MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER 
 
 AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY 
 
 BY THE RIGHT HON. THE 
 
 EAEL OF MALMESBURY, G.C.B. 
 
 NEW EDITION 
 
 LONDON 
 LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. 
 
 NEW YORK 
 SCRIBNER AND WELFORD 
 
 1885 
 
l\ 
 
MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER, 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 I TRUST that the readers of these Memoirs will not expect a 
 continuous narrative, but rather a macedoine of memoranda, 
 diary, and correspondence, recalling the social and political events 
 of a busy life of seventy- seven years. The subject-matter con- 
 tained in my private political letters appeared more than a quarter 
 of a century ago, in the Blue-books and newspapers of the day, 
 in a more official and less familiar style, but is in substance 
 the same as that which was at the time given to the public. My 
 principal object has been to sketch the three Administrations of 
 the late Earl of Derby, whose colleague I was, and also some inci- 
 dents respecting one of the most remarkable men of this century 
 namely, the Emperor Louis Napoleon, who, during all Lord 
 Derby's Governments, played so important a part in his policy 
 and the great game of Europe. I will only add that, of men, 
 events, and common things, I wrote as they appeared to me at the 
 time, and have altered nothing since they were noted. 
 
 I was born on March 25th, 1807, in Spring Gardens. My 
 mother, Lady Fitzharris, was at that moment at the mercy of 
 Lucina, and my father sitting alone in the next room, anxiously 
 waiting to be informed of the goddess's gift. A knock at the 
 door seemed to bring him the news ; but, instead of the -ZEscula- 
 pius, to his surprise a King's messenger walked in with a letter 
 from Mr. Canning, then Foreign Secretary, announcing my father's 
 appointment as Under Secretary at the Foreign Office. In a few 
 minutes my arrival into the world was proclaimed. 
 
 273141 
 
2 MEMOms'.OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1807 
 
 Sow:,. -I bdv-p, often thought ihat if Guy Mannering had been 
 present in Spring Gardens, as he was at Ellangowan, he would 
 have taken my horoscope, as he did for Lady Bertram's boy, and 
 found that the star of the Foreign Office was hovering over that 
 locality, destining the son, forty years after, to reign over the same 
 desks to which the father was appointed at the very moment of 
 his son's birth. More than this, that under so mysterious a co- 
 incidence and concatenation of circumstances, I could not avoid 
 my fate in 1852 and 1858-9, and whatever creditor blame I may 
 have acquired during my management of foreign affairs, it is 
 certain that the stars must be responsible for both. My father 
 did not long remain at his new post, as the insincerity of politics 
 was little suited to his susceptible feelings of morality and honour, 
 and he told me the chief reason of his resignation was the affair 
 in 1807, when we seized the Danish fleet to prevent Napoleon 
 from doing so. When this wise but high-handed measure was 
 determined upon, he had to keep the Danish Minister in London 
 ignorant of his intentions ; but as the poor man suspected them, 
 and was in the most nervous state, calling daily at the Foreign 
 Office, Mr. Canning used to refuse to see him, and handed him 
 over to my father, whose duty it was to conceal, and even to deny, 
 our designs. 
 
 This was not a role suited to his character, although an in 
 ;; sable policy. 
 
 All this time the great war with Napoleon was raging by sea 
 and land. Few are alive, now that I am seventy- seven years of 
 age, to have any idea of the excitement and resolution which 
 pervaded this country. The name of Bonaparte was till 181 5 the 
 bugbear of English mothers and nurses to rule their wayward 
 children. His name .was in every one's mind, and pronounced 
 with execration. The country resounded with the arms of volun- 
 teers, yeomanry, and militia. Every one of our naval successes 
 and Spanish victories saw the Union Jack hoisted on the tow^ers 
 of our churches, and the details, printed in our then scanty news- 
 papers, were read to shouting crowds in our market-places. No 
 wonder that such scenes made deep impression on the minds of 
 even very young boys, as they did on mine and my brother's. At 
 last, in 1814, when we were seven and six years old respectively, 
 
1814 KAVAL REVIEW. 3 
 
 the allied armies entered Paris, and N apoleoii was exiled to Elba, 
 On the 23rd of June of that year a grand naval review took place 
 at Spithead to celebrate the Peace, at which my father was obliged 
 to be present as Governor of the Isle of Wight, and to which he 
 went in his official yacht. Such a sight can never be forgotten, 
 however young the spectator may have been. 
 
 The Solent was literally covered with vessels of all descrip- 
 tions. Many men-of-war had been recalled from their stations at 
 the recent Peace, but had not yet been paid off. The allied 
 sovereigns stood on the quarter-deck of the ' Impregnable,' where 
 my father went to make his obeisance, taking us with him. The 
 Emperor Alexander, standing on the quarter-deck, overawed us 
 with his tall, stiff figure, and his tight leather breeches and jack- 
 boots, and we were glad to return on board the 'Medina' our 
 yacht. A great many naval officers boarded us, and I remember 
 that I was struck with the arrogant language and demeanour of 
 many of them natural, perhaps, after their services, a long 
 enjoyment of victory, and the despotic atmosphere of the quarter- 
 deck. These, however, were mostly young men. The uniform at 
 that time was very becoming blue, with white facings, epaulets, 
 and tight white pantaloons, with Hessian boots and gold tassels. 
 Of course they were all in full dress for this great naval festival. 
 
 The conversation of our visitors varied. Civilians and tax- 
 payers rejoiced at the prospect of a long-desired peace ; soldiers 
 and sailors grumbled at what they thought was the end of their 
 career, and of an active life, and loudly expressed themselves to 
 that effect. But all were in a fool's paradise ; for, six months 
 after that clay, ' the lion was unchained,' and within five days of 
 the anniversary of this gorgeous function, in the next year, the 
 two great captains of the age were engaged in their last and most 
 deadly struggle on the plain of Waterloo. 
 
 I remember being called up one morning in 1815 at Richmond 
 House, where we lived, to see the Life Guards and Blues march 
 for the war down Parliament Street, as they passed our windows 
 with laurel on their helmets and horses' heads, their wives and 
 sweethearts standing on their stirrups for a farewell kiss. It was 
 a grand and moving sight, and would have been still more so had 
 we known that not half of them were destined to return. 
 
 B2 
 
4 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MlNISTEfc. 1814 
 
 I mentioned my father's official yacht, the c Medina,' but she 
 deserves further notice. She was the connecting link between the 
 ships painted by Yandervelde and those which preceded ironclads. 
 She was built in William III.'s reign, and cutter- rigged ; her sides 
 were elaborately gilded. She was highest by the stern, with such 
 a deep waist forward as to endanger her going down head fore- 
 most if she shipped a heavy sea. She had very little beam, and 
 her complement consisted of Captain Love, R.N"., the master, and 
 twelve men. She measured 80 tons. 
 
 Such was the Governor of the Isle of Wight's yacht, in which, 
 as boys, we were taken to cruise in the safe waters of the Solent. 
 
 Commander Love ' seemed to have perpetual leave, and the 
 yacht was relegated to Mr. Butcher, the master, who always 
 looked like a sailor in a play, and was, indeed, little better, being 
 generally in a confused state of mind as to the course we were to 
 take or the direction of the wind. He was, however, well replaced 
 by the boatswain, an ' old salt.' The continual absence of Captain 
 Love was, I believe, caused by his not being a grata persona to the 
 ladies, so that Mr. Butcher had all the responsibility of sailing 
 the craft. This suddenly ceased, after the following occurrence, 
 when our father refused to let us sail any more, and the ' Medina ' 
 was abolished. 
 
 One day, the butler, who was acting as steward, rushed on 
 deck the picture of terror. ' My lord, the yacht has sprung a leak, 
 and water is flowing into the cabin.' Down the companion 
 plunged Mr. Butcher, and in a moment confirmed the news. 
 ' My lord, it is already over my shoes, and I must run her on 
 shore in Alum Bay, before she goes down.' 
 
