and true. The most striking thing +in both Houses was the extreme caution and reserve of the speakers on +both sides, and particularly their reticence and forbearance about +France. Not one word of blame of the Emperor of the French; no more +about him, his sayings and doings, than about the Emperor of Russia, +or than if he had had nothing whatever to do with the present state +of things. This was probably politic, but it was lamentable and +disgraceful that we should be obliged, or think ourselves obliged, to +abstain from speaking the truth, for fear of offending this rascally +adventurer, who by the egregious folly and cowardice of the French +nation has been invested with such an awful power of mischief, and whom +neither fear nor shame deters from pursuing his own wicked ends at the +expense of any amount of misery and desolation which he may inflict +upon mankind. One cannot help contrasting the extreme delicacy and +forbearance exhibited towards him with the violence and abuse which +were directed against the Emperor Nicholas in 1854. + +[Sidenote: MR. DISRAELI'S EXPECTATIONS.] + +I met Disraeli yesterday afternoon, when he told me they had got such +satisfactory news from the Continent that he considered the affair as +virtually settled and the danger at an end. God grant it may be so, +but I am far from being satisfied that the danger is over. On the eve +of great resolutions, and as the moment of taking an irrevocable step +draws near, the actors in great events have generally some misgivings, +and pause upon the brink, and so probably will these quasi-belligerents +do now; but I believe the concessions which France expresses herself +willing to make to our entreaties to be a part of her game. Clarendon +or Derby said that if Cowley had been allowed to work out his purpose +of mediation, probably all would have been settled, and that the +proposition of Russia for a Congress had been mischievous, and only +involved the question in fresh doubt and delay. But it appears evident +that this was a French trick, and that Russia proposed the Congress at +the instigation of France, who sought it for the purpose of delay, and +most likely in order to extract from it a plausible cause of quarrel. +Derby in his speech attributed a great deal to the menacing and +disturbing speech of the King of Sardinia in opening his Chambers, but +nobody said a word of Napoleon's _sortie_ to the Austrian Minister on +the 1st January, nor was any allusion made to various important facts +which were well known to many people in both Houses. No reproaches were +cast upon Sardinia, but a good many upon Austria; no comment made upon +the flagrant breach by Sardinia of the treaties existing between her +and Austria, and of the forbearance of the latter in not making that +breach a _casus belli_, as she might well have done. + +I went to a Council on Monday for the prorogation, when I had some +conversation with Disraeli, and asked him what his real belief was as +to their prospects in the election. He said there was so much luck in +these matters that it was difficult to speak positively, but that he +had endeavoured to ascertain the true probabilities of the result, +and his conclusion was that _if they had luck_ they should gain sixty +votes; and what, I asked, if there was no luck on one side or the +other? Then, he said, they should gain forty. I told him the Opposition +calculators did not believe the Government would gain at all, or at +most not above eight or ten, if so many, and asked if he was confident +they should gain from twenty to thirty anyhow. He said from the day +of their taking office they had looked forward to a dissolution, that +their organisation was excellent, they had plenty of candidates and +of money, and he was quite confident they should gain that number and +more; he added that there was in no part of the country the slightest +desire for Reform, and he had altered the address he had first intended +to put forth, in consequence of finding what the prevailing sentiment +was on that question. I suppose they hold this language to justify +their dissolution, for it is difficult to believe they can really +expect such results, or that their opponents, who tell such a different +story, can be so completely mistaken. + + +_April 24th, Newmarket._--Disraeli's information on Tuesday last, when +I met him at Lady Jersey's, might well have warranted me in believing +that no war would take place, but I have never been able to persuade +myself that this calamity would be averted, and it appears that my +apprehensions were well founded, for now the die seems to be really +cast, and at the moment when I am writing it is probably actually +declared and begun. Though Austria is perfectly justified in declining +to wait any longer while France is maturing her preparations, and +cannot justly be blamed for bringing the affair to a crisis, she is +certain to be exposed to every sort of obloquy and misrepresentations +even in this country, and of course much more in France. + + +_April 27th._--On Monday we heard that the Austrians had sent their +ultimatum to Sardinia, and there was a complete panic in the City. +Yesterday we were informed that she had given fourteen days' grace +to Sardinia, and everything was up again. But this morning we were +undeceived, and found this latter report had no foundation. Meanwhile +the clamour against Austria has been senseless and disgraceful; nothing +could be more unworthy than Derby's allusion to her in his speech at +the Mansion House dinner on Monday. It was a claptrap, and meant to +obtain popularity and assist the Ministerial interest at the election. +Nothing has ever disgusted me more than to see the readiness with +which everybody finds fault with Austria, and the care with which they +avoid any notice of France, not, however, that this can or will last. +What sort of relations we shall continue to have with France I cannot +imagine. We have been treated in a manner which puts an end to the +possibility of any amicable feelings between the two countries. We +can never trust the Emperor again, and must take measures for our own +security as best we may; but unhappily the Indian war has so materially +diminished our power and absorbed our resources, and France has so +enormously gained upon us in point of naval strength, that we are not +in a condition to hold the language and play the part that befit the +dignity and the honour of the country. We can revile Austria with +impunity, for we know that we are in no danger of an attack from her, +but, on the contrary, that she has so much need of our good will that +she will endure our taunts and reproaches, and not quarrel with us even +in words. It was a prophetic saying of Mackintosh forty years ago at +Roehampton that it remained to be proved whether the acquisition of our +Indian Empire was in reality a gain to us, and we must hope that the +remark will not be illustrated in our days by seeing England herself +placed in danger by her exertions to retain or reconquer India, whose +value is so problematical and of which nothing is certain but the +immense labour and cost of her retention. + + +[Sidenote: WAR IN ITALY.] + +_May 14th._--Another severe fit of the gout, principally in the right +hand, has prevented my writing a line for the last fortnight, during +which war has broken out, and the general election has been begun +and ended, and, what is most important to myself, I have resigned my +office. Hitherto the war and the election have equally disappointed +the expectations they gave rise to. The Austrians committed a blunder +in plunging into the war, and have not taken the only advantage such +a measure seemed to promise, viz. that of overpowering the Sardinians +before the French could join them, and now nobody can make out what +their tactics are, or when and where the contest will begin in earnest. +Meanwhile _we_ are taking an imposing attitude of armed and prepared +neutrality. Disraeli's anticipated sixty votes have dwindled down to a +gain of twenty, but Malmesbury told Cowley that they should have force +sufficient to maintain their ground, which I see their opponents do not +believe. + + +_May 17th._--The elections are nearly if not quite over, and, as well +as can be collected from the conflicting calculations of the rival +parties, they present a gain of nearly thirty for the Government. +With this they evidently hope and their opponents fear they will be +able to go on at least to the end of the session, and I incline to +think so likewise. Their Government is miserably weak and incapable, +their numbers respectable, but their staff deplorable. It is expected +they will propose to Lord Elgin to take Lytton's place. The general +election has been eminently satisfactory in this, that it has elicited +the completely Conservative spirit of the country. Palmerston, who +predicted that the consequence would be a large increase of Radical +strength, has been altogether mistaken. It may be added (whether this +is a good or an evil) that it has also manifested the indifference of +the country to all parties and to all political ties and connexions. In +the last general election the cry was all for Palmerston, in this there +has been no cry for anybody, neither for Palmerston nor Derby, and less +than all for John Russell or Bright. And yet John Russell is flattering +himself he shall have an opportunity of forming a Government, and talks +of his regret at being obliged to leave out so many of his friends. +It is remarkable that the Catholics have supported the Government, +and that they have done so under orders from Rome. Archbishop Cullen +is there, and has signified to the priests the pleasure of the Pope +that the Derby Government should be supported. Clarendon told me this +yesterday, and that the reason is because they think this Government +more favourably inclined to Austria than any other, especially than +either Palmerston or John Russell would be. The Papal Government have +never forgiven the Whigs for the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, and this +accounts for the otherwise strange support given by the Catholics to +those who have always been their bitterest enemies. + +The war still languishes, and nobody can make out what the Austrian +plans are. A great sensation has been made by the retirement of Buol +and the appointment of Rechberg. The first report was that it was a +sacrifice made to appease the resentment of Russia, but Clarendon told +me yesterday he did not believe this, but that it was rather to satisfy +some of the German Powers whom Buol had deeply offended. Nothing could +have exceeded the stupid blundering and misconduct of the Austrian +Government during the last few critical weeks, and their want of tact +towards Prussia and the German Powers. The Archduke Albrecht was sent +to Germany for the purpose of stirring up the German Powers, and +professedly to procure such a demonstration as should be the means of +preventing war, and then, while the Archduke was still at Berlin, they +blurted out their ultimatum (which was a declaration of war) without +letting Prussia know what they were about. The Archduke was obliged +to declare his own ignorance of the intentions of his Government, and +Prussia consequently to announce her disapprobation of the measure +and to signify the same to France, which was just what suited the +Emperor Louis Napoleon. I hear also that his departure from Paris was +accelerated by the necessity of repairing as speedily as possible to +the seat of war, in order to quiet the dissensions and quarrels which +were already raging between the French generals. Not a very promising +beginning of the campaign. This used to be the case formerly in the +great Napoleon's time wherever he was not present. His presence +silenced these quarrels, but it remains to be seen whether this man +will have equal authority over unruly subordinates, who cannot possibly +regard him with the same deference with which the old marshals looked +up to their mighty master. + + +[Sidenote: RESULT OF THE ELECTIONS.] + +_May 24th._--The elections are all over, and the Opposition leaders +are already busy in devising the means of attacking the Government. On +Friday Palmerston went to Pembroke Lodge, and had a long conference +with John Russell. On Sunday there was a gathering there, attended +by Granville, George Lewis, Charles Wood, and probably others. The +question immediately to be decided is whether an Amendment shall or +not be moved to the Address. A very nice point of political strategy. +The Whig leaders are impatient to drive the Government to resignation, +without, as I believe, knowing how they are to form a Government likely +to be durable and strong. As matters stand, the Government appear to +be too strong to be driven out, and not strong enough to count upon +staying in. A greater fix can hardly be seen. + + +_May 26th._--Palmerston and John Russell have now made up all their +differences, and have come to a complete understanding and agreement +on all points, so that the schism may be considered at an end. Upon +Reform, upon foreign policy, upon the mode of opposition, they are +fully agreed, and even upon their respective personal pretensions. +Both are resolved not to quit the House of Commons, and Lord John +himself says that the question of the Primacy must be determined by the +Queen herself, and that whomever she may send for and charge with the +formation of a Government must necessarily be Premier. There is not +much doubt that this will be Palmerston, but what post Lord John would +require for himself I have not heard. It may possibly be the Foreign +Office, which Palmerston could hardly refuse to him, particularly as +they are agreed on foreign policy, and Clarendon is not inclined to +share their opinion. This reconciliation will be very favourable to +Granville's pretensions, and secure to him the lead of the House of +Lords, and not improbably, at some not very distant day, lead to his +being Prime Minister. In this age of political Methuselahs it is an +enormous advantage to be little more than forty years old. This state +of affairs I heard at Brooks's from the Duke of Bedford. It was Lord +John who took the initiative in their approaches to each other. He +wrote to Palmerston, on which Palmerston repaired to Pembroke Lodge, +where they had a long conversation, with the result aforesaid. Soon +afterwards I met Disraeli in the street. He did not appear to me to +be in very high spirits, and talked of the position and chances of +his Government without any expressions of confidence, though without +despondence. He said he hoped that they would move an Amendment to +the Address, as it was better to fight it out at once and bring the +question of strength to a crisis. + + +[Sidenote: LORD PALMERSTON AND LORD JOHN RUSSELL.] + +_May 29th._--It seems not unlikely that the Government may be after all +relieved from the immediate danger of an Amendment by the divisions +amongst the Opposition, or rather between the rival leaders. After +all I was told of the meeting between Palmerston and Lord John, and +the agreement they had come to on all the important points, I was +astonished at hearing on Friday evening that everything was again +thrown into uncertainty because Lord John would not say what he +intended to do. On the important question of who should be Premier he +would make no frank statement. He had, indeed, before said that the +Queen must decide it, and the man she sent for would naturally be at +the head of the Government; but he refused to say whether, supposing +Palmerston to be sent for, he would take office with and under him, +or even whether he would sit in the House of Commons on or behind the +Treasury Bench--in short he would give no clear and positive assurance +of his intentions. This is naturally very disgusting to the Whigs, and +throws everything into doubt and confusion. The Duke of Bedford is to +go down to him and tell him the plain truth, which no one else would +venture to do, pointing out to him the effect of his conduct on the +sentiments of the Liberal party and on his own position, with regard +to which his conduct is indefensible and suicidal. It remains to be +seen whether any effect will be produced on his mind, but in any case +nothing can look more hopeless than it does, or promise worse for the +future. Even though Lord John should consent to act under Palmerston +(and nobody expects that it is Lord John for whom the Queen would +send), there seems little hope of any cordial or lasting union between +them, or of his being satisfied with any position in which he might +consent to place himself, for his mind is evidently in a sour and +jaundiced state. The majority of the Whig and Liberal party who are +come up full of resentment from the elections are certainly desirous +of attacking the Government, but there is a considerable number of +them who are averse to joining in any vote of want of confidence, or +any other move which may turn the Government out without first being +assured that another Government can be formed, and that the union is +sufficiently complete to promise that such new Government would be +strong enough to maintain itself when formed. + + +_June 6th._--As I was at Epsom every day this week, I have heard +nothing of what has been going on, except the fact that there is to +be a great meeting of the Liberals at Willis's Rooms this afternoon, +called by a list of people which includes Palmerston and Lord John and +Milner Gibson, whose signature betokens the assent of the Radicals to +the object of it, which I conclude to be an agreement as to the attack +to be made on the Government to-morrow, and certain explanations as to +the intentions and sentiments of the Whig leaders. I see that there are +many dissentients from the course that is going to be adopted, many who +think this attempt to oust the Government at once neither patriotic +nor politic. Without any very decided opinion, or the means of forming +one, I am rather inclined to think that it would be better to leave +them alone, and to trust to their furnishing good cause for turning +them out, as they probably will do. The Government does not appear to +be obnoxious to any serious reproach and objection, except about their +mismanagement of foreign affairs. But it is very questionable whether +another Government might not give us a policy equally or still more +mischievous. + + +_June 7th._--The meeting of the Opposition yesterday at Willis's Rooms +went off as well as they could expect or desire. The two leaders gave +the required assurances that each would serve under the other, in the +event of either being sent for. There was a general concurrence in the +plan of attacking the Government at once, in which even Bright and +Ellice joined, the former disclaiming any desire for office in his own +person, but claiming it for his friends. The result promised is that +with very few exceptions all the opponents or quasi-opponents of the +Government will unite in supporting the vote of want of confidence, and +they are very confident of success. On the other hand, the Derbyites +do not despair of having a majority, and they comfort themselves with +the certainty that the division must be so close, that the successful +Whigs will be able to form no Government which will have a certain +working majority, and, not impossibly, that the majority itself may be +turned into a minority by the events of the re-elections. This is not +very probable, and it is rather more likely that if Palmerston forms +a Government, he will have the support of a good many of those who +will vote with the Government, as long as they remain in. There were, +however, some rather ominous manifestations made at this meeting. It +seemed to be agreed that the new Government should embrace not only +Whigs and Peelites, but 'advanced Liberals,' _i.e._ the followers of +Bright, and this, besides introducing the seeds of disunion, will +probably frighten away the Liberal Conservatives, who would like to +support Palmerston, inasmuch as a Government so formed would afford +little security for the maintenance of Conservative measures. Then +Palmerston in no ambiguous terms announced his pro-Gallican sympathies, +and the neutrality he declared for in every possible case which he +could contemplate, together with his desire for a cordial union with +France, can mean nothing but that under his rule England should look +quietly on while France crushes Austria, and accomplishes all her +ambitious and revolutionary objects. That this policy will be hateful +to many who will be his colleagues cannot be doubted, but what is +doubtful is whether those who will object to it will have virtue and +firmness enough to decline office rather than be parties to such a +policy. + + +_June 9th._--There is great excitement about this debate and the +probable division, and equal confidence on both sides of a majority. +The Opposition is the favourite, but their friends will not lay any +odds. Everybody says it must be very close, and on either side the +majority will not exceed ten. On the first night Disraeli made a +capital speech, and nobody else on their side would speak at all. +This was a sort of manoeuvre and attempt to bring about a division +that night, for they found out that seventeen of the Opposition had +not taken their seats, which would have secured a majority to the +Government. The Whigs therefore refused to divide, and put up one man +after another to keep the debate open, and eventually obtained an +adjournment. Palmerston's speech was in accordance with his declaration +at Willis's, and with his ancient practice; it was violently +pro-French and anti-Austrian, and it was full of gross falsehoods and +misrepresentations, which he well knew to be such. In his seventy-fifth +year, and playing the last act of his political life, he is just what +he always was. + + +[Sidenote: RESIGNATION OF LORD DERBY.] + +_June 12th._--After a not very remarkable debate, the division +yesterday morning gave a majority of thirteen to the Opposition, +which was more than either side expected.[1] Derby resigned at eleven +o'clock, and the Queen immediately after marked her sense of his +conduct by sending him an extra Garter in an autograph letter. Much +to his own surprise she sent for Granville (and for nobody else) and +charged him with the formation of a Government. What passed between Her +Majesty and him I know not, but he accepted the commission and has been +busy about it ever since. How he is to deal with Palmerston and Lord +John, and to make such a project palatable to them I cannot imagine. +What the Queen has done is a very significant notice to them of her +great reluctance to have either of them at the head of affairs, and it +cannot but be very mortifying to them to be invited to accept office +under a man they have raised from the ranks, and who is young enough to +be son to either, and almost to be grandson of the elder of the two. +Nor will the mortification be less, after they have both so publicly +avowed their expectations that one or other of them must be sent for, +and their having, in what they consider a spirit of self-sacrifice, +consented to serve under each other, but without ever saying or +dreaming that it could be necessary to say they would take office under +any third party. Nobody, indeed, has ever thought of the possibility +of any but one of them being called upon by Her Majesty, and the only +question has been which it would be. + +Footnote 1: [The Amendment to the Address, implying a want of +confidence in Ministers, was moved by the Marquis of Hartington. The +votes on the division were: For the amendment 323, against it 310.] + + +[Sidenote: LORD PALMERSTON'S SECOND ADMINISTRATION.] + +_June 13th._--Lord Granville told me yesterday evening what had passed, +and that his mission was at an end, and Palmerston engaged in forming a +Government. The account of it all appears in the 'Times' this morning +quite correctly. Granville was rather disappointed, but took it gaily +enough, and I think he must have been aware from the first of the +extreme difficulty of his forming a Government which was to include +these two old rival statesmen. Palmerston had the wisdom to accede at +once to Granville's proposal, probably foreseeing that nothing would +come of Granville's attempt, and that he would have all the credit of +his complaisance and obtain the prize after all. The transaction has +been a very advantageous one for Granville, and will inevitably lead +sooner or later to his gaining the eminence which he has only just +missed now, which would have been full of difficulties and future +embarrassments at the present time, but will be comparatively easy +hereafter. Lord John's conduct will not serve to ingratiate him with +the Queen, nor increase his popularity with the country.[1] + +Footnote 1: [It was the refusal of Lord John Russell to serve under +Lord Granville which rendered the formation of a Cabinet by that +statesman impossible. At the same time Lord John Russell expressed his +willingness to serve under Lord Palmerston on condition of his taking +the department of Foreign Affairs.] + + +_June 26th._--All the time that the formation of the new Government +was going on I was at a cottage near Windsor for the Ascot races, and +consequently I heard nothing of the secret proceedings connected with +the selection of those who come in, and the exclusion of those who +belonged to Palmerston's last Government, nor have I as yet heard what +passed on the subject.[1] The most remarkable of the exclusions is +Clarendon's, who I was sure, when the Foreign Office was seized by John +Russell, would take nothing else; and of the admissions, Gladstone's, +who has never shown any good will towards Palmerston, and voted with +Derby in the last division. This Government in its composition is +curiously, and may prove fatally, like that which Aberdeen formed in +1852, of a very Peelite complexion, and only with a larger proportion +of Radicals, though not enough, it is said, to satisfy their organs, +and Bright is displeased that he has not been more consulted, and +probably at office not having been more pressed upon him. It is still +very doubtful whether Cobden will accept the place offered to him. + +The Tories are full of rancour, and express great confidence that this +Government will not last, and that they shall all be recalled to power +before the end of the year. Derby had a large gathering at Salisbury's +house, when he made them a speech recommending union and moderation, +the first of which recommendations they seem more likely to adopt than +the second. The affair of his Garter was in this wise. On resigning he +wrote to the Queen and besought her to bestow Red Ribands on Malmesbury +and Pakington. She wrote him an answer acceding to his request, and +adding that she could not allow him to retire a second time from +her service without conferring upon him a mark of her sense of his +services, and she therefore desired him to accept the Garter, though +none was vacant. He told me this, and said it was the only way in which +he could have taken it, as he never should have given it to himself, +and I believe if a vacancy had occurred he meant to have given it to +the Duke of Hamilton. + +While we have been settling our Government for good or for evil, +the war has continued to pursue its course of uninterrupted success +of the Allies, and unless something almost miraculous should occur, +the Austrian dominion in Italy may be considered as at an end. The +sentiments of people here are of a very mixed and almost contradictory +character, for they are on the whole anti-Austrian, anti-French, +and though more indulgent than they deserve to the Sardinians, not +favourable to them. The most earnest and general desire is that we +should keep out of the _mêlée_, and any termination of the war would be +hailed with gladness, because we should thereby be relieved from our +apprehensions of being involved in it. We should not be sorry to see +the Austrians driven out of Italy for good and all, though most people +would regret that the Emperor Louis Napoleon should be triumphant, and +that such a course of perfidy, falsehood, and selfish ambition should +be crowned with success. The Austrians deserve their fate, for nothing +can exceed the folly of their conduct, first in rushing into the war, +and thereby playing the whole game of their adversaries, and secondly +in placing in command men evidently incapable, and who have committed +nothing but blunders since the first day of the campaign. + +Footnote 1: [Lord Palmerston's second Administration consisted of the +following members:-- + + First Lord of the Treasury Viscount Palmerston + Lord Chancellor Lord Campbell + Lord President Earl Granville + Lord Privy Seal Duke of Argyll + Chancellor of the Exchequer Mr. Gladstone + Home Secretary Sir George C. Lewis + Foreign Secretary Lord John Russell + Colonial Secretary Duke of Newcastle + War Secretary Mr. Sidney Herbert + Indian Secretary Sir Charles Wood + Duchy of Lancaster Sir George Grey + Postmaster-General Earl of Elgin + Admiralty Duke of Somerset + Board of Trade Mr. Milner Gibson + Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland Earl of Carlisle + Irish Secretary Mr. Cardwell + +This Administration lasted until the death of Lord Palmerston on October +18, 1865.] + + +_June 27th._--Yesterday I went to Kent House, where I found Clarendon +and his sister alone, and we had a long talk, in the course of which he +told me all that had passed (especially with regard to himself) about +the formation of the Government. Although he spoke very good-naturedly +about Granville and his abortive attempt, I saw clearly that he thought +Granville had been in the wrong to undertake it, and that he ought at +once to have told the Queen it was impossible, and have declined it. +Though Palmerston had given a qualified consent to act with him, it +was with evident reluctance, and he had guarded it by saying it must +be subject to his approbation of the way in which the Government was +composed. Lord John's consent was still more qualified, and he annexed +to it a condition which at once put an end to the attempt. This was, as +I had suspected, that he should be leader of the House of Commons. To +this Palmerston refused to agree, and so the whole thing fell to the +ground. Granville, by Clarendon's advice, at once reported his failure +to the Queen, gave her no advice as to whom she should send for, and of +her own accord she sent for Palmerston. + +[Sidenote: LORD JOHN RUSSELL FOREIGN MINISTER.] + +Previously to this, and I think before the vote, Palmerston and +Clarendon had discussed the probability of Palmerston's forming a +Government, when Palmerston told him he should expect him to return to +the Foreign Office. As soon as Palmerston had been with Her Majesty, +he went off to Pembroke Lodge, and saw Lord John; told him all that +had happened, and that he would of course take any office he pleased. +Lord John said, 'I take the Foreign Office.' Palmerston said he had +contemplated putting Clarendon there again, enumerating his reasons and +Clarendon's claims, but that if he insisted on the Foreign Office as a +right, he must have it. Lord John said, 'I do insist on it,' and so it +was settled. + +I ought to have inserted that when Palmerston and Clarendon talked the +matter over at first, Clarendon begged him not to think of him, and +that if, as was probable, John Russell desired the Foreign Office, he +_must_ give it him, for if he did not, or even made any difficulty, +an immediate breach would be the consequence, and John Russell would +get up a case against Palmerston which would be very embarrassing. +Palmerston at first said he should certainly insist on Clarendon's +not being put aside to please Lord John, but in the end Clarendon +persuaded him not to adhere to that resolution. After all was settled +there was a small gathering at Cambridge House, when Palmerston told +Clarendon that he might have the choice of any other office, but +Clarendon replied that he was not conversant with Colonial, Indian, +or War affairs, and he would not take an office for which there would +be many candidates, while he much preferred being out, and Palmerston +would not have half offices enough to satisfy the demands for them. +Palmerston said he would not take this as his last word, and the next +day the Queen sent for Clarendon, by Palmerston's own desire, to try +and persuade him to take office. He went to Buckingham Palace and had +an audience, or rather interview, of three hours with Her Majesty and +the Prince, in which she treated him with the most touching kindness +and confidence, and exhausted all her powers of persuasion to induce +him to join the Government, but he was firm and would not. She then +said, in the event of a vacancy of the Foreign Office, 'You must +promise me you will take it,' to which he replied, 'Your Majesty knows +I would do anything in the world for your service; but you must allow +me, in any case which may occur, to exercise my own discretion under +the circumstances, and to rest assured that I shall in every case be +actuated solely by a desire to do what is best for your Majesty, and +most conducive to your pleasure and interest.' The Queen talked to +Clarendon of the publication in the 'Times' with much indignation, and +said, 'Whom am I to trust? These were my own very words.' Clarendon, +however, endeavoured to convince her that the article had in fact +(however indecorous it might appear) been eminently serviceable to her, +inasmuch as it negatived any suspicion of intrigue or underhand dealing +in any quarter, and represented her own conduct in a manner to excite +universal approbation. He dilated on this in a way which made great +impression both on the Prince and on her, and ultimately satisfied her +that all had been for the best, thereby acting a very good-natured part +and a very wise one. + + +[Sidenote: MR. COBDEN DECLINES OFFICE.] + +_July 4th._--Cobden has declined to take office, though he was advised +by his friends to accept, and he approves of Milner Gibson and Charles +Villiers having joined the Government. The reasons he gives are that +he has always been a strenuous opponent of Palmerston, and that his +conduct will be liable to reproach in taking office under him, that he +has been the advocate of economy and low establishments, and would find +himself obliged to act very inconsistently, or to oppose his colleagues +in a policy respecting which popular opinion would be against him; but +he expresses great satisfaction with Palmerston, who he says is a much +better fellow than he was aware of, and he means to give the Government +all the support in his power. These reasons do not seem sufficient +for his not joining, which he had better have done. Granville laments +Clarendon's having declined to take office as a Secretary of State, and +that he will not be in the Cabinet to throw into the scale of foreign +policy his political weight. I said I knew nothing of his motives, +but assuming that he did not see foreign affairs in the same light as +Palmerston and John Russell, he would be placed in an awkward position +before long. Granville said this might be true, but he thought before +very long he would be at the Foreign Office again. What he meant by +that I do not know. + + +_July 12th._--On Friday morning the world was electrified by reading +in the 'Times' that an armistice had been agreed upon between the +belligerent Emperors in Italy, and the subsequent announcement that +they were to have a personal meeting yesterday morning, and the +armistice to last for five weeks (till August 15), led to a pretty +general conclusion that peace would be the result.[1] The Stock +Exchange take the same view, for everywhere and in all securities +there has been a great rise. I saw George Lewis on Sunday and asked +him if the Government had any intelligence, when he told me that the +only thing, besides what had appeared in the papers, was that France +had proposed to us to interpose our mediation on the basis of Austria +giving up everything, and Prussia had made the same proposal on the +basis of Austria giving up nothing, both which proposals we had very +naturally declined. + +Footnote 1: [The battle of Solferino was fought on June 24, and an +armistice between the Emperors of France and Austria was signed at +Villafranca on July 7.] + + +[Sidenote: THE ARMISTICE OF VILLAFRANCA.] + +_July 13th._--We had scarcely had time to begin discussing and +speculating on the probable results of the armistice, before the news +of peace being actually concluded burst upon us. As yet we have only +the great fact itself and the skeleton of the arrangement, and we +shall probably be for some time without materials for judging as to +the merits of the Treaty of Peace and its probable consequences, but +the first impressions and the first ideas that present themselves may +be worth recording. There is no denying that the Emperor Napoleon has +played a magnificent part, and whatever we may think of his conduct, +and the springs of his actions, he appears before the world as a very +great character.[1] Though he can lay no claim to the genius and +intellectual powers of the first Napoleon, he is a wiser and a soberer +man, with a command over himself and a power of self-restraint, and +consequently of moderation in pursuit of objects, which the other did +not possess, and therefore while the towering genius of the uncle led +him on through magnificent achievements and stupendous vicissitudes +to his ruin, it appears highly probable that the better regulated +mind and the habitual prudence of the nephew will preserve him from +the commission of similar errors, and render his career somewhat less +splendid, but more durable and infinitely more beneficial to his +country. + +With regard to the present affair, the first thing we must be struck +with is the way in which the King of Sardinia has been treated. +Napoleon, indeed, tosses him a large share of the spoils, but not +only was he not admitted to the Conference which led to peace, but he +does not appear to have been consulted upon it any more than any of +the French generals; the only notice that was taken of the King (so +far as we know) being that he was ordered, upon the conclusion of the +armistice, to desist from the siege of Peschiera. I had heard before +that the Emperor was extremely disgusted with his ally and Cavour, +and at all that the latter had said and done, at the proclamations +and other documents he had put forth, and at the audacious manner +in which that Government had annexed every scrap of territory they +could lay their hands on, and assumed the government of every State +that they could manage to revolutionise, and all without the sanction +and concurrence of the Emperor. Nothing is more likely than that the +Italian War will not be closed without much bickering and heartburning +between the two allies, and that the King and his Cavour will find, in +spite of all they are to obtain, that they will have no bed of roses to +repose upon after their fatigues and labours.[2] + +Then, so far as we can judge of the settlement, it seems one that +is likely to give more offence and disappointment than satisfaction +to the bulk of the Italian people, and to imagine that affairs will +relapse or resolve themselves into a peaceable and quiescent state is +a mere delusion. What passed between the two Emperors we may perhaps +never know, though the effects of their interview may one day become +dangerously apparent; but it is not unreasonable to conjecture that +Napoleon exerted all his arts and blandishments to make a friend of +Francis Joseph, and to persuade him that a cordial alliance with France +would be more advantageous to him than one with England, and he might +with every appearance and much of the reality of truth tell him that +England had done nothing for him; that neither the Government nor the +nation had any sympathies with Austria, whom, so far from assisting, +they had gladly seen defeated in Italy; and that the forbearance of the +Emperor in leaving Austria in possession of any part of Italy would be +unpalateable to Palmerston and John Russell, and generally unpopular. +One cannot but suspect that an alliance was at least projected, if +not formed, between the three great despotic Powers, France, Austria, +and Russia, for the purpose of domineering over Europe, and dealing +with the several States according to their pleasure, or the pleasure +of France, and with the ultimate object of attacking, weakening, and +humbling England. + +[Sidenote: THE CONFERENCE OF THE EMPERORS.] + +Of all the provisions of this Treaty that which regards the sovereignty +of the Pope is the most curious and seems the most difficult to carry +out; it is indicative of the necessity under which the Emperor thinks +he is placed of disarming the hostility and consulting the prejudices +of the Catholic party and the Church in France. Whether the Pope +will accept the temporal office assigned to him may be doubted, but +it can hardly be doubted that his supremacy will not be willingly +accepted and acknowledged by the Italians generally, to whom the +Papal rule is already odious.[3] One cannot but feel glad at the deep +mortification and disappointment which will overtake the Republicans +and Socialists, the Mazzinis, Garibaldis, Kossuths, _et hoc genus +omne_, at a pacification so ruinous to all their hopes and designs. +Clarendon told me he believed the account in the 'Times' of the compact +between the Emperor and Kossuth, and nothing is more likely than that +at the beginning of the contest he employed Kossuth in the way stated, +and gave him all sorts of promises, and when he found he could do +everything _sine tali auxilio_, and that he had a stronger interest in +making friends with Austria, he threw Kossuth over without scruple or +hesitation. This is exactly the course he would be likely to follow.[4] + +Footnote 1: [The conclusion of the peace after the battle of Solferino +was creditable to the Emperor Napoleon, but was no indication of +a great character. His motives were that he had not the means of +undertaking a siege of the great fortresses of the Quadrilateral, +and that if the war had been prolonged it was not improbable that +the forces of the Germanic Confederation, including Prussia, would +have taken the field against France. He therefore acted wisely in +terminating the war, and if the Austrians had withdrawn within the +Quadrilateral and refused to treat, the Emperor Napoleon might have +been placed in great difficulties. As it was, he broke his engagement +to Cavour to liberate Italy from the Alps to the sea, and to Kossuth to +support a Hungarian insurrection. Italy eventually owed the liberation +of Venice, not to France, but to Prussia, as the reward for her +combined action with that Power in the war of 1866. + +Cf. the account of the manner in which the peace was concluded in Lord +Malmesbury's 'Autobiography,' vol. ii p. 200.] + +Footnote 2: [M. de Cavour bitterly resented the prompt conclusion of +peace, and for a time quitted the Ministry of which he was the head.] + +Footnote 3: [It was proposed by the Sovereigns to place the Pope at the +head of an Italian Confederation--a wild scheme, which entirely failed.] + +Footnote 4: [This was so. The details of Kossuth's negotiations with +the Emperor have been published by Kossuth himself in his memoirs.] + + +_July 15th._--The news of the peace took everybody so much by surprise, +that people had no time to arrange their thoughts upon it; but in the +midst of the general satisfaction that the war is over, it is already +apparent that there is an explosion of disappointment and resentment to +come. All the Italian sympathisers here are in despair, Palmerston is +much dissatisfied, and the anti-Austrian Press is indignant. The King +of Sardinia has not openly testified any ill-humour, and has published +an Address to his new Lombard subjects in a joyful style, but it is +impossible he should not deeply feel and resent the contemptuous way in +which he has been treated by his Imperial ally, and the resignation of +Cavour is a clear manifestation of _his_ feelings on the subject. + +When it was announced that an interview was to take place between the +two Emperors, everybody predicted that the elder of the two would have +as much success in diplomacy over his rival as he had already obtained +in arms, but the result does not appear to bear out that expectation, +though we do not yet know what the real motives of the Emperor Napoleon +were in concluding such an extraordinary peace. Granville told me that +at this interview the Austrian Emperor had taken a very high line, and +shown little disposition to concession. He said to Napoleon, 'You have +conquered Lombardy, and I do not contemplate making any attempt to +recover it. I am therefore quite ready to cede it to _you_, and _you_ +will deal with it as you please. I have nothing to say to the King of +Sardinia, and make no concessions to him. With regard to Venetia, and +the country of which I remain in possession, I have nothing to concede +or to offer, _all that_ I mean to retain, but I have no objection to +my Venetian dominions forming part of the Italian Confederation.' They +appear to have had a vast deal of conversation and discussion, for they +are said to have been together for above twelve hours. What they talked +about it would be interesting to know, but which they will neither of +them tell us. The field for speculation is as wide as can well be. How +the settlement of Italy is to be accomplished, how the Italians are +to be contented, and how peace in that country is to be permanently +secured, are questions enough to puzzle the acutest politicians. + +We congratulate ourselves at having kept entirely clear both of the +war and the peace, but no doubt Palmerston is mortified, and I think +England generally will be provoked that changes of such importance +should have been made without any consultation or even communication +with us. + +The friends of the Emperor Napoleon say that they believe his motive +for making peace on any terms he could get to have been principally +that he was so shocked and disgusted at the fearful scenes of pain and +misery that he had to behold after the battle of Solferino in addition +to the other battle-fields, and at the spectacle of thousands of killed +and wounded presented to his eyes, that his nerves could not bear it. +Lady Cowley told me that he was so tenderhearted that he could not bear +the sight of pain, much less being the cause of inflicting it, and she +had seen him quite upset after visiting hospitals at the sufferings +he had witnessed there, which of course are not to be compared with +the horrible scene of a battle-field. It is impossible to say that +this may not be true wholly or in part, it is impossible to account +for human idiosyncrasies; but it is quite certain that the man who +is said to shrink with horror from the sight of suffering does not +scruple to inflict it in quite as bad a form when he does not himself +witness the infliction. He has hundreds and thousands of people torn +from their families, and without form of trial or the commission of any +crime sends them to linger or perish in pestilential climates, when he +fancies it his interest to do so, and for _their_ sufferings he evinces +no pity or any nervous sensations. + + +_August 7th._--I have found it impossible to collect anything to +record in this book for the last month almost. The session is drawing +to a close, having glided on without difficulty for the Government, +and almost without opposition. The Election Committees have made +great havoc in Palmerston's small majority, having unseated no less +than seven Liberal members. I am told, perhaps on no good authority, +that Palmerston, John Russell, and Gladstone are anxious to join in a +Congress to mix themselves up in the settlement of Italian affairs, +but that they cannot have their way, the majority of the Cabinet being +opposed to it, and the House of Commons and the country (as represented +by the Press) being decidedly against any such interference.