 ' I don't believe it,' said my father. Mr. Butcher, as pale as 
 death, looks over the' side and replies, ' Don't your lordship see 
 she is settling fast ? ' ' No, I don't,' says my father. At this 
 critical moment the boatswain conies up with a grin, touching his 
 hat and choking with laughter ' Please, my lord, it's only the 
 cistern of the w.-c. that has got adrift.' So the 'Medina' was 
 not run ashore, but she was never sent to sea again, and Mr. 
 Butcher enjoyed his pension and his grog evermore in peace. 
 
 My childhood was passed chiefly at Heron Court, an old 
 manor house near Christclmrch, which, with a considerable pro- 
 
182,5 SMUGGLERS. O 
 
 perty, was left to my grandfather in 1795 by Mr. Edward Hooper, 
 the last of a very old Dorsetshire family. He had married Lady 
 Dorothy Ashley, whose sister was wife of Mr. Harris, my great- 
 great-grandfather. The house is Elizabethan, and was once the 
 residence of the Priors of Christchurch. The first Lord Malmes- 
 bury repaired and added to it. It has all the character of its 
 origin, standing low among very ancient elms, within a mile of 
 three rivers namely, the Stour, Avon, and Herne, now called 
 the Moors River, from its rising in the wilds of Cranbourne and 
 running through uninterrupted heaths. Their waters converge 
 in Christchurch Bay. All this district belonged, according to 
 Doomsday Book, to Tosti, King Harold's brother, and was be- 
 stowed by William the Conqueror on Hugo de Forth, one of his 
 Norman barons. During the long war with France this wild 
 country, which extended in an uncultivated state from Christ- 
 church to Poole, was the resort of smugglers upon a large scale. 
 The last Mr. Hooper was chairman of customs, and the late Lord 
 Shaftesbury, father of the noble philanthropist now living, told 
 me this anecdote, as characteristic of the times. About 1780 
 Lord Shaftesbury was sitting at dinner in the low hall at Heron 
 Court with his relation, the latter having his back to the window. 
 The road, which has since been turned, passed by the front door 
 of the house. Suddenly an immense clatter of waggons and 
 horses disturbed their meal, and six or seven of these, heavily 
 loaded with kegs, rushed past at full gallop. Lord Shaftesbury 
 jumped up to look at the sight, but the old squire sat still, refusing 
 to turn round, and eating his dinner complacently. Soon after a 
 detachment of cavalry arrived with their horses blown, and asking 
 which way the smugglers had gone. Nobody would tell them, 
 and no doubt they got safely into the New Forest. The smugglers 
 had dashed through two deep fords in the Stour close by, which 
 the soldiers had refused, and so lost their prey. These fords are 
 the same through which Sir Walter Tyrrell rode red-handed for 
 his life on his way to Poole after he had crossed the Avon at a 
 place which bears his name, Tyrrell's Ford. For many years the 
 Manor of Avon paid a fine annually to the Crown for not stopping 
 the regicide at the ford. At the beginning of the present century, 
 gtnd during the war, a great contraband trade was carried on. 
 
6 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1825 
 
 I myself, when, a small boy, had an adventure with these heroes. 
 I was bird-nesting in one of the copses in the park by myself 
 when a rough fellow seized me, and seeing I was frightened 
 was very civil, promising to let me go in an hour if I did not 
 resist. He kept his word, and made me swear I would not tell 
 of the incident. Although rated when I got home for my long 
 absence, I did not betray the man or his companions, whom I saw 
 in the wood hiding kegs of brandy, of which they insisted on 
 giving me a specimen. 
 
 In the worst period of the war, when gold was hardly to be 
 found, a tenant named King, who held a small farm by Craii- 
 bourne Heath, and who was in arrear, sent his little daughter 
 with the entire rent (100?.) in guineas and French louis-d'or to 
 my father. This way of paying in coin spoke for itself as to Mr, 
 King's habit of not accepting assigiiats. The following anecdote 
 I learnt from Dr. Quartley, who had practised for nearly fifty 
 years as a medical man at Christ church. He had not long been 
 in business there when he was awakened one night by a loud 
 thumping at his door. Opening his window, he could distinguish 
 two men muffled up in drab horseman's great-coats and with 
 heavy whips in their hands, with which they were knocking at 
 his door. On hearing the window opened they exclaimed, ' Come 
 doctor, be quick ! You are wanted ! ' Though he did not much 
 like the look of the thing, he thought it better to slip 011 his 
 clothes and go down to them. They told him they had a job for 
 him, and that he must get his horse out of the stable and come 
 along with them. After a little hesitation he obeyed their call, 
 and found himself, with a companion oil each side, trotting towards 
 the old bridge. When they reached it, they whistled and were 
 joined by two other horsemen. All proceeded in silence some 
 distance over the heath leading to the New Forest by Braiisgore. 
 At last they turned down a lane and came to a lone cottage, such 
 as are to be seen in these districts. ' There, doctor,' cried one of 
 his companions, breaking the long silence ' there is some work 
 for you ! Step in.' On entering he found extended 011 the floor a 
 fine young man in a sea-faring garb, who appeared to be suffering 
 severely. On inquiring he found that he had been wounded in 
 an affray with the custom-house officers, Dr, Quartley succeeded 
 
1825 SMUGGLERS. 7 
 
 in extracting a ball from his back, and when he had done this, 
 one of his quondam companions came in and asked him (Dr. 
 Quartley) what he thought of it. He answered that the wound 
 was dangerous, and that the young man must be kept quiet. 
 * Well, Tom ! ' said the other, ' willst thee stay here and be hanged, 
 or shall we tip thee into the cart V The wounded man preferred 
 the latter alternative to Dr. Quartley 's injunction, and two of 
 them took charge of him, and led him through a dark .night and. 
 in dead silence back to the old bridge, and there bidding him 
 farewell, cantered off. At the conclusion of the same winter he 
 was again awakened by a loud rap at his door, and in the morning 
 his maid brought in a keg of fine French brandy, which she had 
 found on his steps, and on which was written, ' Left there for the 
 doctor's fee.' Fifteen summers afterwards Dr. Quartley dined at 
 Mr. Mills's at Bisterne, and in the evening they went on the 
 Avon. In getting into the boat, Dr. Quartley observed that one 
 of the men who rowed it was particularly attentive to him, so 
 much so that he observed, * My man, you look as if I ought to 
 know you.' ' Know me ! please your honour ! I be he from 
 whose back you cut out a slug fifteen years ago. Don't you mind 
 on't ? ' He had been carried into the forest, where by the aid of 
 a good constitution he had recovered, and at the time of this 
 second meeting was working in Mr. Mills's garden. 
 
 The principal stronghold round which the smugglers operated 
 was the sea-shore and its hollow cliffs that run from Christchurch 
 Head to Poole, then a district of gorse and heath for ten miles, 
 with fir-woods above them. In this wild country black-game 
 were abundant, and in 1826 I shot an old blackcock on the very 
 spot where St. Peter's Church at Bournemouth now (1884) stands. 
 This waste was a favourite resort and breed ing- ground of the 
 Hen-harrier, a very destructive species of hawk. They built 
 their nests under the furze-bushes, and from these impenetrable 
 places used to issue forth and plunder the cultivated country 
 outside for many miles. There was only one way of finding their 
 nests, which our keeper adopted in the breeding season. When 
 he saw one crossing the valley to hunt the fields and carry off its 
 prey to the moors, he watched it till out of sight, and on the next 
 day posted himself at that point. The bird was sure to come 
 
8 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1825 
 
 along the same line, and again the man followed it as far as he 
 could see, and so again day by day for sometimes five miles, until 
 he arrived at the nest and shot the old birds. 
 
 The gamekeepers of my youth had much of the Mohican about 
 them, and had not degenerated into poultry-wives by rearing 
 thousands of tame pheasants to be shot by their masters like 
 pigeons at Hurlingham. The well-known sportsman Grantley 
 Berkeley used to declare that when he engaged a gamekeeper the 
 first thing he did was to look at the knees of his breeches to see 
 if he trapped vermin, &c., and if they were clean he declined 
 taking him, however good his character might be all questions 
 as to rough readiness being answered by this test. 
 