[1] + +[Sidenote: THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN.] + +I met Edward Mildmay the other day, who gave me some account of his +own personal experiences during the last Italian campaign, when he was +attached to the Austrian Army. He confirmed all previous accounts of +the excellence of that army and the incompetency of its chiefs; that +nothing could have saved the French Army at Magenta if the Austrians +had been tolerably commanded; that Giulai, who had never seen any +service, had been allowed to retain the command by the influence of +General Grünne, whose friend he is, and that the indignation and +disgust of the army at having been thus sacrificed to Court favour and +partiality had been extreme. He told me that at Solferino the Austrian +loss was (within a fraction of) 20,000, the French 19,000, and the +Sardinians 9,000 men; Benedek is the ablest of the Austrian generals, +and if he had had the command probably affairs would have taken a very +different turn. Mildmay has no doubt that peace was much more necessary +to the French than to the Austrians, and he still believes that if the +war had continued the tide of victory would have been rolled back, as +the latter had 90,000 fresh troops coming into line. It is probably +better as it is than if the Austrians had recovered all their losses; +the Emperor Napoleon seems likely to be satisfied with his military +exploits, and to be really intending to revert to his peaceful policy. +He is certainly doing all he can to persuade the world that such is his +intention, and there seems a disposition here to take him at his word. + +Footnote 1: [I think it was at this time that Lord Palmerston and +Lord John Russell proposed to the Cabinet that England should enter +into a Treaty of Alliance with France and Sardinia, but the proposal +was negatived by their colleagues. The feelings of these Ministers, +however, speedily changed when the cession of Savoy and Nice, and the +manner in which it was brought about, were known, and their language +became so hostile that it gave great offence to the Emperor Napoleon. +See Lord Malmesbury, 'Autobiography,' vol. ii. p. 225.] + + +_Viceregal Lodge, Phoenix Park, August 22nd._--I have at last +accomplished the object I have desired for so many years, and find +myself in Ireland. I have seized the first opportunity of being my +own master to come here. I left London the week before last, and went +to Nun Appleton, thence to Grimstone, and on Saturday I came here, +railing through York and Manchester to Holyhead; crossed over on a +beautiful evening, with sea as smooth as glass, but it was too dark +to see the Bay of Dublin. Most hospitably received by Lord Carlisle, +and very comfortably lodged. Passed the day in Dublin yesterday; twice +at church, in the morning at Christ Church, afternoon St. Patrick's, +attracted by the celebrity of the choir and the performance of the +cathedral service, which was finely done, though the best voices (three +brothers Robinson) were absent. I am greatly struck by the fineness of +the town of Dublin, and of the public buildings especially. + + +[Sidenote: EDUCATION IN IRELAND.] + +_Dublin, August 23rd._--On Monday morning the Lord-Lieutenant went to +pay his first visit since his return to the National School and took me +with him. I was much gratified at the sight, and with the appearance +of the children and their intelligence. There was a grand gathering +of Commissioners and others to meet Carlisle, but no Catholics except +Lord Bellew and Dean ----, who alone of all the Catholic ecclesiastics +has had courage and resolution to adhere to the system. Not one +Catholic Bishop now remains on the board. Bishop Denver was the last +to resign, which it is believed he did reluctantly, but it seems that +the rule of their Synod is, that when a majority has decided, those who +are in the minority give in their adhesions, and produce unanimity. +The National System is apparently in the crisis of its fate, and a +desperate struggle is being made by the Popish clergy to destroy it, +while the ultra-Protestants will join them (for different reasons +and with different objects) for the same end. I earnestly hope these +factions will fail. The most encouraging circumstance is found in the +return which was given me of the 'Central Model Schools,' in which the +number of pupils seeking admission is 1,179, an evident proof of the +popularity of the system, and that up to this time the priests have +not been able to deter their flocks from giving their children its +benefits. This return is sufficiently interesting to be copied into +this journal:-- + + + Males Females Infants + + Number of pupils on roll 564 447 375 + Pupils in attendance 436 348 311 + Seeking admission 203 866 110 + +Carlisle was received with great enthusiasm by both pupils and +teachers. After this we went to the Hill of Killinie, whence there is a +grand panoramic view of the Bay of Dublin and the surrounding country, +and then to my old friend Lady Campbell[1] (Pamela Fitz-Gerald), whose +beautiful daughters are as well worth seeing as anything in Ireland. + +Footnote 1: [Lady Campbell was the daughter of Pamela and Lord Edward +Fitz-Gerald.] + + +_Dublin, August 24th._--Yesterday in the morning a review in the +Phoenix Park, after which Bagot took me to Howth Castle, which I was +curious to see, but it is not very remarkable, though very ancient. It +has a modernised appearance, and is a comfortable house, said to be the +oldest _inhabited_ house in Ireland, and one of the towers of fabulous +antiquity. I remarked that the hall door was left open, according to +the traditional obligation. One of the Ladies St. Lawrence told me the +story as follows: An old woman, 'the Granawhile,' came to the castle +and asked for hospitality or alms, and was refused and driven away. She +was the wife of a pirate. On the seaside she found the young heir with +his nurse, whom she seized and carried off. Afterwards she brought the +boy back, and consented to restore him on condition that henceforward +no beggar should be refused admittance, that the hall door should be +kept continually open, and that at dinner a place should be kept and +a plate laid for any stranger who might appear. The beggars are kept +away by not being admitted through the lodge gates; the hall door is +open, but there is another door behind it, and the vacant place has by +degrees fallen into disuse. I know not how old the story is, but there +is enough to show that it had a foundation of some sort, and that it +retains a relic in the customs of the family. On returning to Dublin +I went to see Trinity College, and the beautiful museum erected a few +years ago. Dublin is, for its size, a finer town than London, and I +think they beat us hollow in their public buildings. We have no such +squares as Merrion Square, nor such a street as Sackville Street. + + +[Sidenote: VISIT TO IRELAND.] + +_Bessborough, August 26th._--I came here on Wednesday viâ Kilkenny. +A very nice place, comfortable, and in as good order as any place +in England. People apparently well off, and cottages clean and not +uncomfortable. + + +_August 28th._--Went yesterday to Waterford; pretty good town, but +looking very foreign. They showed me a hill, to which it is said +Cromwell advanced, but found the town too strong to be attacked; hence +Waterford has been called the _Urbs invicta_. I doubt the story, for he +would have stormed Waterford easily enough if he had chosen. Saw the +National School; a very good establishment, boys absent on holidays, +but a very civil intelligent master, a Roman Catholic. The clergy +of neither persuasion will come near the school, except the Dean of +Waterford, who still supports it. Went on to Curraghmore, a vast and +magnificent park, but a mean house. + + +_August 31st._--Went on Tuesday to Woodstock; very pretty place, and in +admirable trim. Weather changing, and I fear I shall see Killarney in +rain and cold. + + +_Viceregal Lodge, September 6th._--Went to Muckrosson Thursday last; +passed three days there in exquisite enjoyment of the beautiful scenery +of Killarney; weather was perfect, and I went over and round all the +lakes; returned here on Monday, and went yesterday to the Curragh. + + +_Jervaulx Abbey, Sunday, September 11th._--Crossed over from Kingstown +to Holyhead on Thursday last; beautiful passage. Passed the last day, +Wednesday, in Dublin with William Fitzgerald seeing the town. He took +me over the old Leinster House, now the Royal Institution, and then +to the Bank to see the old House of Lords; a fine room, exactly as it +was, and what was the House of Commons, now completely altered and not +retaining a vestige of the famous locality where Flood and Grattan +and Plunket once shook the walls with their eloquence. I left Ireland +with regret, for I spent several very happy days there, interested and +amused even more than I expected, and treated with great kindness and +hospitality. Went from Holyhead to Manchester, and on to Worsley to +sleep; came here on Friday. The old Abbey is very picturesque, and very +perfect as a ruin. It reminds me, place and all, of Bolton Abbey. + + +_London, September 26th._--I stayed three days at Jervaulx, then +to Doncaster, Bretby, and to town. All the Ministers in London, +having passed their lives during the last fortnight in the railway +or in Cabinets, which have been very numerous, as well they may, +for they have plenty to occupy them in the Italian, Chinese, and +American questions, all, in their several ways and degrees, extremely +embarrassing. I have not the slightest conception what our Government +are doing about the Italian question, but I suppose trying to keep well +with Napoleon III., and to obtain good terms for the Italian Duchies. +At present it looks as if a Congress would be got together to untie +this complicated knot, but I fear we are not likely to play in it a +part which will be consistent with our principles, or creditable to our +national character, and I wish we could abstain from having anything to +do with it. The incident about the American Boundary is awkward, but I +feel confident it will be amicably settled. + +[Sidenote: DISPUTES WITH CHINA.] + +The Chinese affair is the most serious, and one can see no solution of +it that is not full of objections and embarrassments.[1] In the first +place it looks at present very much as if our case was a bad one. We +had no business to go with an armament and force our way up the river, +and even if we were upon any ground justified in such an extreme +measure, it was to the last degree impolitic and unwise to exercise +such a right. The object for which Bruce was sent to China was to +conclude a peace, and to establish amicable relations with the Chinese +Government, and it might have occurred to him that the employment of +force, even if it was ever so successful, must infallibly defeat his +object. It required no great sagacity to perceive that the arrival at +Pekin of a victorious Ambassador, who had forced his way to the capital +at the head of an imposing force, would not serve to make his reception +a friendly one, or to establish permanent harmonious relations between +the English and the Chinese Governments. As long as there was a +possibility of procuring access to Pekin by peaceful means and by +negotiation, it would have been better to be patient and to wait any +time than to employ force; and besides the political objections that +seem conclusive against the adoption of such a course, it seems highly +probable that no such force as that which we employed on this occasion +could have been pushed on into the heart of the country without +imminent danger of its being cut off and eventually destroyed. The +mere fact of destroying again the Peiho forts would be deemed by the +Chinese as the renewal of the war, and the perpetrator of the outrage +would not have been received in the sacred character of an Ambassador, +but would have been looked on as an invader, and treated accordingly. +This is the first view of the question which presents itself. Then +comes that of vindicating our honour, and retrieving the disaster we +have suffered, which involves the necessity of rushing into war again +and scattering havoc and desolation through the country, massacring +thousands of people who can make no effectual resistance to our power, +and making territorial conquests, which will only embarrass us, and +which we shall have more difficulty in getting rid of than we shall +have in making their acquisition. In short, we are going to be engaged +in a contest in which failure will be disgraceful, and success will be +inconvenient, and to place additional obstacles in the way of that good +understanding which it is so much our interest to establish with China. +Nor are our difficulties diminished by the fact of being connected +with, and therefore more or less dependent on the French, and in a less +degree with the Russians and the Americans in this unfortunate contest. +This local and accidental alliance impairs our freedom of action, and +of necessity introduces delays and complications of all sorts into the +affair. + +Footnote 1: [Mr. Bruce having been detained in his mission to Pekin, +which was of a pacific character, Admiral Hope made an attempt to +force the passage by reducing the forts at the mouth of the Peiho. The +attack failed, with a loss of nearly 400 men killed and wounded in +the storming party and the gunboats. The 'Plover' and 'Lee' gunboats +grounded, and the 'Cormorant' was so damaged by the enemy's fire that +she sank soon afterwards. The whole proceeding was injudicious and +disastrous.] + + +_October 19th._--Nearly a month and nothing to record, besides the +events of the day, of which I know nothing more than the newspapers +report. I only take up my pen now because Clarendon called on me, +and it is worth while to recollect the little he told me during a +very short visit. I had not seen him since his visit to Osborne in +the summer, and he began by giving me an account of it. The Queen +was delighted to have him with her again and to have a good long +confidential talk with him, for it seems she finds less satisfaction +in her intercourse with either Palmerston or Lord John. The relations +of these two are now most intimate and complete, and Palmerston has +obtained an entire influence and authority over Lord John, who only +sees with his eyes and without any contest submits to be entirely +guided and controlled by Palmerston. The _jeu_ of the thing is rather +amusing. Palmerston, who is thoroughly versed in foreign affairs +(while Lord John knows very little about them), in every important +case suggests to Lord John what to do. Lord John brings it before the +Cabinet as his own idea, and then Palmerston supports him, as if the +case was new to him. + +But to return to the Queen and Clarendon. He was unfortunately attacked +by gout and confined to his room. He was sitting there with Lady +Clarendon, when Lady Gainsborough came in and told him that she was +desired by the Queen to beg he would if possible move into the next +room (the Lady-in-waiting's room) and establish himself there; that the +Queen would come in, when all the ladies present were to go away and +leave her _tête-à-tête_ with him. All this was done, and she remained +there an hour and a half, talking over everything, pouring all her +confidences into his ears, and asking for his advice about everything. +He said he had endeavoured to do as much good as he could by smoothing +down her irritation about things she did not like. As an example, he +mentioned that while the Prince was with him a box was brought in with +a despatch from Lord John, which the Prince was to read. He did so with +strong marks of displeasure, and then read it to Clarendon, saying +they could not approve it, and must return it to Lord John. Clarendon +begged him not to do this, that it was not the way to deal with him, +and it would be better to see what it contained that really was good +and proper, and to suggest emendations as to the rest. He persuaded the +Prince to do this, advised him what to say, and in the end Lord John +adopted all the suggestions they had made to him. On another occasion +the Queen had received a very touching letter from the Duchess of Parma +imploring her protection and good offices, which she sent to Lord John +desiring he would write an answer for her to make to it. He sent a very +short, cold answer, which the Queen would not send. She asked Clarendon +to write a suitable one for her, which he did, but insisted that she +should send it to Lord John as her own. She did so, Lord John approved, +and so this matter was settled. + + +[Sidenote: WAR BETWEEN SPAIN AND MOROCCO.] + +_Newmarket, October 21st._--Clarendon told me, and has since written +to me, that Government regard in a very serious light the approaching +war between Spain and Morocco, which they think will have the effect +of putting Gibraltar in peril;[1] that Spain is playing the part of +catspaw to France, who wants to get possession of Morocco, giving +Tangier to Spain, which would give her, and France through her, the +command of both sides the Straits, and as we depend upon Tangier for +supplies to Gibraltar, it would be difficult for us to hold the place +when this scheme is accomplished. He writes to-day: 'No news to-day +except that things look very fishy with Spain and Morocco, and I +suspect we are going to be vigorous, which, though it may be expedient, +may also be productive of much trouble.' + +He was lately at Broadlands, and had much talk with Palmerston, who +was very friendly and confidential, told him everything, and appeared +very anxious to have his opinions and advice. He says that Palmerston's +hatred of Austria amounted to a monomania, and this of course produces +a divergence between the present policy of France and ours. He talked +about America. When Clarendon was lately at Clumber he discussed that +affair with the Duke of Newcastle and offered to write to Buchanan, +with whom it seems he is in correspondence, and say to him what it +is desirable should be said, unofficially; and he suggested that he +should hold out to Buchanan the prospect of a visit from the Prince of +Wales, who it seems is going to Canada some time or other. This the +Duke mentioned at the Cabinet, where the proposal was highly approved, +but when it was broached to the Queen, Her Majesty objected to anything +being said about the Prince of Wales going to the United States, so it +fell to the ground.[2] + +Footnote 1: [On October 22, Spain declared war on Morocco, on the +ground that further territory was required for the protection of her +settlements on the North African coast. Tetuan was captured by the +Spaniards on February 4, 1860, and peace was signed on April 27, the +Emperor of Morocco paying an indemnity of twenty million piastres. +Marshal O'Donnell, who had commanded the expedition, was created Duke +of Tetuan.] + +Footnote 2: [Whatever may have been the objection to the mention of +the Prince of Wales's visit to the United States at this moment, the +project did not fall to the ground, for on July 9 in the following year +(1860) the Prince started on a visit to Canada and the United States, +accompanied by the Duke of Newcastle, where he was entertained by +President Buchanan on October 25.] + + +[Sidenote: EMPEROR NAPOLEON ON ITALY.] + +_London, October 30th._--Clarendon came to town yesterday morning on +his way to Windsor and called here. He told me that we were going to +send a representative to the Congress, and I was not a little surprised +to perceive that he would not be at all disinclined to go there +himself. He did not indeed say so, but unless I am greatly deceived +this is in his mind, though not without feeling the difficulty of +his acting with John Russell. Clarendon says that the preparations +going on in France are on the most enormous scale, and can have no +object but one hostile to this country, and that the feeling against +England is fomented by the Government and extending all over France. +He is persuaded that the fixed purpose of Louis Napoleon is to humble +this country, and deprive her of the great influence and authority +she has hitherto exercised over the affairs of Europe. He is bent +upon getting us to take part in the Congress, and that in order to +persuade us he will pretend to be entirely agreed with us in opinion, +and only wishing to concert the most proper means of carrying out our +common objects, and when he has thus cajoled us into a participation +he will throw us over, and place us under the necessity of agreeing to +what we disapprove, or of putting ourselves _en désaccord_ with all +Europe. He told me that John Russell is supposed on the Continent to +be the implacable enemy of the Catholic religion, and this will be a +great disqualification for his acting at a Congress mainly composed +of Catholic Powers; that this opinion, which is rife in Ireland, is +propagated all over the world, and that the recollections of the Durham +Letter and the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill are still as strong as +ever.[1] + +Footnote 1: [The Congress which it was proposed to hold had reference +to the affairs of Italy, which were extremely perplexing to the +Emperor Napoleon himself. But Lord Clarendon's apprehensions were +certainly unfounded, for it deserves to be remarked that about this +time negotiations were opened between the Emperor and Mr. Cobden +for a commercial treaty, which was intended to strengthen, and did +strengthen, the amiable and pacific relations of France and England.] + + +_November 18th._--- Last week at the Grove to meet the Duc d'Aumale, +who is one of the most enlightened and agreeable Princes I ever met, +very simple and natural, and full of information and knowledge of all +sorts. + +I do not remember to have gathered anything particularly interesting +from Clarendon in our various conversations, except that in the event +of our consenting to join the Congress he would not be unwilling to go +to it, and that he thinks he might be able to effect an arrangement. +This confidence has in great measure been produced by a letter from +Cowley which he showed me, containing an account of his visit to +Biarritz and his communications with the Emperor. He said he had +resolved not to say a word to His Majesty of Italian affairs, thinking +the Emperor would abstain from talking of them to him, but as soon as +they met he began to talk, and went at length into the whole subject. +The upshot was that he found the Emperor in such a state of perplexity +and embarrassment, and so fully conscious of the scrape into which he +had got himself, that he did not know what to do or which way to turn; +his object evidently is to get us to help him out of his difficulty, +and Clarendon thinks that he should be able to draw him into such +measures as we could support if the matter was well managed. + +A day or two ago the Duke of Bedford, whom I have not seen or +communicated with for a long time, called on me. He told me one curious +anecdote, which he had heard from his brother. Persigny called on Lord +John one day, and told him he was come in strict confidence to show him +the letter which the Emperor had written to the King of Sardinia, but +which he must not mention even to his own colleagues, except of course +to Palmerston. Lord John promised he would not, and a day or two after +he read the letter in the 'Times.' He sent for Persigny and asked for +an explanation. Persigny said he could not explain it, but would write +to Walewski. John Russell also wrote to Cowley, who spoke to Walewski +about it. Walewski declared he could not account for it, and that it +must have been sent from Turin, and he would write to that Court to +complain of the indiscretion and would also speak to the Emperor. He +went to the Emperor, told him what had passed, and showed him what he +proposed to write to Turin, when the Emperor said: 'No, don't write +at all, take no notice of the publication. The fact is, I sent the +letter myself to the "Times" Correspondent.' It was Mocquard who took +it to him. A most extraordinary proceeding, and showing the extreme +difficulty of all diplomatic dealing between the two Governments. +The Emperor is by way of being indignant with the 'Times,' and never +fails to pour forth complaints and abuse of the paper to whomever he +converses with. He did so, for instance, to Cobden, to whom he gave +an audience at Paris. But who can tell whether this is not a pretence +and a deceit, and whether he may not all the time have a secret +understanding with the 'Times'? Such a supposition would seem to be +inconsistent with their articles and his conduct, and the comments of +the former upon the latter; but how difficult it is to form any certain +judgement upon a policy so tortuous as his, and upon designs so close +and councils so crooked! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +Prospects of the Government and of the Opposition--Mr. Disraeli's +commanding Position--Preparation of a Reform Bill--A Congress--Death +of Macaulay--The Affairs of Italy--Policy of the Emperor Napoleon--The +Commercial Treaty with France--M. de Cavour resumes Office--Opening +of Parliament--Negotiation of the Commercial Treaty--The Emperor +a Free Trader--Perplexity of Italian Affairs--Moderation of Lord +Derby--Opposition to the Commercial Treaty--The Reform Bill of +1860--Tory Opposition to Reform--Mr. Gladstone's great Budget +Speech--Opposition to the Treaty and the Budget--Triumph of Mr. +Gladstone--The Italian Correspondence--Democratic Opinions of Mr. +Gladstone--Introduction of the Reform Bill--The Annexation of Savoy +and Nice--Annexation of Tuscany to Piedmont--The Dénouement of the +Plot--Complete Apathy of the Country as to Reform--Lord Derby declines +to interfere--Lord John's adverse Declaration to France--Consequences +of Lord John's Speech against France--Our Position in Europe--Anecdote +of the Crimean War--Designs of the Emperor Napoleon in 1858--Lord +Palmerston's Distrust of Napoleon III.--Lord John's Indifference +to his own Reform Bill--Mr. Gladstone's Ascendency--Designs of the +Emperor and Cavour--Unpopularity of the Reform Bill--Correspondence +of Lord Grey and Lord John Russell--Reaction against Mr. Gladstone's +Measures--Opposition to the Repeal of the Paper Duties--Coolness with +France--Garibaldi's Expedition--Lord Palmerston attacks the Neapolitan +Minister--The Paper Duties Bill rejected by the Lords--The Reform +Bill withdrawn--Lord Palmerston adjusts the Difference between the +two Houses--Mr. Gladstone supported by the Radicals--Mr. Senior's +Conversations in Paris--A Letter from the Speaker--Mr. Cobden's Faith +in the Emperor Napoleon--Conclusion of these Journals. + + +[Sidenote: THE APPROACHING SESSION.] + +_London, December 25th_, 1859.