 The wild heath which I describe is no more, and its rapid 
 metamorphosis into Bournemouth is certainly a wonder of civi- 
 lisation. In 1830 there were not more than half a dozen houses 
 and cottages where now one of our largest and most fashionable 
 seaside places stands, with all the usual accompaniments of 
 clergymen, doctors, lawyers, and the inevitable M.P. of Radical 
 proclivities. It has already eight churches, each congregation 
 dogmatically pitying the theological laches of the other. I must 
 mention that no part of England affords better opportunities of 
 observing natural history than this district of Hampshire. The 
 Avon and Stour salmon are famous ; and these rivers contain 
 large pike, perch, trout, grayling, chub, tench, and crawfish. 
 Every variety of British bird even the rarest is in the small 
 museum at Heron Court, all having been killed within five miles 
 of my house. The songsters abound in our woods, whilst every 
 sort of wild-fowl, from the Hooper to the Teal, frequents our 
 three rivers and the ponds on the heaths. Several eagles have 
 been shot here within my memory, and a lesser bustard (a very 
 rare bird) was killed by Lord Palmerston. 
 
 The moors are famous for exceptional butterflies and other 
 insects, and used to be the favourite hunting grounds of the cele- 
 brated entomologist, Curtis, whose book abounds in references to 
 Heron Court. 
 
 ^ n tn ' "*' "* J iv u barrows, of which I have opened 
 
 three. I ^^c/te^erfectly preserved 
 
 in slices onp . '^ u vel the body 
 
1825 HERON COURT. 
 
 was clearly delineated in black bone-dust. In the second the ashes 
 were in a vase of unbaked pottery, and in the third there was only 
 a beautiful twisted bracelet of solid gold. 
 
 Many of these mounds have never yet been opened. 
 
 It was in this, at that time very wild country, that, as boys, 
 we disported ourselves and imbibed an eternal affection for it and 
 its traditions. My father lived at Heron Court for ten months 
 out of the twelve, inconsolable at the death of our mother, which 
 happened in 1815, at the age of thirty-two, and for twenty-six 
 years during which he survived her he mourned her with the same 
 sorrow. Until his own death in 1841 not a plant in her garden 
 or a trinket in her boudoir was ever moved or changed. 
 
 When in the country during the game season he hardly ever 
 missed a day's shooting, and kept a journal of his sport with a 
 column of every shot killed and missed during forty years. This 
 curious book I showed to Lord Beaconsfield, who was extremely 
 struck with it, declaring it to be the most extraordinary example 
 of patience and a sturdy character he ever saw. With all this 
 devotion to sport he read everything, ancient and modern ; and, 
 having lived with clever men and in anxious times, during the 
 early part of this century, his conversation was most amusing and 
 instructive. Although a Tory of the purest school, and of un- 
 bending politics, he was in private life most generous and liberal 
 in all his sentiments ; but he had seen his country borne through 
 all its difficulties, and in its darkest hours, by the proud aristocracy 
 which then governed it, and which the repeated successes of Napo- 
 leon never discouraged when the heart of all Europe failed, and he 
 dreaded, like many others, to change this Constitution of England 
 for a democracy which, more fickle and less enduring in its nature, 
 after bravely resisting misfortune at first, would sooner yield to 
 disappointment and disaster. When, therefore, fifteen years 
 after the war, the great Reform Bill of 1832 passed, he helped to 
 resist it by his vote to the last. When I used to hear all around 
 me denunciations and prophecies against it, I little thought that, 
 thirty years later, I should be taking the initiative, as a Cabinet 
 Minister, in framing another reform of the franchise, far more 
 democratic than the first, and of which Lord Derby confessed, 
 when he proposed it in 1867, that it was a. ' leap in the dark/ j 
 
10 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1813 
 
 Long, however, before these events took place my brother and 
 I, being respectively eight and seven years old, were sent to a 
 private school at Wimborne, under the Rev. Mr. Bowie, one of 
 the three incumbents who served the ancient minster. There 
 were sixteen boys, all out of Hants and Dorset ; not one of these 
 knew a word of French, for that language had been banished 
 during the long war, and was considered by the squires, of the 
 day .as almost treason. The previous -generation, .had spoken it, 
 but it seemed to have died out in England with them. As it 
 was the first tongue which we were taught, I believe we had a 
 decided French accent when we went to school, and this was 
 visited upon us accordingly in the shape both of verbal and personal 
 persecution by our school-fellows. Another indictment attended 
 with punishment was served against us namely, that our father 
 killed foxes. We were therefore called ' vulpecides,' without 
 knowing what the term meant, but which we soon learnt from 
 the lickings we got from the boys whose parents kept hounds. 
 It was useless to protest that we lived in a country which never 
 had been and could not be hunted, owing to its many rivers, and 
 in which a fox-hound had never been seen. At last we agreed 
 that the next time the most offensive of our tyrant squires 
 attacked one of us we would both fall on him at once, and not- 
 withstanding his superior size, do our best. 
 
 The event came off as we hoped, and, contrary to our expecta- 
 tion, the others, although they had joined in the bullying, took 
 our part.. --Such is the nature of an English school, which, what- 
 ever its faults may be, teaches a man to keep his head with his 
 own hand. We were three years at Wimborne, learning nothing 
 but Latin and Greek grammar and coming home twice a year for 
 our holidays. My mother was dead, and my father never came 
 to see us, as he though* it disturbed our studies such studies ! 
 Lord Malmesbury, our grandfather, sometimes did so, and when 
 his visit occurred it caused great sensation in the house, as seventy 
 years ago an old earl would not on any account have driven to an 
 important country town without four horses to his carriage and 
 his star on his coat. I remember that one of these calls saved me 
 at the very moment of impending execution. 
 
 The old clergyman and his wife were kind and popular, 
 
1820 HERON COURT. 11 
 
 although he administered, in some degree with justice, corporal 
 punishment, which, as applied to knowledge, always seems to me 
 imparting it at the wrong end of a boy. Mr. Bowie was an. 
 eccentric man, and a strict observer of saints' days and dates, 
 which gave us and himself more half holidays than were necessary. 
 On this principle, bein^ fond of his garden, he never would plant 
 his tulips except on Good Friday, which, being a movable fast, 
 made them come up at the most various periods of the spring. 
 The dates of the deaths of General Wolfe and Nelson claimed ail 
 annual holiday, and we used to search Moore's Almanack for 
 obituaries of great men. Mr. Bowie quieted his conscience and 
 condoned his own idleness by saying that these researches taught 
 us history. We left Wimborne after three years, and when, in 
 1852, I was made Secretary for Foreign Affairs, I presented the 
 old minster with a window as a votive offering of thanks for 
 whatever Mr. Bowie's school might have contributed to this 
 success. 
 
 We then remained at Heron Court under a private tutor till 
 we were sent to Eton in 1820, the same gentleman accompanying 
 us. Mr. Cooke had taken a first-class at Oxford, and was a young- 
 man. I owe him a great deal of instruction on many subjects. 
 He was an excellent classical scholar, but I think his great merit 
 was to make his pupils love general information and art in all its 
 branches namely, painting, architecture, natural history, and 
 geology. Everything amused and interested him, and he com- 
 municated his feelings to his pupils. 
 
 I have said that the country round Heron Court opened a 
 good field for natural history, but for geology it was equally good. 
 The east cliffs of Christchurch Bay possess in their recesses the 
 best specimens of the fossils of the blue London clay, both of 
 shells and of the Saurians' bones, and Mr. Cooke inspired us 
 with a real enthusiasm for finding and forming a complete collec- 
 tion of these. Since that time the cliffs have crumbled away and 
 the sea has gained. The stratum of clay has dipped too deeply to 
 find them, but at that period they could be gathered near the 
 surface. A Mr. Brander, who lived in the neighbourhood, had in 
 the last century made a perfect collection from these cliffs, and 
 presented it to the British Museum, having engraved each speci- 
 
12 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1820 
 
 men in such a beautiful volume that it is now one of the rare 
 prizes of bibliophiles. This collection was extant at the British 
 Museum thirty years ago, when I saw it there, but I cannot find 
 it there now. 
 
 Christchurch, till the Reform Bill of 1832, was a close 
 borough, but the fourteen burgesses, who were the electors of two 
 members, were bought by Sir George Rose, Mr. Pitt's Lord of the 
 Treasury, he and his son sitting for it till the Reform Bill of 1832 
 expelled them. Christchurch has produced two distinguished 
 men namely, Field- Marshal Lord Strathnairn and Admiral 
 Lord Lyons. It has never been a thriving town in comparison 
 with others which have the advantage of a direct railway to 
 London. These quiet places appear sometimes as if their great 
 age prevented any further growth, and as if, at Christchurch, its 
 old castle and grand old church would not permit the invasion of 
 modern things, or of what is called ' progress.' Bournemouth, only 
 four miles off, has monopolised these, and allows its placid neigh- 
 bour to enjoy the dolce far niente. 
 
 My brother Edward and I went to Eton in 1821, and were 
 put in the ' Remove.' There were at that time six hundred boys 
 at the college. Mr. Cooke accompanied us, and we were the only 
 boys who brought a private tutor, except the Duke of Buccleuch, 
 Lord John Scott, and the sons of the Duke of Wellington. It is 
 a bad plan, as these gentlemen always help their pupils, and 
 thereby give a false measure of their capacity. I was fag to 
 Trench, brother of the subsequent Archbishop of Dublin, a very 
 good-natured boy. We boarded at a dame's, Miss Middleton. I 
 took to boating in preference to cricket, and used to steal out 
 early in the morning to shoot moor-hens up the river, borrowing 
 an old flint honey-combed gun from a cad named Hall. On one 
 of these occasions, in climbing over the spikes of our garden wall, 
 I slipped and was impaled by the arm till my shouts brought 
 assistance, and the pain I suffered long afterwards was allowed by 
 the authorities to be sufficient punishment. 
 
 There were several pitched battles in my day, in one of which, 
 young Ashley, 1 a most gallant boy, was killed. A very desperate 
 
 I A son of IjOrd Shaftesbuiy, 
 
1820 ETON, 13 
 
 one occurred between a big boy of sixteen, named Kemp, and 
 Yea, much smaller and younger, which the latter won by sheer 
 pluck, a quality he long afterwards displayed in the Crimean war, 
 where he commanded the 7th Fusiliers, and fell at the storming 
 of the Redan. He was head of one of the oldest families in 
 Somerset, and, I believe, last of his race. The Windsor and 
 Slough coaches used to stop under the playing-field wall to see 
 these duels. My college tutor was Ben Drury, a clever man and 
 great scholar, but wild in his habits and a thorn in the side of the 
 immortal Dr. Keate. He presided over the ' Remove,' and we 
 often found we had a holiday on Monday morning, as the head- 
 ache which he had contracted in London the previous day confined 
 him to his bed. He made beautiful Latin verses, and drove four- 
 in-hand better than any whip between Windsor and London. 
 The trial of Queen Caroline was going on, and the boys all took a 
 strong part for George IV. why, I never understood and, the 
 townsmen siding for the Queen, there were constant riots and 
 free fights between the two parties of ' town and gown.' My 
 grandfather, Lord Malmesbury, died in 1821, aged seventy-five, 
 and next year I lost the companionship of my brother, who went 
 to the Naval College of Portsmouth, and afterwards to sea. 1 In. 
 1852 I appointed him to the Consulship of Copenhagen, and then 
 as Charge d' Affaires in Chili. During our winter holidays my 
 father used to send us to Wilton and Bowood. He was guardian 
 to Lord Pembroke's children, and we, having no sisters, enjoyed 
 our visits there greatly with the daughters of the house, who 
 were charming children. At Bowood we met Mr. Stanley, after- 
 wards Lord Derby, and Prime Minister, then quite young, but 
 looked up to by the Whigs as full of promise. 
 
 Lord Lansdowne, 2 one of their leaders, and a very distinguished 
 one, was the type of an accomplished gentleman. We always 
 found Tom Moore, the poet, at Bowood, who used to sing his own 
 verses with taste and spirit. He was the smallest man I ever 
 saw. I recollect that Lord Lansdowne and Mr. Stanley then 
 
 1 He was afterwards M.P. for Christchurch and H.M, Minister at Berne and 
 tlie Hague. 
 
 a The Marquis of Lnnsdowne died in. 18G5, 
 
14 MEMOIRS OP AN EX-MINISTER. i82o 
 
 wore the old Whig dress, a blue coat with brass buttons, and a 
 buff waistcoat. 
 
 Buff and blue 
 
 And Mrs. Crewe, 
 
 was the refrain of the party in the days of Fox. 
 
 I left Eton with great regret in 1823, to remain at Heron 
 Court under Mr. Cooke until I went to Oriel College, Oxford, in 
 1825, Coplestone, afterwards Bishop of Llandaff, was Provost ; 
 Tyler Dean, Dornford who had served in the Peninsular War 
 and Newman, tutors. Of this last celebrated writer and con- 
 troversialist, now a cardinal, no one at that time would have pre- 
 dicted the future career. He used to allow his class to torment 
 him ; every kind of mischievous trick was, to our shame, played 
 upon him such as cutting his bell- wire, and at lectures making the 
 table advance gradually till he was jammed into a corner. He 
 remained quite impassive. I once saw him nearly driven from 
 Coplestone's table, when the Provost, who was an epicure, rudely 
 upbraided him for what he called ' mutilating ' a fine haunch of 
 venison, and shouting out, ' Mr. Newman, you are unconscious of 
 the mischief you have done.' At Oriel, the undergraduates who 
 in after-life came more or less to the front, and were my con- 
 temporaries, were Samuel Wilberforce, as Bishop of Winchester ; 
 Sir Edmund Head, as governor of Canada ; Welby, M.P. for 
 Grantham ; H. Wise, for Warwickshire ; Holford, for Gloucester- 
 shire ; Parker, for Devon. It was, on the whole, a quiet college. 
 Welby, Lord E. Thynne and I kept a scratch pack to run a 
 bagged fox after lectures, as hunting with regular hounds was 
 forbidden. Ours were called the ' Gazington,' and were hunted 
 by a rascal named Butler, who was hanged a few years after 
 for stealing a horse. 
 
 I took my degree as early as I could in 1827, and afterwards 
 paid some visits in the country, such as to Newby Park (Lord 
 Grantham's), and Chillingham, Lord Tankerville's castle in' 
 Northumberland. The latter is one of the oldest inhabited in 
 England, and famous for its breed of wild cattle, the date of whose 
 location in this part is unknown ; but the park itself, which is 
 1,500 acres, was walled in during the reign of King John, and 
 they were probably enclosed in it at that date. Lady Tankerville 
 
1S28 HOLLAND. 15 
 
 was Mdlle. cle Cramont ; was sent over to England to escape the 
 Reign, of Terror, and was received and brought up by the Duchess 
 of Devonshire. She was a beautiful woman, and ruled the world 
 of fashion, together with Lady Jersey and Lady Palmerston, for 
 many years, all three of these remarkable women having lived to 
 above eighty. Count d'Orsay 1 was the last of the dandies as a 
 ruler of men I speak, of course, of young men. He was not 
 only remarkable for his presence, but for his wit and conversation, 
 which gained salt from his foreign accent, and also for some talent 
 in painting and modelling. He made two excellent portraits of 
 the Duke of Wellington and Lord Lyndhurst, both of whom sat 
 to him. He lived at Lady Blessing-ton's, at Kensington Gore, 
 which was an agreeable house for men, although not visited by 
 Englishwomen ; and there I often met the Bulwers, Disraeli, 
 Dickens, and last, not least, Prince Louis Napoleon, during his 
 exile, after his escape from Ham, where he was imprisoned for his 
 unsuccessful attempt at Boulogne. 
 
 On June 1, 1828, Montague Parker (who had been with me 
 at Eton and Oxford) and I left England in a Rotterdam packet, 
 accompanied by a soi-disant courier, an old Swiss servant of my 
 uncle, the Rev. A. Harris, and who soon reversed our respective 
 positions, inasmuch as we had to take care of him. We arrived 
 at Amsterdam, and thence went to the Hague, where Sir Charles 
 and Lady Bagot represented our King, George IV. 
 