--The Government are getting ready +for the session which is near at hand, Palmerston with his usual +confidence, but Granville, who is not naturally desponding, and who +I dare say represents the feeling of his colleagues, is conscious of +the want of that strength and security which a commanding majority +alone can give, and, without thinking the danger great or imminent, +anticipates the possibility of their being defeated on some vital +question. The Opposition, conscious of their numerical force, but +anything but united, profess the most moderate views and intentions. +Derby professed at Liverpool to have no wish to turn out the Government +or to come into office himself. Disraeli himself told me that he and +all his party desired the Reform question to be settled quietly, and +that if the Government only offered them such a Bill as they could +possibly accept, they should be ready to give them every assistance +in carrying it through. Since this, Walpole has made a formal +communication to Granville (through Henry Lennox) of his and Henley's +disposition to the above mentioned end. We are told, moreover, that a +great number of the Conservative party will not only support a fair +and moderate Reform Bill, but support the Government generally, not +so much, however, from wishing well to the Government as from their +antipathy to Disraeli and their reluctance to see _him_ in power again. +That they will join in carrying through a safe and moderate Reform Bill +is no doubt true, but it is not probable that the division amongst them +and the hostility to Disraeli will last long, or continue a moment +after the appearance of any prospect of the return of the Conservative +party to power. + +Disraeli raised himself immensely last year, more, perhaps, with +his opponents and the House of Commons generally than with his own +party, but it is universally acknowledged that he led the House with +a tact, judgement, and ability of which he was not before thought +capable. While he has thus risen, no rival has sprung up to dispute +his pre-eminence. Walpole and Henley are null, and it is evident that +the party cannot do without Disraeli, and whenever Parliament meets he +will find means of reconciling them to a necessity of which none of +them can be unconscious, and I have no doubt that whenever any good +opportunities for showing fight may occur the whole party will be found +united under Disraeli's orders. + +With regard to the Reform Bill, it is being proposed by a large +committee of the Cabinet, but George Lewis has the chief management +of it. The state of public opinion admits, indeed compels, the utmost +moderation, but hitherto the anticipated difficulty has been the sort +of pledge which John Russell foolishly gave last year with reference to +the franchise, to which it has been supposed he must consider himself +bound. But there is reason to believe that he is not taking any active +part in the concoction of this Bill, probably on account of his being +so absorbed in foreign affairs, and under these circumstances we may +not unreasonably expect that a fair Bill will be produced, and the +question eventually settled. + +[Sidenote: A CONGRESS PROPOSED.] + + +The question of still greater and more pressing interest is that of +the Congress. The nomination of Hudson met with such opposition in +the Cabinet that it was not pressed, and Lord Wodehouse was named +instead. He is a clever man, well informed, speaks French fluently, +and has plenty of courage and _aplomb_; his opinions are liberal, but +not extravagant. Clarendon, who had him down at the Grove, was pleased +and satisfied with him. Granville is much _contrarié_ that Clarendon +himself has not been asked to go, thinking justly that he would have +much more weight than any other man, and would be far more likely +to conduct our affairs in the Congress with credit and success; but +Clarendon now tells me he certainly would not have gone if it had been +proposed to him. My own conviction _was_ that he would have accepted a +proposal, and though for many reasons he would not have liked such a +mission, I think he is somewhat mortified that it was not offered to +him. + +The recent appearance of the pamphlet of '_Le Pape et le Congrès_,'[1] +which has produced such a sensation and so much astonishment, has no +doubt been a great thing for us, and rendered our diplomatic course +much more easy and promising. Clarendon writes to me: 'This last +pamphlet of the Emperor's is important and I am sure authentic, as it +is simply a developement of what I have heard twenty times from his +own lips. It ought of course to have been reserved for the Congress, +but as far as we are concerned it is well timed.' It was a bold, but +a clever stroke of policy to give notice to the whole world of the +sentiments and intentions with which the Emperor enters the Congress, +and it renders a good understanding and joint action between France and +England feasible and perhaps easy, unless Palmerston spoils everything +by some obstinate and extravagant pretensions which he may insist on +his plenipotentiaries bringing forward. But if he should be so ill +advised, I believe that he would meet with an insuperable resistance +in his own Cabinet and at Court, and that Cowley certainly, perhaps +Wodehouse also, would decline being made the instruments of such a +vicious and mischievous policy. + +Footnote 1: [The object of the Congress proposed by the Emperor +Napoleon was to extricate himself from the embarrassments in which he +was placed by the terms of the Peace of Villafranca with reference to +the affairs of Italy. The proposal to establish a Confederation of the +Italian States was found to be impracticable, and the unification of +Italy was a more difficult problem than the conquest and cession to +Piedmont of the Milanese territory. M. de Cavour was the only statesman +who contemplated the entire realisation of this vast scheme, which was +at last accomplished by revolutionary means, without the concurrence of +France. His views were shared and supported by Lord Palmerston, Lord +John Russell, and Mr. Gladstone.] + + +[Sidenote: DEATH OF MACAULAY.] + +_January 2nd, 1860._--The death of Macaulay is the extinction of a +great light, and although every expectation of the completion of his +great work had long ago vanished, the sudden close of his career, +and the certainty that we shall have no more of his History, or at +most only the remaining portion of King William's reign (which it +is understood he had nearly prepared for publication), is a serious +disappointment to the world. His health was so broken that his death +can hardly create any surprise, but there had been no reason lately to +apprehend that the end was so near. I have mentioned the circumstance +of my first meeting him, after which we became rather intimate in a +general way, and he used frequently to invite me to those breakfasts +in the Albany at which he used to collect small miscellaneous parties, +generally including some remarkable people, and at which he loved +to pour forth all those stores of his mind and accumulations of his +memory to which his humbler guests, like myself, used to listen with +delighted admiration, and enjoy as the choicest of intellectual feasts. +I don't think he was ever so entirely agreeable as at his own breakfast +table, though I shall remember as long as I live the pleasant days I +have spent in his society at Bowood, Holland House, and elsewhere. +Nothing was more remarkable in Macaulay than the natural way in which +he talked, never for the sake of display or to manifest his superior +powers and knowledge. On the contrary, he was free from any assumption +of superiority over others, and seemed to be impressed with the notion +that those he conversed with knew as much as himself, and he was always +quite as ready to listen as to talk. 'Don't you remember?' he was in +the habit of saying when he quoted some book or alluded to some fact +to listeners who could not remember, because in nineteen cases out of +twenty they had never known or heard of whatever it was he alluded to. +I do not believe anybody ever left his society with any feeling of +mortification, except that which an involuntary comparison between his +knowledge and their own ignorance could not fail to engender. For some +years past I had seen little or nothing of Macaulay. His own health +compelled him to abstain in great measure from going into the world. +He bought a house at Campden Hill, from which he rarely stirred, and +to which he never invited me, nor did I ever call upon him there. I +have often regretted the total cessation of our intercourse, but what +else could be expected from the difference of our habits, pursuits, +and characters? I have only recently read over again the whole of his +'History of England' with undiminished pleasure and admiration, though +with a confirmed opinion that his style is not the very best, and +that he is not the writer whom I should be most desirous to imitate; +but what appears to me most admirable and most worthy of imitation in +Macaulay is the sound moral constitution of his mind, and his fearless +independence of thought, never sacrificing truth to any prejudice, +interest, or preconceived opinion whatever. Above all he was no +hero worshipper, who felt it incumbent on him to minister to vulgar +prejudices or predilections, to exalt the merits and palliate the +defects of great reputations, and to consider the commission of great +crimes, or the detection of mean and base motives, as atoned for and +neutralised by the possession of shining abilities and the performance +of great actions. Macaulay excited much indignation in some quarters +by the severity with which he criticised the conduct and character of +the Duke of Marlborough, and the Quakers bitterly resented his attacks +upon Penn. He was seldom disposed to admit that he had been mistaken or +misinformed, and I thought he was to blame in clinging so tenaciously +to his severe estimate of Penn's conduct after the vindication of it +which was brought forward, and the production of evidence in Penn's +favour, which might have satisfied him that he had been in error, and +which probably would have done so in any case in which his judgement +had been really unbiassed. I always regretted, not for the sake +of Penn's memory, but for the honour of Macaulay himself, that he +would not admit the value and force of the exculpatory evidence, and +acknowledge, as he very gracefully might, the probability at least +of his having been in error. But the case of the Duke of Marlborough +is very different, and reflects the highest honour on his literary +integrity and independence. Undazzled by the splendour of that great +man's career and the halo of admiration which had long surrounded his +name, he demonstrated to the whole world of what base clay the idol +was made and how he had abused for unworthy ends the choice gifts +which Nature had bestowed upon him. Macaulay no doubt held that in +proportion to the excellence of his natural endowments was his moral +responsibility for the use or abuse of them, and he would not allow +Blenheim and Ramillies to be taken as a set-off against his hypocrisy, +perfidy, and treason. Macaulay's History is the best ethical study +for forming the mind and character of a young man, for it is replete +with maxims of the highest practical value. It holds up in every page +to hatred and scorn all the vices which can stain, and to admiration +and emulation all the virtues which can adorn, a public career. It is +impossible for anyone to study that great work without sentiments of +profound admiration for the lessons it inculcates, and they who become +thoroughly imbued with its spirit, no matter whether they coincide or +not with his opinions, will be strengthened in a profound veneration +for truth and justice, for public and private integrity and honour, and +in a genuine patriotism and desire for the freedom, prosperity, and +glory of their country. + + +[Sidenote: THE AFFAIRS OF ITALY.] + +_January 7th._--In a letter from Clarendon yesterday from the Grove he +says: 'Cowley came over here last night. I had a long talk with him; +he is low and unhappy, and does not see his way out of the labyrinth; +he is not for the Congress meeting _now_, but still does not think we +should abandon the Emperor altogether in his Italian policy. The fact +is, we are in a great difficulty. If we had from the first taken the +wise part of saying that as we had had nothing to do with the war or +the peace, and should therefore not interfere with the arrangements +the Emperor thought proper to make, we should now be on velvet; but +from the moment we knew of the Villafranca arrangement we have been +thwarting the Emperor, and goading him on further than he wished to +go, and encouraging the Italians to persist in their own ideas, till +at last when he does what we want, and is prepared to throw over the +Pope and asks to be backed by us, it is rather awkward to break away +and declare we only wanted the credit of recommending a fine liberal +policy, but that we don't mean to be at any trouble or expense about +it.' All this is undoubtedly true, but it is the old inveterate habit +of Palmerston's policy, united with John Russell's crotchets, which has +brought it to this pass. Palmerston has always been Conservative at +home and Revolutionary abroad, and the gratification of a silly spite +against Austria has always been paramount to any other consideration +and object. While the enemies of the late Government accused them, +very unjustly as the documentary evidence has shown, of having unduly +favoured Austria during the recent conflict, and therefore having been +neutral only in name, it is true that the present Government, _i.e._ +Palmerston and John Russell, have gone out of their way to interfere +in an underhand manner, and have been constantly patting on the back +the insurgent Italians, and, as Clarendon says, urging the Emperor to +go further than he wishes, or than he can do consistently with the +engagement he has entered into. When Cowley was here some months ago, +I remember his telling me that one day when he met Cavour, either at +Compiègne or Paris, I forget which, when it was the question of the +Congress before the war, Cavour said to him, 'So you are going to +have a Congress.' 'Yes,' said Cowley, 'thanks to you and all you have +been doing in Italy.' 'Thanks to _me_!' cried Cavour, 'I like that; +why don't you say thanks to your own Minister at Turin, to Sir James +Hudson, who has done ten times more than ever I did?' + + +_Hatchford, January 12th._--Clarendon writes to me (on the 10th): +Cowley dined here on Saturday and did the same at Pembroke Lodge +on Sunday. He is on very good terms with John Russell, but hardly +understands what he would be at, and for the good reason probably that +Johnny does not know himself. There is a Ministerial crisis going on +at this moment about Italy, the three confederates wanting of course +to do more than the sober-minded majority can agree to. I suppose it +will be decided at the Cabinet to-day, and that some middle course will +be discovered, as I shall not believe, till it is a _fait accompli_, +that Palmerston will allow the Government to break up on a question +which will not carry the country with him. The people dislike Austria +and wish well to the Italians, but they want not to interfere in the +affairs of either, and I doubt if they would give a man or a shilling +to help Palmerston in blotting Austria out of the map of Europe and +giving Sardinia a much larger slice of the map. That twofold object +amounts to monomania now with Palmerston, and I believe he would +sacrifice office to attain it, which is the highest test of his +sincerity. The three confederates are Palmerston, John Russell, and +Gladstone. + + +_London, January 22nd._--For the last three weeks the sayings and +doings of the Emperor Napoleon have occupied all thoughts in every part +of Europe, and he has wellnigh recovered in this country the confidence +and popularity which had been exchanged for distrust, suspicion, and +alarm. It would really look as if the sole or at least the main object +of his policy was to conciliate English opinion and to ingratiate +himself with the present Government; and he certainly has exhibited +great courage and above all a boundless confidence in his own power and +authority in his own country. There was a time when he paid great court +to the Catholic clergy in France, and it was supposed that his motive +in retaining the French troops in Rome (which it was known he very much +disliked) was his apprehension lest their withdrawal should expose the +Pope's person or Government to danger, which the clergy in France would +not readily forgive him for doing. When he made peace with Austria he +still evinced a desire to uphold the dignity and authority of the Pope, +and therefore nobody was the least prepared for the pamphlet of 'The +Pope and the Congress.' It fell like a thunderbolt, striking terror +into the minds of all the Papal supporters and adherents, and filling +with joy all revolted Italy, and with a more sober satisfaction all the +Liberals and ultra-Protestants here. + +[Sidenote: TREATY OF COMMERCE WITH FRANCE.] + +We had hardly recovered from our amazement at this great change in +the foreign policy of France, when we were still more astonished and +pleased by the publication of the Emperor's letter to Fould, in which +he announced his intention to change the whole commercial policy of +France, and to make her a country of Free Trade. In thus confronting +at once the Clerical body and the Protectionist interest in France, +he has certainly acted with enormous boldness and reliance on his own +influence and power, and it will be very interesting to see whether the +success of his policy corresponds with its audacity. The Commercial +Treaty has been in great measure the work of Cobden, who went over to +Paris under the wing of Michel Chevalier and with letters to Cowley, +who introduced him to everybody who could be of use to him in his +endeavours to forward a Free Trade policy. The scheme seems to have +been arranged between the Emperor and Fould without the knowledge or +participation of any of the other Ministers. Cobden had no mission, +but he reported his progress home, and as an acknowledgement of his +exertions he is to be made joint Plenipotentiary with Cowley in signing +the Commercial Treaty. + +The return of Cavour to power looks as if there was a secret +understanding between France and England that the King of Sardinia +should be permitted to consummate the annexation of all the revolted +provinces to his dominions; for this object, which Palmerston has so +much at heart, he would gladly consent to the transference of Savoy +to France, which most people think will take place; but everything is +still and must be for some time in the greatest uncertainty in North +Italy, the only thing _apparently_ certain being that the Dukes will +not recover their Duchies, and still less the Pope his Romagna. + + +_January 24th._--To-day Parliament opens, and everything promises +a prosperous session for the Government. So little spirit is there +in the Opposition, that very few of them are expected to make their +appearance, and Disraeli, under the pretext of a family affliction, +gives no dinner; but the probable cause of this is not the death of +his sister, which happened two months ago, but his own uncertainty as +to whom he should invite, and who would be disposed to own political +allegiance by accepting his invitation. Such is the disorganised state +of that party. + +Clarendon called on me yesterday, and told me various things more or +less interesting about passing events, about Cobden and the Commercial +Treaty. Cobden went over to Paris with letters from Palmerston to +Cowley, begging Cowley would give him all the aid he could in carrying +out his object of persuading the leading people there to adopt Free +Trade principles, saying he went without any mission and as 'a free +lance.' Cowley did what he could for him, and he went about his object +with great zeal, meanwhile putting himself in correspondence with +Gladstone, who eagerly backed him up, but all this time nothing was +said to the Cabinet on the subject. At length one day Walewski sent +for Cowley, and asked him whether he was to understand that Cobden was +an agent of the British Government, and authorised by it to say all he +was saying in various quarters. Cowley denied all knowledge of Cobden's +proceedings, but wrote a despatch to John Russell stating what had +occurred, and at the same time a private letter, saying he did not know +whether he would wish such a despatch to be recorded, and therefore to +number it and place it in the Foreign Office, or put it in the fire as +he thought fit. John Russell accepted the despatch, and at the same +time told him he might endorse whatever Cobden did in the matter of +commercial engagements. + +[Sidenote: THE EMPEROR ON FREE TRADE.] + +Clarendon said that when he was at Paris four years ago for the +Congress, the Emperor one day said to him, 'I know you are a great Free +Trader, and I suppose you mean to take this opportunity of advancing +Free Trade principles here as far as you can.' Clarendon said certainly +such was his intention, when the Emperor said he was happy to be able +to take the initiative with him on this subject, and that he would +tell him that it had just been settled in the Council of State that +a great change in their commercial and prohibitive system should be +proposed to the Chambers, which it was his intention to carry out as +soon as possible. But not long after the Emperor renewed the subject, +and told him he found the opposition so strong to his contemplated +measures and the difficulties so great, that he had been obliged to +abandon them for the present, and as there is no reason to doubt that +the elements of opposition will be found as strong now as they were +then, it is by no means certain that His Majesty will be able now to +do all he wishes and has announced. It has already been stated in the +French papers that something is to be done to meet the objection or +allay the apprehensions of the French Protectionists, and Clarendon +thinks it very doubtful whether the Commercial Treaty, which will +confer advantages on France immediately without any reciprocal ones to +us for eighteen months to come, will be received with much favour here, +especially as the loss to our revenue will require the imposition of +fresh taxes to a considerable amount. + +We discussed the Italian question, and he said the Emperor is in a +constant state of doubt and perplexity, one while inclining to the +Congress, and another to leaving affairs to be settled without one. +Granville told me last night there appears a chance of the Pope's +consenting to enter the Congress with the expectation of being +supported there by a majority of the Powers, and deriving considerable +benefit from such support. The Emperor Napoleon, too, now shows some +signs of drawing closer to Austria again, while Austria is quite +determined never to consent to any of the schemes of revolution and +annexation which France and England are intent upon carrying out. +Apponyi told Clarendon, with tears in his eyes, that they were ruined, +and quite unable to take any active part, but that in the way of +_passive_ resistance they might still do a great deal, and that they +should not only refuse with the greatest perseverance to set their +hands to any paper acknowledging the new state of things, but that they +should solemnly protest against it on every occasion and in every way +in their power. Austria therefore never will consent to the annexation +of Central Italy to Piedmont, and if it takes place in spite of her +remonstrances and in direct violation of the conditions of Villafranca +and Zurich, she will not only _refuse_ her recognition, but proclaim +her intention of biding her time, with a view to avail herself of +future possible contingencies to redress the wrongs of which she may +justly complain. I asked Clarendon if he did not think it possible +a _mezzo termine_ might be effected by which France and Austria +might again be put _d'accord_, France saying, 'I would carry out the +stipulations of Zurich if I could, but you see it is impossible. Still +I will not consent to arrangements obnoxious to you and in direct +violation of them, such as the annexations to Piedmont; let us recur to +the formation of a Central Italian independent State.' Clarendon said +this had been his own idea, and he still thought it was not impossible +that such a compromise should be effected. It is hardly possible to +doubt that if Cavour succeeds in annexing to Piedmont all the Central +Italian States, a very short time will elapse before war will break +out again between Sardinia and Austria, and that Austria will have to +relinquish her Venetian possessions or fight for their retention. + + +_January 27th._--The session opened with great appearance of quiet +and prosperity for the Ministers, which nothing that passed the first +night in either House threatened to disturb. Derby made a very good and +moderate speech. When he left office the Queen entreated him not to use +the power he seemed to have from the nearly balanced state of parties +to upset this Government, urging the great objections there were to +eternal changes, and she repeated the same thing to him when he was at +Windsor on a visit not long ago. Derby expressed his entire concurrence +with her, and he promised to act in conformity with her wishes, and he +has entirely done so. Nothing could be more temperate and harmless than +the few remarks he made on Tuesday night, but leaving himself quite +unfettered on every point. + +[Sidenote: OPPOSITION TO THE COMMERCIAL TREATY.] + +In the meantime there is apparently a strong feeling of doubt and +quasi-hostility getting up against the Commercial Treaty, and it +looks as if the English and French Governments would both have great +difficulties in the matter. Public opinion here remains suspended till +the Treaty is produced, and till we are informed what the immediate +sacrifices may be that we shall have to make for it, and what are the +prospective advantages we obtain in return. The French Protectionists +are more impatient and have begun to pour out their complaints and +indignation without waiting to see the obnoxious Convention. Thiers +is said to be furious. So far from any Commercial