 Here I was much impressed by an example of the marvellous 
 constitution of Dutch women. Being invited to dinner by Sir 
 Charles on the day following our arrival, it happened that we 
 found our white evening waistcoats, which were at that period in- 
 dispensable articles, so much rumpled by our journey as to be use- 
 less. The pseudo-courier came, as pale as a sheet, to say that 
 ' un grand malheur lui etait arrive, et que la blanchisseuse qui 
 avait les gilets venait d'accoucher.' There was nothing for it but 
 to submit, and to appear at the Ambassador's in dowdy clothes ; 
 but what was our relief and surprise, when the hour arrived, to 
 see the young mother herself walk into our room with the gar- 
 
 1 Count (TOrsay's sister had married Lady Tankerville's brother, the Due de 
 CraTnont, 
 
16 . MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER* 1828 
 
 merits, apparently as well as if nothing had happened to her, 
 although her baby was only twelve hours old ! 
 
 We travelled all through Holland, a country totally unlike 
 any other, and well worth knowing in its belle laideur. We then 
 posted up the Rhine, full of Byron, with whose poetry all Europe 
 was then mad, and who was spoken of as the personification, of 
 Satan in sin and beauty. We proceeded up the Rhine by steam, 
 through Switzerland to Geneva, which in 1828 wore a very differ- 
 ent aspect from its present one. The luxurious hotels of later 
 times were not thought of ; and the best, but a very old-fashioned 
 one, the ' Balances,' received us. It is the same in which Casa- 
 nova's romance with his Heiiriette took place, and they showed 
 the pane of glass, which he mentions, on which he had cut her name 
 with his ring. At the table-d'hote there were several of Napo- 
 leon's old officers, with their usual swagger. Our gallant Colonel 
 Brotherton was also there. He was known in the Peninsular war 
 as a sabreur, and for his personal courage, and he spoke French 
 like a native. One day at dinner the eternal subject of Waterloo 
 was discussed by various officers, and, as usual, with great heat 
 by the French. Brotherton sat silent and took no part. Sud- 
 denly a Frenchman, not a soldier, asked him, as he had been at 
 the battle, why he did not give an opinion. Brotherton replied 
 coolly, ' Je suis venu ici, monsieur, pour diner, et pas pour discuter. 1 
 The foreigner proceeded to sneer at Brotherton, who still con- 
 tinued quiet till the Frenchman called him a coward. Then the 
 colonel jumped up, and, breaking up his wooden chair like a stick, 
 shook the leg in his face. I shall never forget the rapid retreat 
 of the aggressor. All the table cheered Brotherton, and chiefly 
 an old General Rouget, well known in the Peninsular war, who 
 weighed twenty stone and yet had never been hit. The disturber 
 of our dinner turned out to be a hell-keeper from Aix. 
 
 General Sir William Gallwey had a villa near, at Chatelaine, 
 lis wife, Lady Harriet, nee Quin, with two pretty and clever 
 
 Jiters, contributed during three months to the delights of a 
 fine summer. The youngest of these married the Comte cle Bon- 
 neval, the other died unmarried at an advanced age, and for the 
 last years of her life her little house in Belgravia was the resort 
 of many clever men and politicians. She herself was one of the 
 
1828 GENEVA. 17 
 
 best-read and most sensible women I ever met, an excellent artist, 
 and with a great appreciation of agreeable society. 
 
 My enjoyment of Geneva was suddenly arrested by an acci- 
 dent which nearly proved fatal. Parker and I had taken a house 
 at Paquis, a mile out of the town, next to Captain Moseley, who 
 was a great swordsman, and with whom I took lessons in fencing 
 from a M. Marcelin. One day, as the latter stopped me in a rush, 
 his foil broke short off, and ran into my armpit at the ' defaut du 
 plastron/ and through the right lung. My impression was that 
 Moseley, who was standing behind me, had given me a blow in 
 jest ; and, as I turned to remonstrate, the blood flowed from my 
 mouth, and I fell. Marcelin sucked the wound in vain, as I bled 
 internally. Dr. Jenks, 1 ex-surgeon of the 10th Hussars, pro- 
 nounced the case to be probably fatal, but when M. Major, an old 
 practitioner of Napoleon's army, was called in, he bled me till I 
 fainted, saying, ' 11 n'a que 21 ans ; il faut le saigner blanc.' In 
 a few days I was out of danger, but it was reckoned by all the 
 surgeons a miraculous escape, the diaphragm being pierced. The 
 spasms which I suffered were very painful, but I never thought I 
 was dying, although I heard Major, who believed me insensible, say 
 so in the common but unwritable language of the 'Corps de Garde.' 
 Parker had gone on a tour, and I owe my life to Moseley, who 
 hardly ever left me, night or day, until I was safe. One evening 
 lie had gone to dine at his uncle's, Sir William Gallwey, and I was 
 left alone, with the family courier and a garde-malade. The 
 weather was hot, their room was next to mine, and the door open ; 
 they were drinking and talking loud, and I heard them counting 
 my clothes and uniforms, and speculating how much they would get 
 for them when I was dead. At last their conversation appeared 
 to me to be getting dangerous as the potations increased, and, 
 being perfectly helpless, I was quite prepared to feel a thumb on 
 my throat, when, to my relief, I heard Moseley come up the stairs. 
 Ho found these worthies drunk in the midst of my scattered 
 wardrobe. In a moment he had hurled them both downstairs 
 into the street, and tended me all night, and until I got a nurse. 
 
 We little know one another, and if, reader, you had asked 
 
 1 I found Dr. Jenks fifty-three years after at Bath, aged ninety-two, with the 
 diagnosis of my case, which he had kept. 
 
 C 
 
18 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1829 
 
 anyone in London the character of Captain Moseley, of the Life 
 Guards, you would have been told that he was the most selfish and 
 unfeeling of dandies ; and yet, when this man found me deserted 
 and in danger of death, no mother could have been more attentive 
 and tender. Two years later the poor fellow committed suicide 
 in a fit of brain, fever, for the very want of that attendance which 
 he had given me. 
 
 In October we all three went to Italy over the Simplon, by 
 the then new road, and descended upon Milan. The Napoleonic 
 events were then comparatively recent, and in proportion import- 
 ant and interesting. Thence to Venice, which was in the hands 
 of Austria, and, like the whole north of Italy, seething with 
 hatred of the Tedesco and of the Papal power. The Carbonari 
 were very active, and among the most so were the brothers 
 Bonaparte (sons of Louis), Pepoli, General Pepe, Prince Belgiojoso, 
 and the Princess. These were the entourage of Queen Hortense, 
 who had an agreeable house at Rome. Conspiracy was universal, 
 and the severities of the governments were in proportion. England 
 was at that moment under the Duke of Wellington, a Tory 
 Government, and consequently Englishmen were in great favour 
 with the despotic rulers of Italy, and could do anything with im- 
 punity. The Catholic question had not been settled, and the 
 Heform Bill not yet heard of. The Whigs had been out of office 
 for nearly twenty years, and at that time the liberation of Italy 
 from a foreign yoke seemed impossible, those who spoke of it being 
 looked upon as fanatics. The French Revolution of 1830 took 
 place two years after, changing everything, and showing that all 
 was feasible, although it was only a beginning of the ' letting in of 
 waters.' At Florence we found Lord Burghersh as Minister, a 
 most pleasant and hospitable one. He was a fanatic for music, 
 and had composed several operas. Lord Norm anby was there also, 
 and both being fond of a theatre, Lord Burghersh had one at which 
 we acted, and to which all the beau monde came. Nothing could 
 be gayer than Florence at this time ; parties and balls every 
 night ; many English girls travelling with their parents, and con- 
 sequently a great deal of match-making. Lady Burghersh gave 
 some very agreeable suppers. She painted with more than 
 common talent. Of course I was constantly in the great galleries, 
 