Treaty like this +cementing the alliance, and rendering war between the two countries +more difficult, it is much more likely to inflame the popular antipathy +in France, to make the alliance itself odious, and render the chances +of war between the two countries more probable. In maturing his scheme +Louis Napoleon has given it all the appearance of a conspiracy, which +is in accordance with his character and his tastes. The whole thing was +carried on with the most profound secrecy, and the secret was confined +to a very few people, viz. the Emperor himself, Fould, Rouher (Minister +of Commerce), Michel Chevalier, and Cobden. All the documents were +copied by Madame Rouher, and Rouher was so afraid that some guesses +might be made if he was known to be consulting books and returns that +were preserved in the Library of the Council of State, that he never +would look at any of them, and made Chevalier borrow all that he had +occasion to refer to. Now the Emperor springs this Treaty upon his +reluctant Chambers and the indignant Protectionist interest. His manner +of doing the thing, which he thinks is the only way by which it can +be done at all, naturally adds to the resentment the measure excites. +They feel themselves in a manner taken in. The objections here are of +a different kind and on other grounds, but Gladstone kept his design +nearly as close as the Emperor did, never having imparted it to the +Cabinet till the last moment before Parliament met. I do not know how +the Cabinet looked at it, only that they were not unanimous. + +[Sidenote: THE REFORM BILL OF 1860.] + +While, however, it seems at least doubtful how the Government will +fare when they produce this Treaty, it appears certain that they will +get into a scrape with their Reform Bill. I had imagined from all I +heard that the Government were certain to bring forward a measure so +moderate as to insure the support or at least prevent the opposition +of the Conservatives, or certainly of a large proportion of them. +Everything rendered this probable. The assurances conveyed to the +Government by Walpole, the professions of Disraeli, the apathy of the +country, and the total failure of Bright's attempts to get up the +steam, all encouraged them to take this course, and the Duke of Bedford +told me Lord John was not so tied and bound by his declarations last +year that he would not concur in any moderate measure that the Cabinet +might frame. A few days ago, however, I asked Clarendon what the Bill +would be, and he alarmed me by his reply that 'it would be as bad as +possible,' John Russell having insisted upon the franchise being in +accordance with his pledges, and upon his consistency being entirely +preserved. This meant of course a 6_l._ franchise, which everybody +denounces as full of mischief and danger. + +Just now Henry Lennox came to me and told me that all the dissensions +and jealousies of the Conservative party and the Carlton Club had been +suddenly appeased, and that from being split into little sections +and coteries, squabbling among themselves and forming plots to oust +Disraeli, and elevate one man or another in his place, they were +suddenly reunited as one man in opposition to the Bill that they hear +is to be offered to them, and that Disraeli will be higher than ever in +their confidence and support. The Government estimate their majority at +four, leaving out of calculation the Irish Catholics, who will probably +all vote against them on every question, and the Conservatives boast +of having 320 men who will cling together with immoveable constancy +in opposition to the 6_l._ clause. That they will be able to carry it +under these circumstances seems impossible. Lord John is himself to +bring on the Reform Bill. The best thing that could happen (unless they +are warned in time and alter their measure) would be that he should be +beaten on the 6_l._ franchise, go out upon it and the rest stay in; but +whether they would think themselves bound to stand or fall with him +and break up the Government for his sake, I have at present no idea. +The Queen would no doubt do all in her power to induce Palmerston to +let him go, replace him, and carry on the Government without him. His +loss would be a gain in every possible way, and the Government would be +strengthened instead of being weakened by his absence, even though he +should throw himself into the arms of Bright and join him in a Radical +opposition to his former colleagues. + + +_Bath, February 15th._--When I left London a fortnight ago the world +was anxiously expecting Gladstone's speech in which he was to put the +Commercial Treaty and the Budget before the world. His own confidence +and that of most of his colleagues in his success was unbounded, but +many inveighed bitterly against the Treaty, and looked forward with +great alarm and aversion to the Budget. Clarendon shook his head, +Overstone pronounced against the Treaty, the 'Times' thundered against +it, and there is little doubt that it was unpopular, and becoming more +so every day. Then came Gladstone's unlucky illness, which compelled +him to put off his _exposé_, and made it doubtful whether he would not +be physically disabled from doing justice to the subject. His doctor +says he ought to have taken two months' rest instead of two days'. +However, at the end of his two days' delay he came forth, and _consensu +omnium_ achieved one of the greatest triumphs that the House of Commons +ever witnessed. Everybody I have heard from admits that it was a +magnificent display, not to be surpassed in ability of execution, and +that he carried the House of Commons completely with him. I can well +believe it, for when I read the report of it the next day (a report I +take to have given the speech verbatim) it carried me along with it +likewise. For the moment opposition and criticism were silenced, and +nothing was heard but the sound of praise and admiration. In a day or +two, however, men began to disengage their minds from the bewitching +influence of this great oratorical power, to examine calmly the +different parts of the wonderful piece of machinery which Gladstone had +constructed, and to detect and expose the weak points and objectionable +provisions which it contained. I say _it_, for, as the Speaker writes +to me, it must be taken as a whole or rejected as a whole, and he adds +the first will be its fate. + +[Sidenote: MR. GLADSTONE'S BUDGET.] + +Clarendon, who has all along disapproved of the Treaty, wrote to me +that Gladstone's success was complete, and public opinion in his +favour. He says: 'I expect that the London feeling will be reflected +from the country, so that there will be no danger of rejection, though +I think that the more the whole thing is considered, the less popular +it will become. The non-provision for the enormous deficit that will +exist next year will strike people, as well as the fact that the Budget +is made up of expedients for the present year. The non-payment of the +Exchequer bonds is to all intents and purposes a loan; the war tax on +tea and sugar, the windfall of the Spanish payment, the making the +maltsters and hopgrowers pay in advance, &c., are all stopgaps. If +anybody proposes it, I shall not be surprised if an additional 1_d._ +Income Tax in place of the war duties was accepted by Gladstone. He has +a fervent imagination, which furnishes facts and arguments in support +of them; he is an audacious innovator, because he has an insatiable +desire for popularity, and in his notions of government he is a far +more sincere Republican than Bright, for his ungratified personal +vanity makes him wish to subvert the institutions and the classes that +stand in the way of his ambition. The two are converging from different +points to the same end, and if Gladstone remains in office long enough +and is not more opposed by his colleagues than he has been hitherto, +we shall see him propose a graduated Income Tax.' These are only +objections to the Budget, and speculations (curious ones) as to the +character and futurity of Gladstone. + +In another letter he says: 'Gladstone made a fair defence of the +Treaty, though there are things in it which deserve the severest +criticism and will get it, such as tying ourselves down about the +exportation of coal (which is a munition of war), letting in French +silks free while ours are to pay thirty per cent., and establishing a +differential duty of nearly fifty per cent. in favour of light French +wines against the stronger wines of Spain and Portugal, for that will +be the operation of the Treaty.' Since all this was written there has +been a meeting of the Conservative party, and I hear this morning +that Derby has decided to take the field with all his forces with a +Resolution against the condition about the exportation of coal, and +confining himself to that, which will very likely be carried. On the +other hand, the publicans and licensed victuallers appear to be in +arms against that part of the Budget which more immediately interests +them, and are waging a fierce war in the Press by their paper, the +'Morning Advertiser,' so that in spite of his great triumph and all the +admiration his eloquence and skill elicited, it is not all sunshine and +plain sailing with his measures. Delane writes to me that Gladstone +will find it hard work to get his Budget through, that Peel when he +brought forward his Budget had a majority of ninety, all of which he +required to do it, whereas Palmerston cannot command a majority of nine. + + +_London, February 22nd._--I returned to town on Monday. The same +night a battle took place in the House of Commons, in which Gladstone +signally defeated Disraeli, and Government got so good a majority that +it looks like the harbinger of complete success for their Treaty and +their Budget. Everybody agrees that nothing could be more brilliant and +complete than Gladstone's triumph, which did not seem to be matter of +much grief to many of the Conservative party, for I hear that however +they may still act together on a great field-day, the hatred and +distrust of Disraeli is greater than ever in the Conservative ranks, +and Derby himself, when he heard how his colleague had been demolished, +did not seem to care much about it. They say that he betrays in +the House of Commons a sort of consciousness of his inferiority to +Gladstone, and of fear of encountering him in debate. + + +_February 26th._--On Friday night Gladstone had another great triumph. +He made a splendid speech, and obtained a majority of 116, which puts +an end to the contest. He is now _the_ great man of the day, but these +recent proceedings have strikingly displayed the disorganised condition +of the Conservative party and their undisguised dislike of their +leader. A great many of them voted with Government on Friday night, and +more expressed satisfaction at the result being a defeat of Disraeli. +The Treaty and Budget, though many parts of both are obnoxious to +criticism more or less well founded, seem on the whole not unpopular, +and since their first introduction to have undoubtedly gained in +public favour. This fact and the state of the Opposition prove the +impossibility of any change of Government. Gladstone too, as he is +strong, seems disposed to be merciful, and has expressed his intention +of taking fairly into consideration the various objections that may +be brought forward, and to consent to reasonable alterations when +good cases are made out for them. There seems no doubt that his great +measures were not approved of by the majority of the Cabinet, but the +malcontents do not seem to have been disposed to fight much of a battle +against the minority, which included both Palmerston and Lord John. + +It is curious how this great question has thrown into the background +all the questions about Italy and foreign policy, in regard to which +public interest seems to be for the moment suspended, while Italian +affairs are at a dead lock. It would be very inconsistent with the +Emperor's character if he had given up his design of appropriating +Savoy, but he has certainly postponed it, and will probably employ +his versatile imagination in weaving some fresh web by means of which +he may get it into his power. I have been reading the Italian Blue +Book, which is a creditable compilation. John Russell's positions +are not unsound, but he is too controversial in his tone, and though +he treats Austria with a decent consideration, and in no unfriendly +spirit, he might as well have avoided arguing with Count Rechberg upon +points and principles on which it was impossible they should ever +agree. Throughout this compilation the embarrassment and perplexity +of the Emperor Napoleon are conspicuous, and the difficulties into +which he got himself by his vacillations and incompatible objects and +obligations. His desire to adhere to the engagements he contracted at +Villafranca is obvious throughout, and the advice he gave the Pope +seems to have been the best possible, and given in all sincerity.[1] + +Footnote 1: The Emperor told Metternich the other day that he had +made one great mistake, which he had never ceased to regret, that +immediately after Villafranca he ought to have marched 100,000 men +into Tuscany on the plea of embarking them at Leghorn, and continued +to occupy the country till the restoration of the Grand Duke was +accomplished, but that he had never contemplated the invincible +resistance of the whole population.--C. C. G. + + +[Sidenote: MR. GLADSTONE'S RADICALISM.] + +_February 27th._--Gladstone is said to have become subject to much +excitement, and more bitter in controversy in the House of Commons than +was his wont. The severe working of his brain and the wonderful success +he has obtained may account for this, and having had his own way and +triumphed over all opposition in the Cabinet, it is not strange that +he should brook none anywhere else. He has not failed to show a little +of the cloven foot, and to alarm people as to his future designs. +Clarendon, who watches him, and has means of knowing his disposition, +thinks that he is moving towards a Democratic union with Bright, the +effect of which will be increased Income Tax and lowering the estimates +by giving up the defences of the country, to which Sidney Herbert will +never consent, and already these old friends and colleagues appear to +be fast getting into a state of antagonism. Aberdeen told Clarendon +that they would never go on together, and he thought Sidney Herbert +would retire from the Cabinet before the end of the session. This of +course implies that Gladstone's policy is to be in the ascendant, and +that he is to override the Cabinet. + +There has been a dispute about the introduction of the Reform Bill. +Lord John's colleagues wished him to defer bringing it on, till more +progress had been made in the fiscal and commercial measures, and +represented the inconvenience of having the two discussions going on at +the same time, but nothing would induce him to postpone it, and for the +absurd reason that he wanted to bring in this Bill on the _same day_ +on which he had introduced the great Reform Bill in 1831, and to this +fanciful object he insisted on sacrificing all others. + + +_Hatchford, March 7th._--Lord John Russell brought in his Reform Bill +last week without exciting the smallest interest, or even curiosity, +amidst profound indifference in the House and in the country. His +measure was very moderate, and his speech temperate. It produces no +enthusiasm, or satisfaction, or alarm. It will probably pass without +any violent debates, and perhaps with very slight alterations. If the +opponents should succeed in making some, Lord John is not prepared +to adhere obstinately to his measure, but will come to terms. It was +settled that no discussion should take place at the time, and nobody +was inclined for any. It hardly delayed the progress of Gladstone's +measures, so we heard no more complaints of Lord John's pertinacity in +bringing it on upon March 1st. + +[Sidenote: ASCENDENCY OF THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON.] + +The Treaty, the Budget, and the Reform Bill had thrown foreign affairs +into the background, but the interest in them was suddenly aroused, +and speedily absorbed every other, by the Emperor's speech and M. +Thouvenel's despatches, all so mortifying and provoking to us. Up +to this moment Palmerston had been highly elated, and he and Lord +John had been exulting in the fancied glory of being the Liberators +of Italy, and of having procured the complete success of their own +objects. As Clarendon wrote to me, 'The Emperor must greatly enjoy +the helplessness of Europe, and in feeling that he may do just what +he likes with perfect impunity. Russia is crippled, Austria rotten, +Germany disunited, and England, though growling, occupied in gnawing +the Treaty bone he has tossed to her. All must submit to the laws made +known to them through the "Moniteur."' If it were not so melancholy +to see the miserable figure which England cuts in all this, it would +be amusing to see it happen _regnante_ Palmerston, and after all his +incurable meddling and blustering to see him obliged to eat so much +dirt. He may (though probably he does not) think he has lived too long +to be reserved at the last period of his political career for such +mortification. The Emperor said to somebody, '_L'Europe boudera, mais +ne fera rien_,' and he is quite right. We seem to have arrived at the +last act of the Italian drama, but it is still very uncertain how the +_dénouement_ will be worked out and what the Emperor's final will and +pleasure will be. The Romagna seems to present the greatest difficulty; +all the rest will find a tolerably easy solution. France will take what +she wants of Savoy and give the rest to Switzerland, who upon those +conditions is desirous of annexation, and Piedmont does not seem to +care much about it. In this way the question of Savoy will be settled, +if not by general consent, at least with general acquiescence and +without any opposition. + + +_March 9th._--After all it is not improbable that Palmerston will have +the gratification of seeing Tuscany annexed to Sardinia. Cavour has +taken the line which Clarendon and I agreed that he would very likely +do, and sets France and Austria at defiance. We have seen France and +Sardinia joined in making war upon Austria, and now we have France +and Austria joined in diplomacy against Sardinia. Nothing can be more +curious than to see the unravelling of this web. Next week the Italian +States will severally vote their annexation to Sardinia, or their +separate existence. If, as is almost certain, the former is their +decision, the King will accept their resolution, and Piedmontese troops +will march into Tuscany. Then we shall see what the Emperor Napoleon +will do, and what he will permit Austria to do. + + +_Savernake, March 18th._--The affair of Savoy has been summarily +settled by the will of the Emperor and the connivance of Cavour. The +whole affair now appears to have been a concerted villainy between +these worthies, which as the plot has been developed excites here the +most intense disgust and indignation. The feeling is the stronger +because we have no choice but that of sulky and grumbling acquiescence. +The one redeeming point in the French act of violence _was_ the +apparent respect paid to Treaties and to the claims of Switzerland, +Thouvenel having only the other day said that Faucigny and Chablais +should be ceded at once to Switzerland; and now we hear that nothing +of the kind is to be done, and that France seizes everything.[1] +It is in vain that the Houses of Parliament are advised to cease +barking, as they certainly do not mean to bite, and that the 'Times' +recommends silence and moderation; such enormities as are unblushingly +exhibited to the world excite an indignation which breaks through every +restraint, and people _will not_ hold their peace, happen what may. The +Opposition have turned the current of their wrath upon our Government, +and have proved clearly enough that they had ample and timely notice +of the Emperor's intentions, and that nevertheless they continued to +urge with all their might that policy which was certain to lead to the +annexation of Savoy. That the Emperor and Cavour have been plotting +together seems now quite certain, but we are still ignorant, and may +perhaps ever remain so, of the details of their delusive operations. + +[Sidenote: THE TREATY, THE BUDGET, AND THE BILL.] + +The three great subjects which have occupied public attention all +this year have been the Italian and its branches, Gladstone's Treaty +and Budget, and the Reform Bill. Up to the present time the two first +have absorbed all interest, and the new Reform Bill has been received +with almost complete apathy, nobody appearing to know or care what +its effects would be, and most people misled by an apparent show +of moderation and harmlessness in its details. But in the course +of the last week the 'Times' set to work, in a series of very able +articles, to show the mischievous and dangerous effects that the +proposed franchise will produce, and these warnings, supported by +ample statistical details, have begun to arouse people from their +indifference and to create some apprehensions. I am informed that +John Russell framed his Bill in utter ignorance of these important +details, and, with the mixture of levity and obstinacy which has +always distinguished him, has plunged the country into this dilemma +for the sake of his own selfish and ambitious objects. But what is +incomprehensible is that in such a numerous Cabinet as the present, +and containing many men who certainly once had strong Conservative +opinions, he should not have met with a more strenuous opposition, and +have been forced to alter his most obnoxious propositions, and I think +those who were better informed than Lord John, and saw whither his +plan of Reform was leading them, are more to blame than himself. It is +impossible to meet with any man who approves of this Bill, and who does +not abhor the idea of any Reform whatever. All say that if the members +voted by ballot there would be almost unanimity against it, and yet +such is the disorganised state of the Conservative party, and such the +want of moral courage and independence generally, that this Bill will +most likely pass unaltered. + +The prevailing hope is that the House of Lords will amend it, but Derby +told somebody (I think it was Clarendon) that if those who dreaded the +mischief of the measure in the House of Commons had not the courage and +honesty to oppose it there and correct it, the House of Lords should +not, so far as his influence went, incur the odium of doing the work +which the House of Commons ought itself to do. Lyndhurst told me the +other day that Derby had told Lady Lyndhurst he was so disgusted with +the state of affairs at home and abroad, that he had serious thoughts +of withdrawing from public life, and Clarendon told me that an eminent +Conservative, who had begged not to be quoted, had said that he knew +Derby was violently discontented with Disraeli, and prepared to +dissolve their political connexion. + +Footnote 1: [It is within my own knowledge that M. Thouvenel expressed +at that time the desire of the Emperor to do anything he could _to +help Lord Palmerston_, and accordingly he proposed, unofficially, to +surrender and annex a considerable portion of the Faucigny district, +down to the Fort de l'Ecluse, in the Jura, to the Canton of Geneva, +provided the British Government would assent to the acquisition by +France of the rest of Savoy. Lord Palmerston rejected the proposal, +saying to the person who conveyed it to him, 'We shall shame them out +of it.'--H. R.] + + +_Wells, March 21st._--I came here from Savernake on Monday. On Friday +last in the House of Lords the Commercial Treaty and Budget, but the +latter especially, were powerfully assailed by Grey, Overstone, and +Derby, and very considerably damaged _in argument_, but probably in +nothing else. The Government are as weak in the Lords as the Opposition +are in the Commons, where, however, Disraeli seems to have made a very +good speech against the Reform Bill on Monday night. + + +[Sidenote: LORD JOHN DENOUNCES NAPOLEON.] + +_Torquay, March 28th._--The past week has been remarkable for the +speech in which John Russell denounced in strong language the conduct +of France, declared that we could no longer trust her, and that we +must renew our intimacies with the other Powers. Whether all this was +sincere and meant all it seems to do is yet to be discovered. The week +was near being still more remarkable, for the Reform Bill was within +an ace of falling to the ground by the House being counted out in the +midst of a debate. This would have been very ridiculous, but would +have been hailed with delight by the House of Commons, and without +dissatisfaction by the country. Clarendon writes to me in a strain +of bitter hostility to the Bill and disgust at everything, complains +of the general apathy and the impossibility of rousing any spirit of +opposition to what all abhor. Derby told him that if twenty-five or +even twenty Liberals would _take the lead_ in opposing this Bill, the +whole Conservative party would support them. Clarendon wrote to me +when I was at Bath that the time would probably come when Gladstone +would propose a graduated Income Tax, and lo! it has nearly come, for +Gladstone gave notice the other night to people to be prepared for it. +The Triumvirate of Palmerston, John Russell, and Gladstone, who have +it all their own way, dragging after them the Cabinet, the House of +Commons, and the country, will probably be the ruin of this country. +They are playing into the Emperor Napoleon's hands, who has only to be +patient and bide his time, and he will be able to treat all Europe, +England included, in any way he pleases. Nothing but some speedy change +of Government and of system can avert the impending ruin. + + +_London, April 2nd._--One day last week (as mentioned above), on one +of the numerous discussions of the Savoy question in the House of +Commons, John Russell electrified the House and rather astonished the +country by delivering a very spirited speech, denouncing in strong +terms the conduct of the Emperor Napoleon, and declaring the necessity +of cultivating relations with the other Great Powers for the purpose of +putting an effectual check upon the projects of French aggrandisement +and annexation. I must own that my first impression was that this +speech was made merely to deceive the House and the country, and was +only a part of the collusive system between our Government and the +French, by virtue of which Louis Napoleon has been enabled to work out +all his objects and designs; but though it is impossible to doubt that +John Russell and Palmerston have all along been aware of the Emperor's +intentions with regard to Savoy, and that they have been more intent +upon procuring advantages for Sardinia and provoking Austria than upon +thwarting the projects of France, I am inclined to see Lord John's +speech in another light from what I hear since I came to town. He made +it without any previous consultation with his colleagues, it having +been one of those _impromptus_ which he is so apt to indulge in, and +Palmerston, seeing the way in which it was received in the House and by +the Press, approved of its tone and expressed a full concurrence with +it. Flahault, who went to Paris a few days ago, called on Palmerston +before he went and asked if he wished him to say or do anything there. +Palmerston said he might inform the Government that Lord John's speech +expressed the unanimous opinion of the Cabinet here. In my opinion his +speech was a great imprudence, and will probably involve the necessity +of our eating a great deal of humble pie. We have long ago declared +that though we disapprove very much of the annexation of Savoy, +we should take no steps to prevent it; but Lord John made a great +distinction between the question of Savoy and Nice and that of Faucigny +and Chablais, and though he did not commit himself to any positive +course, he gave it to be inferred that something more would be required +from us, in the way of opposition to the seizure of the latter, than +there was any necessity for our making to that of the former. But the +Emperor makes no such distinctions, and if, as is most probable, he +does not admit our right to draw them, we shall be in an unpleasant +fix, and have to back out of the position we have assumed in a way +neither dignified nor creditable. + +[Sidenote: SCHEMES OF THE EMPEROR.] + +The accounts from Paris are that this speech has made the French +very insolent, and the Emperor more popular than he has been for a +long time, as even his enemies say that they will rally round him +to chastise English impertinence. Then as to forming alliances with +the other Powers, which of course will be taken (as was intended) as +a menace to France, nothing could be more ill-advised than such an +announcement, for the other Great Powers have neither the ability nor +the inclination to join us in any coalition, present or prospective, +against France. Russia and Austria hate us, as well they may, for +we have done them both all the injury in our power, besides heaping +every sort of insult upon them. Austria is totally ruined, hopelessly +bankrupt and torn to pieces with internal disaffection and discontent. +Russia is hampered with her great serf question, and overwhelmed with +financial embarrassments, which she owes in great measure to the +Crimean War, and the unfortunate dissension and estrangement between +her and Austria are attributable to the same cause and to our policy. +Prussia, the only one of the three that is able to make any efforts, +and that has no cause of enmity against us, is always selfish and +timorous, and is more occupied in trying to supplant Austria in Germany +than in taking defensive measures against French ambition; nor is +there in Germany any such strong sentiment of national independence +as might induce the various States to sink their minor jealousies and +partisanships in a general union, to meet any aggression that may +proceed from France. Among the many schemes which the Imperial brain is +supposed to be continually engendering, it is far from impossible that +one may be the reconstruction of the kingdom of Westphalia, or at least +of some Rhenish kingdom with the concurrence of Prussia, by concluding +a bargain of partition with her. He might then replace old Jerome on +the throne, and so get rid of his obnoxious son, of course taking as +much of such acquired territory as he wanted for himself. All this +is mere vague conjectural speculation, but it is _on the cards_, and +it is at least as probable as that we should be able to form another +coalition, like that which overthrew the first Napoleon, strong enough +to cope with the present Napoleon. People are beginning at last to +doubt whether the war we waged against Russia four years ago was really +a wise and politic measure; but the whole country went mad upon that +subject, I never could understand why. Palmerston took it up to make +political capital out of it, and made himself popular by falling in +with the public humour, and making the country believe that he was the +only man really determined to make war on Russia, and able to bring the +war to a successful end. Aberdeen, who was wise enough to see the folly +of quarrelling with Russia and sacrificing all our old alliances to a +new and deceitful one with France, was unable to stem the torrent, and +fell under its violence. His fault was his not resigning office when he +found it impossible to carry out his policy and maintain peace. + +_A propos_ of the Russian War, I heard lately an anecdote for the first +time that surprised me. Everybody knows that we beat up for allies and +even mercenary aid against Russia in every direction, but it is not +known that our Government earnestly pressed the Portuguese Government +to join in the war, and to send a contingent to the Crimea, and that +on the refusal of the latter to do so, the Ministers made the Queen +appeal personally to Lavradio and urge him to persuade his Government +to comply with our wishes; but Lavradio represented to Her Majesty, as +he had done to her Ministers, that Portugal had no quarrel with Russia, +and no interest in joining in the war; on the contrary, Portugal was +under obligations to the Emperor of Russia, and she therefore would +have nothing to do with the contest. This was a most extraordinary +proceeding, and it was contrary to all usage as well as all propriety +to make the Queen interpose in person on such an occasion. + + +[Sidenote: DANGER OF WAR WITH FRANCE.] + +_April 4th._--Clarendon has just been here talking over the state of +affairs, in the course of which he alluded to what had passed in the +autumn of '58 between the Emperor and him, and between His Majesty +and Palmerston. In September he had a long conversation with the +Emperor, in the course of which he asked Clarendon, 'Supposing I find +myself compelled to go to war with Austria, what part would England +take in the contest?' Clarendon replied that it would depend upon +the circumstances of the case and the cause that would be shown for +such a war, and that he must not be misled by the language of the +English Press and the prejudice which no doubt existed in England +against Austria and her system of government, which would not be +sufficient to make us take any part against her. On comparing notes +with Palmerston afterwards, Clarendon found that Louis Napoleon had +put the same question to Palmerston, who had given him the same +answer. When they went to Compiègne in November of the same year, +they both had conversations separately of the same character, and +when they afterwards compared notes and Clarendon asked Palmerston +what impression the Emperor's words had left on his mind, Palmerston +replied he thought either that the Emperor had abandoned the design he +had certainly been meditating to go to war, or he had resolved upon +it, but did not choose to acknowledge his intentions to them, and +this Clarendon said was exactly the same opinion as he had formed. +This, however, was not above six weeks before his famous speech to the +Austrian Ambassador (which was a declaration of war), and therefore +the latter conjecture was the correct one. We talked over Lord John's +speech and his letter in answer to Thouvenel. Clarendon said that this +despatch was entirely written by Palmerston himself, that anybody as +well acquainted with their styles as he was must be quite certain of +this, but that _he_ knew it to be the case. He had a conversation with +Palmerston the other day, who praised Lord John's speech and said it +would do good, and he thought _the question of Savoy was in a very +satisfactory state_. + +Palmerston, he told me, had said more to Flahault[1] than I had been +apprised of. Flahault went to him, and found him just going to the +House of Commons. Flahault asked him to let him get into his carriage, +which he did, and when Flahault asked what he should say to the +Emperor, and Palmerston told him to say that the Emperor had better +read Lord John's speech, and understand that he (Palmerston) agreed in +every word of it, Flahault said, 'Then you mean that you have no longer +any confidence in the Emperor, or place any reliance upon his word.' +Palmerston replied, 'I do mean this. After having been repeatedly +deceived and misled by his professions and assurances, it is impossible +that I can place any further confidence in him.' Then said Flahault, +'There will be war,' to which Palmerston rejoined that he hoped not, +that nobody could be more anxious to avoid war than he was. + +This was very spirited and becoming, and Clarendon said he highly +approved of such a tone. I said that I had all along suspected that +there was a secret understanding and collusion between Palmerston and +the Emperor, and that Palmerston had given His Majesty to understand +that if he would set Italy free, he might do what he pleased with +regard to Savoy, but that what had recently passed seemed to negative +that idea. Clarendon replied he had no doubt Palmerston had very often +said to Persigny what, if repeated by Persigny to the Emperor with some +exaggerations and suppressions, would convey as much to His Majesty, +for Palmerston had a dozen times said to him (Clarendon) that the +liberation and settlement of Italy was of far greater consequence than +the preservation of Savoy to Piedmont. + +Footnote 1: [Count de Flahault was at this time French Ambassador in +London.] + + +_April 8th._--To The Grove on Thursday afternoon, and returned +yesterday. On Good Friday morning George Lewis and I were left alone, +when we talked over the questions of the day, and he quite amazed me +by the way in which he spoke of his principal colleagues. I asked +him if John Russell was not exceedingly mortified at the ill-success +of his Reform Bill and its reception in the House of Commons and in +the country. George Lewis said he did not think he felt this, that +at present his mind was entirely occupied with foreign politics, and +he was rejoicing in the idea of having been largely instrumental to +the liberation of Italy; and as to Reform, that he was satisfied +with having redeemed the pledge he gave to Bright to propose a 6_l._ +franchise, and having done this he did not care about the result, as he +had never pledged himself to carry it. The most strange thing to me is, +that George Lewis seemed not to be alive to the culpable levity of such +conduct, or to the censure to which his own conduct is obnoxious in +consenting to act with such a man, and to be a party to such a measure. + +With regard to Palmerston, he said that Palmerston thought of nothing +but his pro-Sardinian and anti-Austrian schemes, and he was gratified +by seeing everything in that quarter turning out according to his +wishes, that in the Cabinet he took very little part and rarely spoke. +Gladstone George Lewis evidently distrusts, and his financial schemes +and arrangements are as distasteful to him as possible. He is provoked +at Gladstone's being able to bear down all opposition, and carry all +before him by the force of his eloquence and power of words, and what +I have said of his conduct in supporting John Russell is still more +applicable to it in reference to Gladstone and his measures, which he +thinks more dangerous by far than he does Lord John's Reform Bill and +6_l._ clause. I asked him what was to be the end of this Bill, and +he said he did not expect it to pass, that probably the debates on +it would be so spun out and so many delays interposed that either it +would fail in the House of Commons itself, or even if it passed, the +House of Lords would say it came up too late for them to examine and +consider it, and it would be thrown out there. I gathered in the course +of conversation that Palmerston (whose whole antecedents and recorded +opinions forbid the idea of his approving such a measure) would be glad +to see the franchise raised, and that 8_l._ and 15_l._ would in his +view improve the Bill. + + +[Sidenote: MACHINATIONS OF NAPOLEON.] + +_May 6th._--Since I wrote the above, nearly a month ago, I have been +out of the way of hearing anything on public affairs, till a day or +two ago when I called on Clarendon, when he told me some things not +without interest, partly about domestic and partly about foreign +affairs. The latter of course related to the inexhaustible subject +of the Emperor Napoleon's projects and machinations. His Majesty, it +seems, has recently had a conversation with M. de Moustier, French +Minister at Vienna, in the course of which he told him that it was an +absolute necessity to France to carry her frontier to the Rhine. About +the same time Cavour had signified (I forget whether it was to the +same de Moustier or to some other person) that Sardinia must obtain +possession of Venetia. These necessities, it can hardly be doubted, +are expressed and resolved upon by a common accord. Austria has been +already completely crippled by the late war; if threatened in Italy +she will employ all her resources in defence of her Italian territory, +and she will be quite unable, even if she were willing, to join in any +measures of resistance to the attempts of France upon Germany. Prussia +has had the egregious folly to renew her feud with Denmark upon the +affair of Schleswig-Holstein, and is about to provoke a fresh war on +that question. Denmark thus threatened appeals to France for aid, which +France is too happy to afford, as she will thereby in all probability +find a good pretext for interference, and for the furtherance of all +her designs. There seems no doubt that a Treaty of some sort has been +concluded between France and Denmark. In this difficult and menacing +posture of affairs, England will sooner or later have to play a part of +some sort, and it is disquieting enough to reflect upon our diplomacy +being under the charge of John Russell and of Palmerston. + +After lingering on for several weeks with unprecedented tardiness +and delay, and a languid uninteresting discussion--debate it cannot +be called--the second reading of the Reform Bill has at last passed +without opposition. The last nights have been remarkable for the +speeches hostile to the Bill of several Liberal members, and the +increasing proofs of its prodigious unpopularity. Everybody is sick +of the subject, and those who desire that some modified and amended +measure may pass, only do so because they have a horror of seeing +another Bill brought in next year, and they hope that they may now +purge this Bill of its worst and most dangerous defects, and close the +subject for several years to come. Some think that it is impossible +to devise any means by which this Bill can be made anything like +safe and expedient, and would therefore prefer to throw it out and +run all chances for the future. At least one half of the Government, +with Palmerston himself at the head of the dissentients, regard this +Bill with alarm and aversion, and now that the difficulty, if not +impossibility, of passing it is obvious, they are prepared to make +every sort of sacrifice, even of its most vital provisions. Palmerston +told George Lewis so, and that John Russell himself would submit to an +alteration of the franchise to the amount of 15_l._ for the counties +and 8_l._ for the towns. They know that no question of resignation +is involved in this discussion, and that whatever may be the fate of +their Bill, they will still keep their places, which no concession will +endanger, and accordingly they are ready to agree to any compromise +which will secure the Bill's passing through Parliament in any shape or +way; but notwithstanding this pliant disposition, it is very doubtful +whether the Bill can pass. It will not commence its career in Committee +till the first week in June, and it is hardly possible it can reach the +House of Lords before the middle or end of July, and the Lords may very +well decline to enter on its consideration at that late period. + + +[Sidenote: CONFUSION OF PARTIES.] + +_May 9th._--A correspondence appears in the newspapers between Lord +Grey and John Russell, couched in terms of no small bitterness. Such a +correspondence between men of such eminence and of the same political +colour shows up to the world the insincerity with which, for political +motives at the time urgent, they have spoken in their places in +Parliament. It is no new thing that members of the same Cabinet should +often differ, and that vehemently on particular questions, and yet when +these questions come under Parliamentary discussion, that they should +exhibit to the world the semblance of an agreement and concurrence +which is remote from the truth. But though this is well understood to +be of not unfrequent occurrence, and sooner or later the details of +the truth often leak out, it is much to be regretted that men should +exhibit themselves and each other in the way which this correspondence +does, for such exhibitions cannot fail to excite suspicions of the +sincerity, conscientiousness, and truth of public men. When Governments +are entirely of one party colour, either wholly Whig or wholly Tory, +and when they are presided over by some man of supereminent authority, +such differences and consequent difficulties are not likely to happen +often; but as of late years parties have been broken up, and composite +Governments have been formed, combining men of the most opposite +original principles, and imbued with very different and incompatible +opinions on various subjects, it must be continually happening that +candid discussions and disputes in the Cabinet should be followed by +insincere and untruthful declarations and argumentations in public. The +understood practice from time immemorial has been, that a dissentient +from the general opinion of his colleagues upon any _important_ +question must either consent to merge his own opinion in theirs, +or retire from office; and then the conduct of the dissentient was +regulated by his view of the _importance_ of the matter at issue. Of +course if a man were to break off from his colleagues upon every matter +of difference, however small, no Government could possibly go on for +many months or perhaps weeks, but it is impossible in these days not +to be struck with the fact that so many men are indisposed to consider +anything of sufficient importance to resign their offices rather than +sacrifice their enlightened consciences and mature judgements. + + +_May 12th._--Not more than three months ago Gladstone was triumphant +and jubilant; he had taken the House of Commons and the country captive +by his eloquence, and nothing was heard everywhere but songs of praise +and admiration at his marvellous success and prodigious genius. There +never was a greater reaction in a shorter time. Everybody's voice is +now against him, and his famous Treaty and his Budget are pronounced +enormous and dangerous blunders. Those who were most captivated now +seem to be most vexed and ashamed of their former fascination. They are +provoked with themselves for having been so duped, and a feeling of +resentment and bitterness against him has become widely diffused in and +out of the House of Commons, on his own side as well as on the other. +It was the operation of this feeling which caused the narrow majority +on the Paper Duties the other night, when it seems as if a little more +management and activity might have put him in a minority, and it is +the same thing which is now encouraging the House of Lords, urged on +by Derby, to throw out the Resolution when it comes before them. Derby +has announced that he shall exert himself to the utmost to procure the +rejection of the Bill in the House of Lords, and if he perseveres he +will probably obtain a very unwise and perilous success, which he will +before long have to regret. + + +[Sidenote: REPEAL OF THE PAPER DUTIES.] + +_May 17th._--Clarendon dined with Derby about a week ago, when Derby +explained to him all his reasons for persisting in his opposition to +the Paper Duties Bill. Clarendon said he did not talk rashly and in +Rupert vein, but gave a well-considered and well-argued statement +of the grounds on which he purposed to proceed. Clarendon evidently +sympathised with him, but not without much apprehension and doubt as +to the expediency of his course. Derby appears to have taken and to be +taking prodigious pains with his case, and he said that his object was +to have a great financial debate in the Lords on the Treaty and the +Budget. Granville tells me they shall be beaten by a large majority, +and he owns that the debate will be almost all one way. There is +nothing on the Treasury Bench or behind it able to grapple with Derby, +Monteagle, Overstone, and Grey on such a question, though Granville +expects Argyll to get up the question and to speak well on it, and +he expects something from Newcastle and Ripon, but Clarendon told me +(which of course he had from Lewis) the curious fact that Palmerston +himself views with pleasure the prospect of the rejection of the +Bill. A queer state of things indeed when the Prime Minister himself +secretly desires to see the defeat of a measure so precious to his own +Chancellor of the Exchequer. + +Frederick Cadogan came over from Paris the other day, and told +Clarendon that Cowley was in very bad spirits about the aspect of +foreign affairs, that all intimacy and confidence between the Emperor +and him was at an end, and that it was more and more evident that +His Majesty meant to follow his own devices, whatever they might be, +without reference to anybody, or caring for the opposition or the +assent of any other Powers. + +The Garibaldi expedition is supposed to have given great umbrage to +France, but not without some suspicions that secretly she is not sorry +for it, and thinks in its complications she may find matter to turn to +her own account. Everybody believes that Cavour has covertly connived +at it, though he pretends to oppose it. Certainly no resolute attempts +were made to obstruct the expedition by the Sardinian Government, and +none whatever by France, who, if she really cared to stop it, might +easily have done so by sending ships from Toulon for the purpose. + +Talking of Neapolitan affairs, Pahlen told me yesterday an almost +incredible anecdote, but of which he said there was no doubt of the +truth. There is just arrived a new Neapolitan Minister, Count Ludolph, +grandson of the Ludolph who was formerly here. He has replaced the +former Minister, who by his own desire was recently recalled, and he +had begged for his recall because he had been grossly insulted by +Palmerston at the Queen's Drawing Room, his story being that in that +room, in the Queen's presence (who was of course out of hearing), +Palmerston had attacked him on the proceedings of his Government and +the conduct of the King, telling him that a revolution would probably +be the consequence thereof, which would be nothing more than they +deserved, and which would be seen in this country with universal +satisfaction. The man was so flabbergasted by this unexpected and +monstrous _sortie_ that he had not presence of mind to make a suitable +answer, and to _riposter_ with the spirit which the occasion required +of him. I must endeavour to find out if this is true. Palmerston has +always been noted for the vivacity and often acerbity of his language +in despatches, but in oral communications and in speeches he has never +been reproached with intemperance or incivility, but, on the contrary, +has always evinced self-control and gentlemanlike and polite behaviour +and language. + + +_May 28th._--Epsom engaged all my attention last week, and I could +not find time to notice the debate in the Lords on the Paper Duties, +and the extraordinary majority, so much greater than anybody +expected. Lyndhurst undertook to speak on the constitutional part of +the question, and got leave to speak early (between Granville and +Monteagle) that he might go home to celebrate his birthday, which fell +on that day, when he completed his eighty-eighth year. He made a very +good speech, and met with an enthusiastic reception. Lady Palmerston +was in the gallery, openly expressing her wishes that the Bill might +be rejected by a large majority. Her language on this and other +occasions so shocked some of the more zealous Whigs, that the Duke of +Bedford was asked by one or more of them to remonstrate with her on +the way she talked, but she knows very well that Palmerston is of the +same mind, though he cannot avow his real sentiments in the way she +does. Palmerston said to Gladstone, 'Of course you are mortified and +disappointed, but your disappointment is nothing to mine, who had a +horse with whom I hoped to win the Derby, and he went amiss at the last +moment.' The affair has gone off very quietly, the House of Commons +not being the least disposed to quarrel with the Lords about it. Even +John Russell, who had talked very absurdly, held moderate and prudent +language in the House.