182D FLORENCE. 19 
 
 the Umzzi and Pitti Palaces. The picture I admired the most in 
 all Florence was the portrait of Cardinal Bentivoglio, at the 
 latter, by Vandyke, and that of the Fornarina the least. I cannot 
 believe that this portrait was either Raphael's work or Raphael's 
 mistress. Parker and I went on to Rome, which, by its first 
 appearance, disappointed us. I found there the Cadogans, Ken- 
 mares, Lord Wriothesley Russell, Henry Fitzroy, Mrs. and Miss 
 Villiers, a very clever girl ; she afterwards married Mr. Lister, 
 and en secondes noces, Sir George Cornewall Lewis. She was sister 
 to Lord Clarendon, our eminent Secretary for Foreign Affairs. 
 There was a great deal of dining out and some balls. Having just 
 come from England, where George IY. made black satin cravats, 
 then called ' waterfalls,' de rigueur at his Court, I went to M. de 
 Chateaubriand's (the French Ambassador's) party in one of these, 
 and was desired to change it for a white one. Other Englishmen 
 who had done the same were very angry, and refused, believing 
 that our King was infallible on subjects of dress, and he had de- 
 clared that a man in a white neckcloth must be a dentist. There 
 was a great deal of gambling at Rome amongst the English and 
 other foreigners, and, as it was principally at ecarte, a great deal 
 of cheating. One constant player and winner was a Frenchman, 
 who called himself Colonel Youtier, of the 'Liberating Greek 
 Army.' He was the ugliest man I ever saw, perfectly disfigured 
 by the smallpox, and yet with so clever and intellectual a face 
 that he was known to have had more bonnes fortunes than any- 
 body. Nor did his expression belie him, for his conversation was 
 remarkable for its ease and variety. He was much patronised by 
 the Reine Hortense and her son Louis. He won a great deal of 
 English money, Fitzroy being a heavy sufferer. The most 
 beautiful Italian at Rome was a Mrs. Doclwell, so famed for 
 her charms, that a stranger, being asked why he came to Rome, 
 answered, ' Sono venuto a Roma per veder tre bellissime cose : San 
 Pietro, il Yaticano, e la Signora Dodwell.' 
 
 She afterwards assisted Pope Pius IX. to escape from his 
 enemies at Rome, by disguising him and herself as servants. 
 
 At the end of December 1828 there was a hard frost, and, 
 'hearing that good shooting was to be had, we made a party con- 
 sisting of Henry Fitzroy, Lord Albert Conyngham, Montague 
 
 c2 
 
20 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1829 
 
 Parker, and myself, to go to Tor Tre Ponti, a miserable inn on 
 the road to Naples. The building was a post-house, with only one 
 habitable room and one bed for travellers, the rest being occupied 
 by the Pope's soldiers, half dead with ague. We had brought 
 plenty of provisions and our couriers, and were soon encouraged 
 to remain by the thousands of wild fowl, chiefly wild geese, which 
 flew in and out of the marshes close over the trees of the causeway. 
 We tossed up for the only bed for the first night, and I won the 
 toss. After dinner we sat down to ecarte Parker and I against 
 the other two, II. the game, and odds bet after the first deal. At 
 twelve o'clock I went to bed, leaving my hand to Parker, and at 
 dawn I found he had won 250Z. for me. The geese began coming 
 over the road in long strings, close to the trees, and we killed a 
 great many at first ; but it was curious to see how, after two days, 
 they measured their distance more and more, until they were out 
 of shot in crossing the road. We bagged above sixty in this way, 
 and afterwards I got several by stalking them with an old post- 
 horse. We also killed a great many wild duck, gadwells, and 
 snipe by walking through the marshes. In the mountains above 
 the road, which were covered with brushwood, woodcocks were 
 numerous ; but we had no beaters except the soldiers, who acted 
 as gillies each on the intermittent day of his fever. One of us 
 peppered the sergeant, who, though not hurt, was delighted to 
 report himself in danger, and so was sent away from this pesti- 
 lential post. Our couriers, who stayed at home in the house, had 
 a touch of the ague ; but we remained perfectly well for a week, 
 which I attribute to our having been occupied and amused. We 
 then returned to Rome. Two years after, Sir Andrew Barnard, 
 who was discharging Lord Albert's play debts, called on me in 
 London, and paid me the 250. which I had won during my sleep. 
 We were all too poor a-t the post-house to play for ready money. 
 
 One night I was at a ball given by the Austrian Ambassador, 
 and was much struck by a lady quite unlike the Italian women 
 who were there, as she had a profusion of auburn hair, which she 
 wore in wavy and massive curls. Her face was handsome, with 
 a brilliant complexion and blue eyes, and full of animation, show- 
 ing splendid teeth when she laughed, which she was doing heartily 
 at the time I remarked her. When she rose from her chair I saw 
 
1829 A HtmRICANtf, 21 
 
 she was of small stature, although with perfect shoulders, and a 
 bust made for a much taller woman. It is generally the defect in 
 the figures of Italian women to have legs too short in proportion 
 to their robust frames, thus sacrificing grace to strength. I was 
 told that this was the Countess Guiccioli, of Byronic memory, 
 and that she was very fond of the English, and courted their 
 acquaintance ; so I was introduced to her, and was very kindly 
 received. Byron had been dead only five years, and she was then 
 twenty-six. We became great friends, and I found her a charm- 
 ing companion, with a cultivated mind, yet with all the natural 
 bonhomie of her race, and fond of fun. She had got over her 
 grief (which I heard was very violent at first) for the loss of her 
 poet, and she liked to talk of him and his eccentricities, but was 
 very proud of her conquest. 
 
 As a matter of course I went from Rome to Naples in Febru- 
 ary 1829, and after a few days, hearing that two brigari tines were 
 to sail for Palermo, I took my passage in the one which appeared 
 the best, and sent my courier (Picconi) * and the luggage on board. 
 Just as we were getting under way, a police-boat boarded us, and 
 arrested the captain in the King's name. As it was most prob- 
 able that under the rule of King Bomba he might be detained for 
 months or years, I ordered Picconi to take my things to the other 
 vessel, whilst I followed. Shortly after the prisoner was released 
 and returned, when a row, such as only an Italian can make, 
 took place. I refused, however, to go back to his ship, and both 
 vessels sailed that night together. After a tremendous storm, 
 which came on next day, we eventually reached Palermo safely, 
 with the loss of our foremast our companion never was heard of 
 again. Thus did Bomba save my life. Many years after I gave 
 him a great deal of trouble in politics. Such is the kaleidoscope 
 of our wayward and incomprehensible destinies. 
 
 Many vessels perished in this storm, which affected the whole 
 Mediterranean. H.M. seventy-four, the ' Revenge/ lying at 
 Naples, was forced to put to sea. In our brigantine were people 
 of all nations Jews, Armenians, French, Germans, Turks and 
 I never can forget the tumult below when we were battened down, 
 
 1 Picconi had been Maitre-d'armes in Xapoleon's Old Guard, and took part in 
 his nephew's expedition to Boulogne, being a devoted Bonapartist. 
 
22 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1829 
 
 and the foremast fell with a crash louder than the gale. The 
 Genoese captain behaved very well, and never left the helm, to 
 which he was lashed after he had locked up the spirit-room. The 
 effect of fear varied in this medley of nations. Some seemed par- 
 alysed, some prayed silently and some aloud, but the Turks showed 
 the most placid courage of all. I was afterwards amused at 
 Picconi, my courier, who had been in the Imperial Guard, abusing 
 a poor old woman of eighty, who was distracted, by pointing me 
 out as likely to be drowned at twenty-two, which was a much 
 harder fate than hers, as she had had a long life. I shall always 
 remember my feeling of gratitude and pleasure when we were all 
 let loose from below hatches, and rushed on deck to see the glori- 
 ous Bay of Palermo under our lee, and the thunder- clouds rolling 
 away before the morning sun. We rigged a jury foremast, and 
 sailed into port. 
 
 Mr. Hill was our Minister at Naples when we returned, a bon 
 vivant and very hospitable. I dined there nearly every day, and 
 remained at Naples in an hotel at Santa Lucia the whole summer. 
 I never found the heat oppressive, as exactly at 10 A.M. the sea- 
 breeze entered my room, and the nights were delicious. Parties 
 were made to sup by moon-light at the trattorie, to eat the frutti 
 di mare, which include all shell-fish. The Duchesse d'Eboli, 
 Countesses Guiccioli and Trecasi, were often my guests, with 
 Counts Gamba and Spiiiola, young men. 
 