[1] + +Footnote 1: [A Bill for abolishing the duty on paper was carried in +the House of Commons on March 12 by a majority of 245 to 192. It was +rejected on May 21 by the House of Lords by a majority of 193 to 104. +The dispute was eventually settled by a resolution for removing so much +of the duty on paper as exceeded the Excise duty at home.] + + +[Sidenote: REFORM BILL WITHDRAWN.] + +_June 15th._--At Ascot last week. Palmerston was there, and went up +to town on Thursday (going reluctantly) to assist at the withdrawal +by John Russell of the Reform Bill. There was a Cabinet the preceding +day, at which Palmerston said, 'We must now settle what is to be done +about the Reform Bill.' John Russell said, 'I know what my opinion +is, and if anybody wishes to hear it I am ready to give it.' They all +said they did wish it, when he announced that he thought it ought +to be withdrawn. Everybody agreed except Gladstone, who made a long +speech in favour of going on with it, which nobody replied to, and +there it ended. A discussion took place as to what should be said, and +strong opinions expressed that nothing but moderate language should be +employed, which John Russell agreed to, and he acted up to it by making +a very becoming speech, which would have been faultless if he had not +announced another Reform Bill on the earliest possible occasion. This, +too, he did entirely off his own bat, and without any consultation or +agreement with his colleagues. Fortunately these announcements are +no longer so important or so binding as heretofore, and I think it +probable, unless there is some great change in public opinion (which is +not likely), that when the time draws near Palmerston and a majority of +the Cabinet will not consent to a fresh attempt. + + +_July 8th._--I have been so ill till within the last few days that I +have not had energy enough to do anything. I have known but little, and +that little I could not bring myself to write down here. In fact, it is +high time that I should close these records once for all, which I am +morally and physically incapable of continuing with any probability of +making them interesting. It is not very consistent with this opinion to +fill a page or two with the recent transaction in the House of Commons, +with reference to the duty on paper. Everybody allows that Palmerston +got out of his difficulty with consummate tact and discretion, and +that Gladstone's conduct was inexcusable. The Resolutions concocted +by Palmerston had been fully discussed and agreed to in the Cabinet +(reluctantly of course by Gladstone), and Palmerston's speech was +received with general approbation in the House. It was excellent, fair +and moderate, the argument logically consistent with the Resolutions, +but displeasing to Gladstone and the highflyers because it made a sort +of excuse for the Lords, or rather it set forth the grounds on which +the Lords might think themselves justified in acting as they did, +without having any of the motives and designs which the Gladstones and +Brights attributed to them. All this elicited great applause from the +Opposition side of the House, and their cheers were very offensive +to and grated on the ears of the ultra-Liberals. Everything would +have ended quietly, and the Resolutions would have passed without a +debate, but Gladstone could not stand it, and, urged by spite and +mortification, he must needs get up and make a most violent speech, +really, though not avowedly, in opposition to Palmerston, and with the +object of provoking a long and acrimonious debate. In this he only +partially succeeded, and not for long. The debate lasted one night +more, but nothing could be made of the Amendments. Palmerston kept his +temper and displayed great firmness and resolution. The House was with +him. Bright, partly from being very unwell, and probably partly from +some discretion, made a moderate speech; everybody seemed determined to +bring the matter to an end, and the Resolutions were very triumphantly +carried. Granville told me yesterday morning that it was a toss up +whether Gladstone resigned or not, and that if he did, it would break +up the Liberal party, to which I replied that I was confident he would +not resign, and if he did, it would have no effect on the bulk of the +Liberal party. + + +[Sidenote: RADICAL ELEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.] + +_July 17th._--I met Charles Villiers at dinner at the Travellers' +last night and had some talk with him, particularly about Gladstone. +He thinks it far better that he should not resign, as he could, and +probably would, be very mischievous out of office. He says people do +not know the House of Commons, and are little aware that there is an +obscure but important element in it of a Radical complexion, and that +there are sixty or seventy people who would constitute themselves +followers of Gladstone, and urge him on to every sort of mischief. +They are already doing all they can to flatter and cajole him, and +once out of office, his great talents and oratorical powers would make +him courted by all parties, even the Tories, who would each and all be +very glad to enlist him in their service. It is impossible to calculate +on the course of a man so variable and impulsive, but at present it +looks as if he had made up his mind to swallow his mortifications +and disappointments and to go on with his present colleagues, though +Charles Villiers says he is very dejected and uneasy in his mind, and +very gloomy in the Cabinet. + +I asked him if he had seen Senior's last Journals, relating his visit +to Paris, which he had not. I told him they were very interesting, and +that all his interlocutors, however varying in opinions upon other +subjects, were agreed as to the certainty of the Emperor's meditating +fresh wars and aggressions, and sooner or later a war with us. He said +he thought it probable that any attempt on Belgium would be deferred +till after King Leopold's death (who is seventy-five years old), at +which time in all probability the annexation would be attempted, and +with very reasonable prospects of being assented to by the Belgians +themselves, an idea which had not struck me, but which I think +exceedingly likely. + + +_Buxton, August 11th._--I came here for my health and to try and +patch myself up a fortnight ago, since which I have heard and learnt +nothing of what is passing in the world but what I read in the +newspapers. The session of Parliament was drawing to a close, and it +was understood that there was to be one more fight in the House of +Commons (on the removal of the Customs duties on paper), and then the +remaining business was to be hurried through as quickly as possible. +The Opposition made strenuous efforts to obtain a majority, and were +sanguine of success. The Speaker wrote me an account of what passed, +and I shall copy out the greatest part of his letter. 'The division of +thirty-three on the Paper Duties was a surprise to all on the spot. As +late as eleven that evening Sir George Grey told us the division seemed +very doubtful. The Irishmen held off indignant at Palmerston's having +mentioned with approval the landing of Garibaldi on the mainland. This +was held to be an insult to the Pope, so More O'Farrell, Monsell, Sir +John Acton, and eight or ten more would not vote at all. It seemed +doubtful to the last. It is a great thing for the Government in many +ways, not the least in having won the battle without the Pope and his +men. It puts the Government in so much better and stronger a position +with that party. The great result is to give some life to half-dead, +broken-down, tempest-tossed Gladstone. When after the division he rose +to propose the second Resolution, he was cheered by the Free-traders as +he had not been cheered since the Budget Speech. Colonel Taylor tells +me they had been led to success by promises from two quarters. First +the paper-makers and the "Times" engaged to bring fifty men to the +post, and only brought five. The Irishmen promised to be twenty-five, +but were only eleven, the others standing off and not voting. I have a +long letter from Cobden, angry about fortifications and Volunteers.' +This morning I received another letter from the Speaker, enclosing +Cobden's, which he has sent me to read. He says, 'It is written in +rather a spirit of exaggeration, but it is the fault of Cobden's mind +to see one object so strongly, that his view cannot embrace another at +the same time.' Cobden's is well written, and contains much that is +true, but he has evidently been so cajoled and flattered at Paris that +he is now completely bamboozled, and so credulous that he takes for +gospel all the Emperor says, and complains bitterly of 'all that is +going on at home' and especially of the tone of Palmerston's and Sidney +Herbert's speeches. 'Believing,' he says, 'that the new French tariff +will realise a complete revolution in the commercial relations of the +two countries, and having taken pains to impress this opinion on the +Government, I am amazed at the course they are taking. The language of +Palmerston and Sidney Herbert, coupled with the fortification scheme +(he says), cuts the ground, on which I urged the Emperor to enter on +the Free Trade policy, from under my feet. Nine tenths of his motives +for making the plunge into that policy now were political rather than +politico-economical; he aimed at conciliating the English people, and +I did not hesitate to assure him that if he entered without reserve +on the Free Trade path, it would be taken as a proof of his pacific +intentions by the British public.' + + +[Sidenote: CONCLUSION OF THESE JOURNALS.] + +_London, November 13th._--At the end of three months since I last wrote +anything in this book, I take my pen in hand to record my determination +to bring this journal (which is no journal at all) to an end. I have +long seen that it is useless to attempt to carry it on, for I am +entirely out of the way of hearing anything of the slightest interest +beyond what is known to all the world. I therefore close this record +without any intention or expectation of renewing it, with a full +consciousness of the smallness of its value or interest, and with great +regret that I did not make better use of the opportunities I have had +of recording something more worth reading. + + + + + INDEX. + + + Aberdeen, Rt. Hon. Earl of, formation of Government, difficulties + attending it, i. 17, 18; + in part owing to Lord J. Russell, 19, 20; + the new Ministry's first appearance, 24; + discontent of Whigs, 25; + list of Cabinet, 29; + meeting of Parliament, 39; + judicious answers of, in the House, 45; + harmony of Government of, 65; + divided Cabinet of, on Russo-Turkish question, 67; + impending war viewed by, 69; + attacks of Tory press on, 70; + explanations of policy of, demanded in Parliament, 71; + confidence of, in Russian Emperor shaken, 73; + chances, hopes, of peace, 75; + proposed Convention considered, 76, 79; + Cabinet of, summoned on Eastern crisis, 91; + agreement as to policy, 94; + wish of, to resign, on failure of peace policy, 96; + Cabinet discussion as to meeting of Parliament, 102; + Protocol agreed on by four Powers, 109; + charged by Lord Derby with imparting State secrets to the 'Times,' + 146; + denial, and defence against Lord Malmesbury, 147; + attacks upon peace policy of, 166; + difference of opinion of, between him and Lord Clarendon, 184; + goes to Windsor to resign, 232 + + Adair, Sir Robert, death of, i. 291 + + Albert, H.R.H. Prince, attacks on, by Tory press, i. 126; + charges against him of taking part in State affairs, 127; + vindication of, in Parliament, 133; + letter of, to King of Prussia, 183; + visit of, to France, 183; + conversation with the French Emperor, 186; + made Prince Consort by patent, ii. 112; + visits Brussels, 117 + + Alliance, the Holy, correspondence concerning, between Emperor of + Russia and Prince Regent, i. 287 + + Alma, battle of the, i. 187 + + Anglesey, the Marquis of, death of, i, 155; + character of, 155-56 + + Anson, General, letters of, hinting discontent in Indian Army, ii. 106; + death of, from cholera, 112 + + Ashburton, Lady, death of; character of, ii. 107 + + Austria, policy of Austrians at Milan, i. 47; + Emperor of, stabbed, 46; + mediation attempted by, 72; + hesitates to side against Russia, 135; + fears to declare war against Russia, 170; + new declaration of neutrality, 187; + declares war against Sardinia, 244; + armistice of Villafranca, peace concluded, 258 + + + Bank, the, of England, empowered to exceed limits of Bank Act of 1844, + ii. 130 + + Baraguay d'Hilliers, mission of, to Constantinople, i. 103; + veto of, against British Fleet entering Black Sea, 119; + recalled by French Government from Constantinople, 160 + + Beauvale and Melbourne, Lord, death of, i. 34; + character and career of, 35, 36; + -- Lady, grief of, on her husband's death, i. 37 + + Bedford, seventh Duke of, disheartened about politics, i. 14; + papers and correspondence of, 48; + his part in political crisis of 1852, 84; + conversation of, on Lord J. Russell's position and circumstances, + 148; + endeavour of, to persuade him to withdraw Reform Bill, 152; + conversation of, on Lord J. Russell's retirement, 294; + attempts reconciliation between Palmerston and Lord John, 180; + confers with Mr. Greville, 181 + + Berry, Miss Mary, death of, i. 10; + character of, 10, 11 + + Bickersteth, Dr., made Bishop of Ripon, ii. 68 + + Bomba, King of Naples, tyranny and insolence of, ii. 59 + + Brigade, the Light, charge of, i. 197 + + Bright, Mr. J., bitter speech of, against Lord J. Russell, i. 162; + letter of, on the war, 194; + speech on the war, 211 + + Brunnow, Baron, severe comment of, on Lord J. Russell as Foreign + Secretary, i. 32; + conversation of, with Lord Clarendon, on Russia, 54; + dreads having to leave this country, 65; + first to arrive at Paris Congress, ii. 17 + + Buckle, Mr., dines with Mr. Grote, ii. 175 + + + Cambridge, H.R.H. Princess Mary of, offer of marriage to, from Prince + Napoleon, i. 133 + + Canada Clergy Reserves Bill, i. 61 + + Canning, Lord, attacks of press on, ii. 127; + defended by Lord Granville at Mansion House, 128; + by Palmerston, 129; + defended by the 'Times,' 142; + proclamation of, to people of Oude, 191 + + Canrobert, Field-Marshal, letters of, on British army, i. 221 + + Cardwell, Mr., motion of, against Lord Ellenborough's Despatch, ii. + 194; + motion withdrawn, 198 + + Cavour, M. de, Italian Minister, policy of, ii. 232; + return of, to office, 284; + share in annexation of Savoy, 296 + + Clanricarde, Marquis of, announces a defence in House of Lords, ii. + 172; + withdraws announcement, 178 + + Clarendon, Rt. Hon. Earl of, his account of Czar's proposals about + Turkey, i. 53; + France, 54; + conversation of, with Brunnow, 54; + opinion of Russian assurances, 65; + fears of, on Eastern question, 67; + difficulties of, between Aberdeen and Palmerston, 100; + his despatch on Turkish relations, 101; + abortive attempts at negotiation, 108; + disagreement with Aberdeen, 108; + disgust of, at Austrian neutrality, 187; + visit to French Emperor, and freedom of press, 251; + conversation with King of Sardinia, 302; + on better feeling between Walewski and Persigny, 307; + united policy of, with Palmerston, 314; + attends Paris Congress, ii. 17; + favourable views of peace, 36; + on atrocities at Naples, 63; + on the Palmerston Government of 1855, 47; + dictatorial policy towards Brazil, 70; + conversation of, with the Queen, on Palmerston, 111; + pressed to take office by the Queen, 256; + on Mr. Gladstone's Budget, 290; + on French commercial treaty, 291 + + Cobden, Richard, motion of, on the China question carried, ii. 91; + defeat of, with Manchester men, at general election, 101; + declines office under Palmerston, 257; + commercial treaty with France, 285; + opposition to treaty, 287; + his belief in French Emperor, and in Free Trade policy, 314 + + Cockburn, Sir Alexander, made Lord Chief Justice Common Pleas, ii. 65; + anecdote of, 66 + + Codrington, General Sir William, appointed to command British forces in + Crimea, i. 292 + + Commons, House of: Disraeli's amendment on the Villiers resolutions, i. + 9; + Palmerston's motion carried, 12; + debate, Disraeli's Budget, 13-15; + Disraeli's attack on Aberdeen Government, 41; + Jew and Maynooth questions carried, 44; + Government defeats on detached questions, 58; + debate on Gladstone's Budget, 59; + Income Tax majority, 61; + Lord J. Russell on Irish Church, 66; + damage to Government thereby, 68; + debate, India Bill, 68; + discussion of Turkish question, 80; + session closed by Palmerston's speech, 80; + vindication of Prince Albert by Lord J. Russell, 132; + Reform Bill introduced by Lord J. Russell, 139; + debate on Blue Books, 139; + bitterness of the Opposition on the war, 150; + debate on Mr. Gladstone's financial speech, 159; + Mr. J. Baring's motion defeated, 161; + Russell's Oaths Bill defeated, 161; + encounter between Disraeli and Lord J. Russell, 162; + Church Rates Bill and University Bill, admission of Dissenters, + debate on, 166; + an appointment cancelled, 171; + session wound up, 172; + defence of Government war policy by Mr. S. Herbert, 208; + Foreign Enlistment Bill carried, 209; + motion of Mr. Roebuck to enquire into conduct of war, 229; + the motion carried, 231; + Palmerston's first speech as Prime Minister, 242; + war debate, 259; + indiscreet revelations of Lord J. Russell, 269; + debate on the Address (Peace), ii. 13; + debate on opening of British Museum on Sunday, 19; + Disraeli's attack on Government, 22; + Appellate Jurisdiction Bill defeated, 50; + debate on supposed treaty between France and Austria, 85; + dispute between Disraeli and Palmerston, 85, 86; + Cobden's motion on China question carried against the Government, + 92; + dissolution of Parliament, 96; + attack of Disraeli, at outbreak in India, 116; + debate on the Divorce Bill, 118; + debate on the Conspiracy Bill, 160; + Bill defeated, 162; + resignation of Lord Palmerston, 162; + Disraeli attacked by B. Osborne, 177; + debate on India Bill, 182; + debate on Disraeli's Budget, 187; + debate on India, 191; + debate on Lord Ellenborough's Despatch, 195; + collapse of debate, 198; + India Bill passed, 205; + debate on Disraeli's Reform Bill, 226; + debate on Lord John's Reform Resolutions, 234; + debate, Resolutions carried, Bill defeated, 237; + debate on want of confidence, 251; + Government defeated, 252; + debate on Gladstone's Budget, 290; + majority for Budget, 292; + debate on Russell's Reform Bill, 298; + debate on Paper Duties Bill, carried, 311, 314 + + Condé, Prince de, death of, ii. 178 + + Conservative party, tone of, against Lord Aberdeen, i. 17; + violence of Tories towards Gladstone, 22; + suicidal conduct of, 61 + + Conspiracy Bill, the, 161; + defeated, ii. 162 + + Corruption, electoral, during Aberdeen Government, i. 64 + + Council, Privy, at Windsor, i. 107; + Privy Council, licenses issued by, for export of stores to neutral + ports, 153; + meeting to consider question of trade with Russia, 193; + meeting of, to appoint Day of Humiliation, 122 + + Cowley, Lord, Ambassador at Paris, conversation of, with French + Emperor, i. 105; + correspondence of Clarendon with, on Louis Napoleon's letter to the + Czar, 137; + anecdote of, with Walewski, 311; + views of Paris Congress, ii. 24, 25; + enlightens French Emperor on Russian intrigue, 62; + coldness of Emperor to, at Paris, 69; + mission to Vienna, 223 + + Crimea, landing in, of British forces, i. 187 + + Crimean war, new light on causes of, i. 55; + anecdote connected with, ii. 202 + + Croker, Rt. Hon. J. W., death of, ii. 120 + + + D'Aumale, Duc, at the Grove, ii. 273 + + Delane, Mr. John, editor of 'Times,' letter to, from Lord Aberdeen, i. + 74; + conversation of, with Lord Aberdeen, 111; + with Mr. Greville, 202; + urges the building of wooden houses for the troops, 202 + + Delhi, capture of, ii. 130 + + Denison, Rt. Hon. Sir E., elected Speaker, ii. 106 + + Derby, Rt. Hon. the Earl of, resignation of, i. 15; + Liberal negotiations thereon, 15, 16; + speech of, on Canada Clergy Reserves Bill, 61; + scene in House, 61; + sent for by the Queen, fails in forming a Government, 234; + attacks the Government on China question, ii. 91; + readiness of, to join with Gladstone, 95; + sent for by the Queen, 165; + forms a Ministry, 172; + Liberal programme of, 175; + helped by Mr. Greville, 179; + resolves to remain in office, 184; + on defeat of Reform Bill, to dissolve, 240; + speech of, 240; + speech of, at Mansion House, 244; + defeat of, and resignation, 251; + opposition of, to the Paper Duties Bill, 308 + + Devonshire, the Duke of, death of, ii. 154 + + Disraeli, Rt. Hon. Benjamin, Budget of, public opinion on, i. 14; + on his own Budget, comments of, and on the Irish brigade, 32; + bitter attack of, on the Government, Charles Wood, and Graham, 41; + effect of, on his own party, 42; + agrees to attack and vilify Peel, 44; + tries to force debate on Eastern question, 73; + attacks Lord J. Russell, 162; + his motion on Ward debate defeated, 259; + reviews the session, ii. 51; + triumph over Palmerston on Paris treaty, 85; + waning influence in the country, 94; + speech on outbreak in India, 116; + political chat with Mr. Greville, 143; + suggests a fusion of parties, 155; + becomes Chancellor of the Exchequer, 172; + sanguine views of, 176; + attacked by Bernal Osborne, 177; + proposes his Budget, 187; + violent speech at Slough, 198; + his Reform Bill, 226; + opposition to, 228; + continued opposition to, by Liberals, 229; + Reform Bill thrown out, 237 + + Drouyn de Lhuys, French Ambassador in London, i. 254; + cause of his visit, 255; + his resignation, 261; + + + Ellesmere, Lord, death of, and character, ii. 88, 91 + + England, unpopularity of, abroad, how caused, i. 46; + rancour of Northern Powers against, 49; + friendly tone of French Emperor towards, 49; + home difficulties, India, Eastern question, 51; + English and French fleets sail for Dardanelles, 69; + hopes of peace, 78, 79; + dangers at Constantinople, two ships of each fleet go up + Dardanelles, 85, 90; + British and French fleets enter Black Sea, 111; + proposals of negotiation with Russia and Turkey, 124; + Blue Books on Eastern question well received by public, 135; + popularity of war, 136; + war declared, 149; + union of English and French policy as to Spain, 172; + attack of allied forces on the Redan repulsed, 263; + peace concluded, ii. 39; + England's balance-sheet after war, 72; + accused by France of harbouring assassins, 157 + + Evans, General, proposes to embark troops after Inkerman, ii. 37 + + + Flahault, Count de, French Ambassador at London, conversation of, with + Palmerston, ii. 303 + + Fould, M. Achille, invited to Windsor, ii. 110; + letter of French Emperor to, 283 + + Free trade, letter of French Emperor on, with France, ii. 283 + + + Garibaldi expedition, ii. 309 + + Gibson, Mr. Milner, motion of, carried against Conspiracy Bill, ii. 162 + + Gladstone, Rt. Hon. W. E., famous Budget of, i. 59; + popularity consequent on, 59, 60; + attempt to extort money from, 62; + failing prestige as a financier, 150; + failure of his Exchequer Bill, 157; + his great speech on Budget, 159; + speech against Lord J. Russell, 232; + joins Lord Palmerston's Government, 238; + reported leader of Opposition, ii. 68; + strong feeling against, on the China debate, 94; + speech of, the question, 95; + his article in 'Quarterly,' 190; + appointed Lord High Commissioner of Ionian Islands, 222; + speech of, on his Budget, 290; + second speech, and majority, 292; + reaction against his Budget, 308 + + Graham, Rt. Hon. Sir James, on Eastern question, opinion of, i. 88; + indiscreet speech of, at dinner to Admiral C. Napier, 145 + + Granville, Rt. Hon. Earl of, conversation of, with Lord J. Russell on + Reform Bill, i. 143; + superseded by Lord John as President of Council, 163; + conversation of, with Mr. Greville on Russian answer to Proposals, + ii. 5; + at coronation of Czar at Moscow, 54; + on its cost, 55; + sent for by the Queen, 252; + unable to form a Government, 252 + + Greville, Charles C., Mr., opinion of, on Wellington's funeral, i. 7; + attends no Council during nine months of Lord Derby's Ministry, 28; + goes to Windsor, 28; + visits Bowood, discusses Reform, 30; + comments of, on Disraeli's oratory, 42; + remarkable prediction of, as to France, 47; + conversation of, with Disraeli, 60; + visits Ascot, 68; + conversations with Clarendon on war, 75; + with Graham on Eastern question, 88; + with Clarendon, 89; + his conviction on party strife, 94; + his view of Palmerston's position, 94; + remarks on the Queen's sagacity, 101; + opinion of, on Lord J. Russell's Reform Bill, 104; + conversation of, with Graham on Palmerston, 106; + conference of, with Duke of Bedford, on Palmerston, 110; + on his resignation, 112; + share of, in conciliatory overtures to Palmerston, 113, 114, 115; + letter of, to the 'Times' on Palmerston, 114; + strong letter of, to Graham, 119; + final judgment of, on Palmerston's resignation, 120; + _id._, 121, 122; + visit to Bowood, 122; + conversation of, on Russian designs, 123; + on alterations in Reform Bill, 124; + comments of, on virulence of Tory press, 128; + letters of, to 'Morning Herald' and 'Times,' vindicating Prince + Albert, 130; + praises Clarendon, as compared with Palmerston, 135; + on Stratford's despatches, 136; + his opinion of Emperor Napoleon's conduct, 138; + on Lord J. Russell's discontent, 148; + and straitened circumstances, 148; + strongly disapproves of war, 149; + on the weakness of the Government, 153; + ridicules notion of Fast Day, 153; + on the weakness of Government, 158; + and break-down of parties, 158; + on rashness of Gladstone, 159; + conversation of, with Lord Cowley, on French Emperor and the Court, + 160; + his article in 'Edinburgh Review,' 160; + on change of Government plans, 163; + on Lord J. Russell's want of delicacy and consideration, 164; + on Lord John's deplorable position, 167; + on the character of Aberdeen's Government, 173; + _continued_, 174-75; + effect of quarrel with Russia, 177; + and of Palmerston's resignation, 178; + on difficulties of the campaign, 182; + on military commanders in Crimea, 183; + on Ministerial disagreements, 185; + on Prince Albert's visit to France, 185; + on victory of Alma, 188; + on the Royal invitations, 189; + on the Crimean expedition, 189; + visit of, to Newmarket, and resolve to give up race-horses, 191; + on the defence of Sebastopol, 195; + and issue of war, 196; + nomination of Sheriffs, 198; + on gallantry of English forces, 200; + criticises accounts of Inkerman, 201; + on Lord Raglan as a general, 204; + the sufferings of the army, 204; + opinion of, on Bright's letter, 207; + his review of the year (1854), 211, 212; + conference of, with Lord Cowley and Clarendon on French alliance, + 212, 213; + on Austria, 214; + on Lord J. Russell's position, 218; + on Russian diplomacy, 219; + on deplorable state of the army, 224; + on chances of peace, 227; + negotiations, 228; + condemns Lord J. Russell's resignation, 230; + on his real motives, 233; + comments of, on Palmerston's Government, 239; + on Austrian policy, 226; + on Palmerston's reception in House, 245; + on the weakness of Palmerston and his Government, 248; + literary occupations of, 254; + on visit of French Emperor, his reception, 257; + visit of, to Paris, 261; + visits Thiers, and dines at the Tuileries, 265; + conversation with Emperor, 265; + picture of Versailles, 268; + of St. Cloud, 270; + severe comment of, on Lord J. Russell's revelations in the House, + 272; + Lord John's conduct explained by, 288; + at Newmarket, adieu to the turf, 291; + on Lord Stanley, 293; + talk with Disraeli, intimate, 294; + on further peace negotiations, converses with Mr. C. Villiers and + Sir G. Lewis, 299, 300; + on Palmerston's arrogance towards Russia, 306; + on the poet Rogers, 307; + converses with Sir. G. C. Lewis on the folly of the war, 309; + discusses peace proposals to Russia, 310; + on the faint hopes of peace, i. 3; + confers with Sir G. C. Lewis, 3, 4; + favourable views of Russian policy, 5; + confers with Lord Granville, 6; + hopes of peace, 7; + Russia's acceptance of terms explained by, 8, 9; + talk of, with Disraeli, on _his_ prospects, 11; + on life peerages, 15; + on Peace Congress at Paris, 17; + on Sabbatarianism, 19; + on Kars and Nicolaieff--with Sir G. Lewis--20; + on blunders of Government, 22; + visits Paris, 23; + his view of the negotiations, 24, 25; + with Madame de Lieven, 26; + at Tuileries, and Emperor's speech, 27; + dines with Walewski, 27; + confers with Lord Cowley on Austrian policy, 28-29; + on bitterness in French society, 29; + confers with M. Thiers on necessity of peace, 31; + on terms of peace with Russia, 33; + confers with Graham--gloomy views--40, 41; + discussion of E. Ellice's plan for new arrangement of Government, + 43; + opinion of, on his own Journal, 44; + on Sunday bands, 46; + conversation with Thackeray on American enlistment question, 48; + on Madame Ristori, 49; + on O'Donnell and Espartero in Spain, 53; + on fatal delay after battle of Alma, 53; + on our interference at Naples, 56; + growing intimacy between France and Russia, 57; + on English Democracy, _à la_ Guizot, 57; + on French intrigue with Russia, 58-59; + pressure on King Bomba, 60; + converse with Lord Clarendon on Russian intrigue, 61; + _id._, on the Bolgrad question, 62; + _id._, on Neapolitan atrocities, 63; + on Cockburn's appointment, Lord Chief Justice, 65; + on the proposed Conference at Paris (a farce), 67; + on Low Church Bishops, 68; + on state of England after war, 72; + on the Neufchâtel dispute, 74; + goes to hear Spurgeon preach, 83; + on Palmerston and Disraeli, 85; + on our relations with France, 86; + on Lord J. Russell's and Mr. Gladstone's opposition in the House, + 92, 93; + on the pending dissolution, 94; + antagonism of, towards Palmerston, 99; + on the defeat of Bright, Cobden, and Co., 105; + breakfasts with M. Fould at Lord Granville's, 110; + on alarming condition of India, 113; + and perils of mutiny, 115; + on the life peerages, 121; + attends Council at Balmoral, 122; + conversation with Lord Clarendon, on progress of mutiny, 124; + on the Queen's attention to public business, 126; + urges Lord Palmerston and Granville to defend Lord Canning, 128; + on difficulties of the Government, and Lord J. Russell's position, + 134; + letter of, to Duke of Bedford urging Lord John to be patient, 135; + on the East India Company and the Government, 136; + on style of Queen's speech, 137; + on health of Lord Palmerston, 140; + fears as to Lucknow, 143; + on Crown jewels of Hanover, 148; + on slave labour in French colonies, 150; + enormous difficulties of Indian policy, 151; + conversation with Clarendon on French feeling against England, 158; + on drowsiness of Ministers, 160; + review of Palmerston crisis, 162; + shows how the catastrophe might have been avoided, 169; + political coincidences, 173; + on the Derby Ministry, 175; + meets the Duke d'Aumale, 178; + on relations with France, 179; + on Marshal Pelissier, 181; + on Whigs and Peelites, 181; + possibility of union, 184; + on the proposed resolutions for India Bill, 185; + with Lord Cowley on relations of France and England, 188; + with Lord Derby on state of parties, 190; + visits Littlecote House, 192; + on the Ellenborough debate, 196-97; + on Palmerston's discomfiture, 199; + at Norman Court, 201; + confers with Brunnow on the Russian War, 206; + on Lord John and Stanley, 209; + on the Queen's letter to the Prince of Wales, 213; + confers with Clarendon on Compiègne visit, 215; + on Napoleon's designs, 216; + on electric telegraph (1859), 220; + on general opposition to Austrian war, 224; + Lord Cowley's mission, 225; + on Cavour's policy, 232-33; + on Marliani, 239; + on fears of war, 242; + on treachery of French Emperor, 244; + resigns clerkship of Council, 245; + doubts as to Lord John's intentions, 249; + on peace after Solferino, 259; + visits Ireland, 264; + on Irish National Education, 265; + return to London, 268; + on quarrel with China, 269; + on Clarendon's interview with the Queen, 270; + on French Emperor and the 'Times,' 274; + on Disraeli's commanding position, 276; + on Italian affairs and French Emperor, 281-82; + negotiation of French Commercial Treaty, 285; + on Tory opposition to Reform, 288; + on French Emperor's mistake after Villafranca, 293; + on Gladstone's democratic opinions, 294; + on French Emperor's designs, 303, 305; + on Senior's Journals, 313; + visits Buxton, 313; + close of his Journal, 315 + + Grey, Rt. Hon. Sir George, statement of, in the House, on a cancelled + appointment, i. 171 + + Guards, the, return of, from Crimea, ii. 50 + + Guise, Duke of, death of, ii. 178 + + + Handel Concerts, the, at Crystal Palace, ii. 109 + + Hardinge, Rt. Hon. Lord, struck with paralysis, ii. 50 + + Havelock, General Sir H., heroism, peril of, at Lucknow, ii. 132; + death of, 151 + + Hayward, Mr., dinner at his house, political, i. 6 + + 'Herald, Morning,' the, virulence of, against Prince Albert, i. 129, + 130 + + + Income tax, the, carried, i. 61 + + India, East, Company, charter of, expiring, Bill for future government + of, passed (1853), i. 51; + opposed by 'Times,' 52; + difficulty of the question, 52; + petition of, to Parliament, ii. 159-60; + failure of Bill on, 182; + the Bill withdrawn, 187; + India Bill passed, in Commons, 205 + + Inkerman, battle of, i. 199 + + + Jervis, Rt. Hon. Sir J., Chief Justice, Common Pleas, death of (1856), + ii. 65 + + Jewish question, the, Lord Stanley's Liberal vote thereon, i. 44; + Disraeli's silence on, 44; + Oaths Bill defeated, 161; + acquiesced in by the Lords, ii. 199; + Bill passed, 205 + + + Labouchere, Rt. Hon. H., takes office under Palmerston as Colonial + Secretary, i. 295 + + Lancashire, distress in, ii. 139 + + Lansdowne, Rt. Hon. Marquis of, unwillingness to accept Premiership, + i. 2; + letter of, to Mr. C. Greville on Palmerston's resignation, 114; + position of, at crisis, 115; + Dukedom refused by, ii. 120 + + Leopold, King of Belgians, his _démêlés_ with French Emperor, i. 102 + + 'Leviathan,' afterwards 'Great Eastern,' the, attempted launch of, + ii. 128 + + Lewis, Sir G. Cornewall, joins the Palmerston Government as Chancellor + of the Exchequer, i. 247; + character of, ii. 84; + conversation of, on Gladstone's finance, 304 + + Liberal party, divisions among, i. 1; + hostility of Radicals, 3; + negotiations of, on Lord Derby's resignation, 15, 16; + resentment of, against Lord J. Russell, 167; + meeting of, at Willis's Rooms, ii. 249 + + Liddell _v._ Westerton, case of, ii. 88; + judgment reversed by Privy Council, 99 + + Lieven, Madame de, on the Russian war, ii. 25; + death of, 76; + character of, 76-83 + + Littlecote House, ii. 192 + + Lords, House of, debate on Protection, and Lord Derby's abandonment of + it, i. 7; + Lord Derby's speech on the Duke of Wellington, 9; + speech of Lord Derby on Aberdeen Government, 18; + Aberdeen's statement as Prime Minister, 25, 27; + Lord Derby's repudiation of Disraeli's Budget tactics, 33; + Aberdeen questioned by Lord Derby, ridiculous scene in House, 39; + Duke of Argyll against Lord Ellenborough, 46; + debate on Clergy Reserves, 46; + debate on Canada Clergy Bill, majority for Government, 61; + scene in House described by Mr. Greville, 61; + debate on Legacy Duties, 65; + division on Succession Duties Bill, 77; + Lord Derby's remark on, 77; + Lord Clarendon's speech on Peace or War, 78; + slashing speech of Lord Derby, 132; + Prince Albert vindicated, 133; + Lord Aberdeen's declaration in favour of peace, 137; + Clarendon's speech in defence of Ministers, 140; + debate on alleged secret correspondence with Russia, 146; + debate on the war, Lord Lyndhurst's speech, 166; + Government majority on University Bill, 169; + attack on Government policy by Lord Derby, 208; + debate on Foreign Enlistment Bill, 208; + Duke of Newcastle's defence, 234; + Limited Liability Bill forced through the House, 280; + the Queen's Speech criticised by Lord Derby, ii. 13; + attack on Baron Parke's life peerage, 13; + debate on life peerages, 15; + _id._, 21; + debate on Maritime Law, 47; + debate on China question, 91; + attack of Lord Ellenborough on Government at outbreak in India, 116; + debate on the Divorce Bill, 118; + Lord Derby's speech as Prime Minister, 172; + Lord Lyndhurst's speech on Jews Bill, 190; + debate on Lord Ellenborough, 196; + debate on Jewish question, Bill passed, 205; + Lord Chancellor's appointment of Lunacy Commissioner rescinded, 222; + speech of Lord Derby, 287; + debate on Gladstone's Budget and treaty, 298; + debate on Paper Duties Bill, 311 + + Lucknow, capture of, and relief, ii. 130; + bad news from, 142 + + Ludolph, Count, Neapolitan Minister, attack of Palmerston on, ii. 309 + + Lyndhurst, Rt. Hon. Lord, speech of, on the war, i. 166; + speech of, on the Jews Bill, ii. 190 + + + Macaulay, Rt. Hon. T. B., on Judges' Exclusion Bill, speech of, i. 66; + new volumes of History of England, 305; + broken health, _id._; + retires from Parliament, ii. 11; + made a peer, 120; + death of, 278 + + McNeill, Sir John, report of, on suffering of troops, ii. 16 + + Marliani, an emissary from Cavour, ii. 239 + + Meerut, breaking out of Indian Mutiny at (May, 1857), ii. 112 + + Molesworth, Rt. Hon. Sir W., death of, i. 292 + + Monsell, Mr., Roman Catholic, difficulties in swearing him in as a + Privy Councillor, i. 255 + + Montalembert, M., prosecution of, by Imperial Government, ii. 214 + + 'Morning Post,' the, violent article against Prussia, ii. 1 + + Moustier, M. de, conversation of, with French Emperor, ii. 305 + + Mutiny, the Indian, progress of, ii. 121; + day of humiliation for, 122; + reinforcements for India, 124; + exaggerated accounts of cruelties, &c., 136; + defeat of Windham, 150 + + + Napier, Admiral Sir Chas., dinner to, on his appointment to command + Baltic fleet, i. 145; + unpopularity of, on account of inactivity, 187 + + Napoleon III., Emperor of the French, comment on, by M. de Flahault, + i. 31; + story of his marriage told by Lord Clarendon, 37, 38; + details of, by Lord Cowley, 39; + opinion of H. M. the Queen, 40, 41; + friendly disposition of, towards England, 49; + increasing unpopularity of, in France, 67; + professed desire of, for peaceful solution, 85; + letter of, to Duchess of Hamilton, 86; + supposed intrigue of, with Russia, 86; + assurances of his adherence to English policy, 90; + libellous publications against (Belgium), 102; + sends Baraguay d'Hilliers to Constantinople, 103; + reluctant to go to war, 131; + said to have instigated newspaper attacks on Prince Albert, 134; + autograph letter of, to Emperor Nicolas, 137; + invited by Prince Albert to Windsor, 184; + conversation of, with the Prince, 186; + visit of, to London, 256; + declaration of strong adherence to England, 313; + speech of, to Imperial Guard, against Prussia, ii. 2; + yields to Russian influence at Paris Congress, 23; + birth of Prince Imperial, 34; + visit of, with Empress, to Osborne, 118; + attempted assassination of, 152; + threatened invasion of England, 158; + effect of Orsini attempt on, 161; + speech of, to Baron Hübner, 217; + prevarication, 220; + supposed tenderness of, 262; + letter of, to King of Sardinia, 273; + Congress proposed by, 277; + pamphlet of, on the Pope and the Congress, 283; + secret planning of Commercial Treaty, 288; + annexation of Savoy and Nice by, 296; + distrusted by Palmerston, 303 + + Nesselrode, letter to, from Lord Clarendon, i. 77; + pacific Note of, to Buol, 100; + anecdote of, 194; + Esterhazy's Note to, on Austrian proposal of peace, ii. 1 + + Newcastle, the Duke of, his ministerial capacity, i. 218, 219, 228; + defends himself in House against Lord J. Russell, 234 + + 'Newport,' the, case of, before Judicial Committee, ii. 145 + + Normanby, Rt. Hon. Marquis of, his 'Year of Revolution' taken up by + Lord Brougham, ii. 146; + book refuted, 147 + + + Olmutz, conference at, i. 92 + + Orloff, Count, mission of, to Vienna, i. 131; + his view of the war, at Paris, ii. 24 + + + Palmer, murderer of Cook, convicted, ii. 46 + + Palmerston, Rt. Hon. Viscount, popularity of, in the House of Commons, + i. 3; + position in the country, 15; + foreign opinion of, 15; + after Disraeli's Budget declines offer of the Admiralty, 21; + agrees to join the Government, Home Office, 23; + speech at Tiverton, 28; + hatred of Russia, 55; + more vigorous policy urged by, 74; + eager for war, 75; + friendly relations of, with Clarendon, 78; + attack of, on Cobden, 80; + courted by Tories, 82; + goes to Balmoral, 87; + views of, on declaration of war by Turkey, 93; + lauded by Radicals and Tories, 94; + anecdote of, told by the Queen, 106; + letter of, to Russell, denouncing reform, 107; + threatens to secede from Government, 110; + resigns on the Reform scheme, 111; + effects of resignation, 112; + conciliatory overtures to, 114; + withdraws resignation, 118; + urges the marriage of Prince Napoleon to Princess Mary of Cambridge, + 133; + opposes Lord J. Russell's Reform Bill, 141; + amidst divisions of Cabinet offers to resign, 152; + more in favour at Court, 220; + sent for by the Queen, forms a Government, 238; + list of his Ministry, 224; + his prospects, 240; + speech in House, 242; + difficulties of, in forming Government, 249; + and mistakes, 250; + bluster in the 'Morning Post,' 303; + stringent terms proposed by, against Russia, 304; + defends Sunday bands, ii. 46; + his failing strength, 85; + speech at Mansion House, 98; + popularity of, 99; + Tiverton address, 100; + his success in the House, 109; + his proposed Bill for dissolution of East India Company, 144; + his decreasing energy, 160; + resignation of, 162; + catastrophe unexpected, 166; + amendments on India Bill defeated, 202; + visits Compiègne with Lord Clarendon, 215; + forms second Administration, 253; + distrusts Napoleon, 303; + attack of, on Neapolitan Minister, 309 + + Palmerston, Lady, interview with, on resignation of her husband, i. 115 + + Parliament, meeting of (1854): + reception of the Queen, i. 286; + defence of Prince Albert by Lord J. Russell, i. 138; + specially summoned in December 1854, 202; + meeting of, after peace, ii. 11; + close of session, 51; + dissolved, 96; + meeting of, 106; + opening of, 139; + session opens, 287 + + Peelites, attitude of, on Queen's Speech, i. 6; + eagerness for office, 25; + refuse to join Lord Palmerston's Government, 237; + refuse to join Lord Derby, ii. 165 + + Peel, Sir Robert, lecture of, on the Czar's coronation, ii. 74 + + Peerage, the Wensleydale, debate on, ii. 14 + + Pelissier, Marshal, Ambassador at London, ii. 181 + + Portsmouth, grand naval review at, i. 80 + + Princess Royal, the marriage of, ii. 156 + + Protection, abandonment of, by Lord Derby, i. 7; + his speech thereon, 7 + + Prussia, King of, private letter of, to Emperor Nicolas, towards peace, + ii. 7; + quarrel of, with Switzerland, as to sovereign rights, 73 + + + Quarterly Review, the, article in, by Mr. Gladstone, ii. 190; + editor of, on Tory Reform Bill, 213 + + + Radical party, the, approve of Lord J. Russell's Reform Bill, and his + course, i. 143; + hatred of, against Lord Aberdeen, 169 + + Raglan, Lord, commander of forces at the Alma, i. 187; + Balaklava, 191; + anecdotes concerning, 192; + despatch of, on battle of Inkerman, 199; + annoyance of the Court at his failure, 223; + his death in Crimea, 267; + defence of, by Sir E. Lyons, ii. 38 + + Reeve, Henry, Mr., return of, from Constantinople, i. 103 + + Reform, Royal Commission on, i. 30 + + Roebuck, Mr. A., his motion for enquiry into Government conduct of war, + i. 231; + report of Sebastopol Committee, 259 + + Rogers, Mr. Samuel, the poet, death of, i. 307 + + Russell, Rt. Hon. Lord John, willing to serve under Lord Lansdowne, i. + 4; + answer of, to letter from Cobden, 4; + resolution to oppose Ballot, 5; + literary pursuits of, Moore and Fox's papers, 6; + leaves Foreign Office, 43; + Anti-Catholic speech of, 68; + resignation of Irish members thereon, 68; + position of, at Eastern crisis, 83; + desires to be Prime Minister, 96, 97; + obstacles in the way of, 98; + conference on question of resigning, 98; + scheme for Reform Bill, 104; + speech in defence of the Prince, 133; + introduces his Reform Bill, 138; + insists on his Reform Bill, 141; + difficulties in the way of, 142; + postpones the Bill, 143; + attacked by Disraeli on Reform question, 143-44; + withdraws his Reform Bill, 152; + attack on, by Disraeli, 162; + opposes abolition of Church Rates, 166; + convenes a meeting of his supporters, 170; + his views on the Ministry, 217; + his visit to Paris, 222; + resignation of, 229; + speech thereupon, 231; + speech against, by Mr. Gladstone, 232; + sent for by the Queen, fails to form a Government, 237; + goes to Vienna as Plenipotentiary, 241; + joins Palmerston's Government as Colonial Secretary, 246; + indiscreet revelations of Vienna Conference, 269; + resignation, 271; + estranged from his friends, 283, 285; + elected for London, ii. 101; + friendly tone towards Government, 140; + opposes Conspiracy Bill, 162; + makes overtures to Lord Granville, 182; + attacked by the 'Times' on India Bill, 186; + insists on taking Foreign Office under Palmerston, 256; + French opinion of, 272; + introduces his Reform Bill, 294; + speech of, against French alliance, 298; + effect of his speech on the French, 301; + correspondence with Lord Grey, 307; + withdrawal of his Reform Bill, 311 + + Russia, Emperor Nicolas of, impending war with, i. 64; + indignation against, 64; + difficulties of, in Eastern crisis, 70; + English and French fleets sail for Dardanelles, i. 69, 70; + hopes of peace with, 75; + war declared against, by Turkey, i. 93; + aims at forming Holy Alliance between himself, Austria, and Prussia, + 99; + defeated by Manteuffel, 100; + autograph letter of, to the Queen, 105; + Turkish fleet destroyed by, 111; + enormous preparations of, for war, 125; + asks for explanations from England, 130; + secret correspondence with, published, 149; + increased indignation of public against, 149; + war declared against, 149; + pretended acceptance of the 'Four Points,' 222; + death of, 248; + Emperor Alexander II. refuses terms of Vienna, 258; + fall of Sebastopol, 285; + ultimatum to, sent by Palmerston, 306; + accepts proposals of peace, ii. 7; + coronation of Czar at Moscow, 54 + + Rutland, Duke of, death of, ii. 76 + + + St. Arnaud, Marshal, reluctance of, to engage in battle of Alma, i. 188 + + Sardinia, Victor Emmanuel, King of, visit to Windsor with M. de Cavour, + i. 301; + his demands on the Allies, 302 + + Seebach, M. de, Saxon Minister in Paris, action of, as mediator, i. 313 + + Seymour, Sir Hamilton, delivery of Convention to Nesselrode, by, i. 77 + + Solferino, battle of, ii. 258 + + Stafford, Augustus, strictures of committee on, i. 62; + damaging to Lord Derby's Government, 63, 64; + his mission to Constantinople in aid of the wounded, 206, 207 + + Stanley, Lord, declines Lord Palmerston's offer of the Colonial + Secretaryship, i. 292; + succeeds Lord Ellenborough at the Board of Control, then takes + Secretaryship of State for India, ii. 211 + + Stratford, Lord, his policy at Constantinople, i. 80; + suspected by Lord Clarendon, 83; + hostility of Emperor of Russia against him, 88; + influence of, disputed by Baraguay d'Hilliers, 106; + his despatches praised, 136; + regarded as cause of war, 140; + clamour against, for neglect of General Williams, ii. 10 + + Sugden, Sir Edward, note upon, i. 19 + + + Tchernaya, battle of (1855), i. 283 + + Thouvenel, M., despatches of, _in re_ Savoy, ii. 296 + + 'Times,' the, opposes the India Bill, i. 52; + versatility of, on Eastern crisis, 174; + letter in, defending Prince Albert, 130; + on Lord J. Russell's position, 167; + on French reinforcements, 202; + attacks of, on Lord Raglan, 219; + 'runs amuck' against aristocratic element in society, 243; + hostility of, towards Palmerston Government, ii. 157; + letter of French Emperor to King of Sardinia published in, 274; + opposes French Commercial Treaty, 289; + on Lord John's Reform Bill, 297 + + + Victoria, H. M. the Queen's Speech, difficulties in composing, + dissensions, i. 6; + the Royal Family home life, 56-57; + goes to Ireland, 82; + comment of, on Lord Palmerston, 101; + reply of, to autograph letter from Emperor Nicolas, 105; + annoyance of, at attacks on the Prince, 131; + speech of, on opening of Parliament, sends for Lord Derby, 233; + for Palmerston, 238; + visit of, to Paris, 281; + pleased with the Emperor, 283; + friendship of, for the Orleans family, 286; + visit of, to Birmingham, ii. 202; + letter of, to the Prince of Wales, 213 + + + Wales, H.R.H. the Prince of, visit to Canada, ii. 272 + + Walewski, Count, presides at Congress, Paris, ii. 25 + + Wellington, Duke of, lying in state of, funeral of, i. 7; + Disraeli's pompous panegyric on, 9 + + Windham, General Charles, his gallant conduct at the Redan, i. 288; + letter from, _id._, 288; + his defeat at Cawnpore, ii. 50 + + Wortley, Rt. Hon. J. Stuart, appointed Solicitor-General, ii. 65 + + + THE END. + + + _Spottiswoode & Co. Printers, New-street Square, London._ + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Greville Memoirs (Third Part) +Volume II (of II), by Charles Cavendish Fulke Greville + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40681 *** |