 The police of Naples were even more actively troublesome 
 than at Milan and Rome. One day Gamba, Madame Guiccioli, 
 and I made the ascent of Vesuvius on foot, leaving the carriage 
 at the bottom, and in it a sword-stick of mine. During our 
 absence it was discovered by one of the guides who descended the 
 mountain, and who informed the brigadier of the gendarmes of the 
 fact. On my reaching the town below we were all arrested. We 
 asked to see the brigadier, but was told he was gone to bed and 
 that we must be locked up all night. I stormed in vain for some 
 time, till at last I convinced them I was English, and I was ad- 
 mitted, and found the gallant officer very drunk and in a very dirty 
 shirt. He told us a long story of conspiracies, &c., but eventually, 
 on giving him a napoleon, he let us depart. Such were Bomba's 
 officials of all classes. 
 
1820 NAPLES. 23 
 
 The sight of Vesuvius suggests curious speculations. "What 
 must have been the appearance of Europe when almost every 
 country was vomiting its lava, many in seven or eight places at 
 once, as in Ireland, Auvergne, the Hebrides, &c. ? These, and 
 others, all now extinct, give us some idea of the incalculable age 
 of our planet. They had ceased to rage before any record of man 
 exists, and probably countless ages before he appeared on earth, 
 for they show no vestiges of man's works having been injured by 
 any of them, as by those still active in Italy, &c. 
 
 Accompanied by the same pleasant companions, I revelled in 
 the classical associations of Pozzuoli, the Bay of Baise, Pompeii, 
 and Paestum, and thanked the gods that I had been sent to Eton, 
 and there acquired the enjoyment of knowing their legends. On 
 one occasion I tried to swim across the Bay of Baise, but did not 
 accomplish it within a quarter of a mile, owing to the impatient 
 appetite of my party, who were waiting at the trattoria at Pozzuoli 
 and sent a boat out to bring me in to dinner. The feat is easy for 
 a good swimmer, but he should wear a linen jacket, or his back 
 will be painfully blistered by the sun in that climate. In August 
 I returned to Rome, and never heard of fever at that time (1829). 
 Now (1884) it would be dangerous for a foreigner to live there at 
 that season. Mr. Hill presented me at Court before I left Naples. 
 A circle was formed, the royal family going round and speaking 
 to each person, which did not last long, as there were not many 
 present. The old King did not look like a tyrant, but rather the 
 type of an English farmer. The Queen, and the young and hand- 
 some Princess Christina, afterwards Queen of Spain, were present. 
 The latter was said at the time to be the cause of more than one 
 inflammable victim languishing in prison for having too openly 
 admired this royal coquette, whose manners with men foretold her 
 future life after her marriage to old Ferdinand. When she came 
 up to me in the circle, walking behind her mother, she stopped, 
 and took hold of one of the buttons of my uniform, to see, as she 
 said, the inscription upon it, the Queen indignantly calling to her 
 to come on. From all I heard then, the King and royal family were 
 not personally unpopular, and there was certainly more discontent 
 in the Papal States than in the Neapolitan ; but the revolutionists 
 were working everywhere to upraise Italy, and the hatred of 
 
24 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1829 
 
 the Austrians, upon whom Bomba and the other princes of Italy 
 were so imprudent as to depend for their power and policy, acted 
 more against them than any local severities. Palmerston, when 
 Foreign Secretary to Lord Grey's Government, openly encouraged 
 the revolutionists of Spain, Portugal, and of the Italian duchies, 
 and this gave the prestige of patriotism to men who had till then 
 been looked upon merely as rebels. They were encouraged by his 
 success in Portugal and in Belgium, where he had created a new 
 kingdom, and had become the champion of all nationalities except 
 that of Poland. The Emperor Nicholas was too ' big a brother ' 
 even for him to defy, although he was no respecter of persons in 
 his dauntless and successful policy. Far more than Aretino was 
 he c il flagello dei principi,' and was unconsciously preparing the 
 way to Republicanism. 
 
 I found Madame Guiccioli in great distress at having received 
 an order from the police not to quit Rome (she Avas a Roman 
 subject), all her family and she herself being conspirators. She 
 wished to return to her father, Count Gamba, at Ravenna, then 
 in the Pope's dominions. As I had not seen that most interesting 
 old town, I offered to take her there in my carriage. But how 
 were we to get out of the city, as we should be examined at the 
 Porta del Popolo 1 This was accomplished by my starting at 
 night, she walking out of the gate by day, and my taking her up 
 a mile out of the town. Few English then ever saw Romagna, 
 but now that the rail has invaded it, it is not the same thing as 
 driving through its splendid oak forests and quaint old towns as 
 I did then, by Loretto, Forli, Faenza, and Ceseiia. Whatever 
 laches may have existed in the Papal Government, 110 fault could 
 be found in the posting department, which was the best I saw 
 anywhere. Count Gainba's house at Ravenna was near the Pin- 
 etum, a primaeval pine forest, which alas ! I am told, is now dying 
 'fast from the soil having been drained by the new railway works. 
 The Gambas might have well been called the Osbaldistones of 
 Italy ; they were all sportsmen according to their knowledge, 
 which consisted of hunting a slow pointer, who stood woodcocks 
 and partridges equally well, through the forests and vineyards. 
 They had just begun to hear of copper caps vice flints, and when 
 I gave Vincenzo my double-barrelled Purdy, his pleasure surpassed 
 
1829 COUNTESS GUICCIOLI. 2d 
 
 any demonstration I ever saw. They lived in feudal style as far 
 as an abundant table supplied them and their guests, and were as 
 good a type of worthy though self-educated gentlemen as it was 
 possible to find. The house was large, with a long gallery of 
 bedrooms, the doors of which, from the great heat of the weather, 
 were necessarily open all night, and the inmates could converse 
 from their beds one to another with Italian sans facon. There 
 was a permanent priest whom they called Don Juan, Don being 
 the usual title of a domestic Levite, no one but Madame Guiccioli 
 seeing the absurdity. In reference to Byron's famous poem of 
 that name she told me that he wrote all the last cantos on play- 
 bills (some of which I saw myself), or on any odd piece of paper 
 at hand, and with repeated glasses of gin-punch by his side. He 
 then used to rush out of his room to read to her what he had 
 written, making many alterations and laughing immoderately. 
 She was very proud and fond of him, but described him as having 
 a very capricious temper, and with nothing of the passion which 
 pervades his poetry, and which he was in the habit of ridiculing 
 in fact, with a cold temperament. With all his abuse of Eng- 
 land, he insisted on keeping up old customs in small things, such 
 as having hot cross buns on Good Friday and roast goose on 
 Michaelmas Day. This last fancy led to a grotesque result. 
 After buying a goose and fearing it might be too lean, he fed it 
 every day for a month previously, so that the poet and the bird 
 became so mutually attached that when September 29 arrived he 
 could not kill it, but bought another, and had the pet goose swung 
 in a cage under his carriage when he travelled, so that after four 
 years he was moving about with four geese. It was surprising to 
 see the number of letters written to him by women offering 
 themselves to him on any terms. Madame Guiccioli had a large 
 box full of these epistles, which he never answered. They were 
 mostly from English ladies, such was the folly and enthusiasm 
 which his verses inspired at the time. 
 
 When Byron departed for Greece, Madame Guiccioli went to 
 Ravenna. She described to me her anxiety as terrible, and when 
 his letters no longer came, she accused him of having forgotten 
 her. Poor woman ! he was gone to that land ' where all things are 
 forgotten. 
 
26 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1829 
 
 She introduced me at Home to the Duchesse de St. Leu (Queen 
 Horteiise), who invited me to her evening parties and some 
 picnics, and was a most fascinating woman, although past the 
 middle of life. Her house, though very aristocratic, was the re- 
 sort of all the Intransigents of both sexes in politics. Princess 
 Belgiqjoso led the female conspirators, and they were so little 
 feared that, as long as they remained in the Pope's domains and 
 could be watched, they were not molested. 
 
 Here for the first time I met Hortense's son, Louis Napoleon, 
 then just of age. Nor would anybody at that time have pre- 
 dicted his great and romantic career. He was a wild harum- 
 scarum youth, or what the French call un crane, riding at full 
 gallop clown the streets to the peril of the public, fencing, and 
 pistol-shooting, and apparently without serious thoughts of any 
 kind, although even then he was possessed with the conviction 
 that he would some day rule over France. We became friends, 
 but at that time he evinced no remarkable talent or any fixed 
 idea but the one I mention. It grew upon him with his growth, 
 and increased daily until it ripened into a certainty. He was a 
 very good horseman and proficient at athletic games, being short, 
 but very active and muscular. His face was grave and dark, but 
 redeemed by a singularly bright smile. Such was his personal 
 appearance in 1829, at twenty-one years of age. He used to have 
 several old officers of his uncle, the Emperor, about him, men who 
 seemed to me to be ready for any adventure. I recollect one, an 
 old cavalry colonel of dragoons who had seen the whole Peninsular 
 war, relating the following anecdote. One day he was recon- 
 noitring with three or four troopers, when they came suddenly 
 upon a young English officer mounted on a superb thoroughbred 
 horse and similarly occupied. Summoned by the colonel to sur- 
 render, he quietly cantered away, laughing in the Frenchman's 
 face. The dragoon pursued, at full gallop of his heavy steed, and 
 when the Englishman had allowed him to get quite close he kissed 
 his hand, and, leaving him far behind, shouted, pointing to his 
 horse, ' Cheval Normand, Monsieur ! ' Again the Frenchmen 
 pursued, threatening to shoot his enemy if he did not surrender, 
 and pointed his pistol at him, but the weapon missed fire. With 
 a roar of laughter the young officer again shouted, ' Fabrique de 
 
CHILLINGHAM CASTLE. 27 
 
 Versailles, Monsieur ! ' and giving the thoroughbred his head, 
 was seen no more. It was most amusing to hear the old colonel 
 tell this story and describe his rage, adding, however, that he had 
 always felt glad that he had not shot ce brave farceur. 
 
 It was in August 1829 that I took leave of the Gambas in 
 Romagiia and of their sister, Madame Guiccioli. She came to 
 England a few years afterwards, and was one of the many foreign 
 ladies who were at Lady Blessing-ton's parties. Subsequently she 
 married le Marquis de Boissy, an eccentric man with a large 
 fortune and a fine house at Paris, where I dined at a magnificent 
 banquet, the contrast being very striking after the frugal existence 
 which in former years she led in Italy. The change was great 
 between the old quiet lodging with a solitary maidservant and the 
 sumptuous establishment of the Marquis. I found the bonhomie 
 of the Italian altered for the artificial manner of a grande dame, 
 and not to its advantage, although she retained the kindly 
 instincts of her nature. She survived her husband, who was an 
 Anylophobe, and died in 1879 at Florence, where she had been 
 living on a large jointure. 
 
 I posted to England night and day by a most desolate road, 
 and it took me sixty-eight hours to reach Paris, where I stayed a 
 day to rest, and crossed the Channel on September 7, 1829. 
 
 After a short visit to my father at Heron Court, I was invited 
 to Chillingham Castle, and during my stay there engaged myself 
 to the only daughter of the Taiikervilles, Lady Emma, whom I 
 married on April 13 the following spring, and who for forty-eight 
 years unceasingly deserved the epitaph which is written on her 
 monument hi the Priory Church at Christchurch : 
 
 From her it never was our fate to find 
 
 A deed ungentle or a word unkind : 
 
 The mildest manners with th3 bravest mind. ILIAD. 
 
 In 1827, Mr. Canning's death, that of King George IV., and 
 the Duke of Wellington's difficulties after he had emancipated 
 the Roman Catholics, all prepared the country to see the fall of 
 the Tory Government. The Tories had ruled England almost 
 without interruption for thirty years, and in the most critical 
 time of our history their statesmen, generals, and admirals, had 
 
28 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1830 
 
 weathered the hurricane when all Europe had despaired, and in 
 1815 brought the great ship to a safe anchorage, although shaken 
 and damaged in all but honour. It seemed almost natural that 
 a new set of men should repair the laches of a long war and 
 attempt to remedy grievances which could not be attended to 
 during war. There was a general sentiment that new men, with 
 new ideas of domestic policy, were required, and that the reform 
 of the franchise was the most pressing subject. The old "Whig 
 leaders pitched upon it as their first point of attack, and in the 
 summer of 1830 their combinations were made. My father-in- 
 law, Lord Tankerville, was an old Whig, and a friend of Lord 
 Grey, and he took me on a visit to Howick, where the old Earl 
 lived in patriarchal retirement amidst his numerous family. Two 
 of the latter, Lord Durham and Mr. Ellice (commonly called 
 1 Bear Ellice '), both clever and ambitious men, had great influence 
 with Lord Grey, and used it without mercy. He was one of the 
 most striking figures I ever saw, the very type of a grand seigneur 
 and of an intellectual man. Whilst I was at Howick I was 
 struck with two peculiarities of the family, one of which was 
 that all the sons and daughters called their parents by their 
 Christian names, ' Charles ' and ' Mary,' which had a strange 
 effect ; the other was the taste of the whole family for argument. 
 They were always in a state of discussion, even as to the distance 
 between Howick and Alnwick, and the shortest road to and from 
 each, which one would suppose they had verified long ago. Lady 
 Georgiana was very agreeable, and played beautifully on the harp, 
 an instrument then much appreciated. As I suppose I was looked 
 upon as a mere boy by the party, politics and future onslaughts 
 on the Tory Government were freely spoken of without gene in 
 my presence ; and I remember one day Lord Grey breaking out 
 and declaring that the three greatest rascals in the world were 
 Lord Castlereagh (then dead), Brougham, and Talleyrand, and 
 I recollect this explosion the more, because when he formed 
 his Government three months later 1 he was obliged to make 
 Brougham his Chancellor, and to receive Talleyrand as the Am- 
 bassador of France. 
 
 
 of Wellington resigned in November 1830, and Lord Groy sue- 
 him as Premier. 
 
1832 PUBLIC FEELING ON KEFORM BILL. 29 
 
 Ellice and Lord Durham were often at Chillingliam at this 
 time, and their talk, of course, was chiefly as to the coming change 
 and of the rearrangement of the boroughs and franchise, their 
 great object being to ' cook ' them (as they themselves called it), 
 so as to expel as much as possible all local interests belonging to 
 Tories. 
 
 The battle for and against Reform proceeded with the greatest 
 acrimony on both sides, both in and out of Parliament. In the 
 House of Lords I myself heard Lord Carnarvon, a man of great 
 weight in public opinion, and who was a Whig, apostrophise Lord 
 Grey, and declare that ' to propose so revolutionary a measure he 
 must have a fool's head on his shoulders or a traitor's heart in his 
 bosom.' Out of Parliament the following history will speak for 
 itself. 
 
 When the Reform Bill was thrown out by the Peers in 1831, 
 Lord Tankerville voted against it. My wife and I accompanied 
 him on his journey to Chillingham, which at that time took four 
 days to accomplish, being three hundred and thirty miles, although 
 posting with four horses. When we got to Darlington, we halted 
 for luncheon, and perceived a large crowd at the door of the hotel 
 examining the crest on the panels and apparently quiet, but we 
 were hardly reseated in the family coach when a storm of stones 
 assailed it and a furious mob tried to stop us. The post-boys be- 
 haved well and ran the gauntlet at full gallop till we cleared the 
 town, but in what a condition ! The coach was full of stones of 
 all sizes, the front part of it was smashed and the panels stove in, 
 yet we all escaped with a few scratches. When I saw what was 
 coming, I pulled my wife under the seat, which saved her from a 
 large paving- stone that struck the place where she had been sit- 
 ting. When some miles from Darlington, we stopped at a village 
 inn till dark, as our battered condition would have invited another 
 pelting, out of mere mischief. This outrage was committed 
 deliberately and with preparation for the first Peer who passed 
 Darlington after having voted against the Reform Bill. The 
 stones stood in heaps ready, piled like ammunition, and the victims 
 were to be thrown into the river. The feelings of theso ferocious 
 politicians may be imagined, as the presence of two women, my 
 wife and her maid, in our carriage did not prevent their murderous 
 
30 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1832 
 
 attempt. This was but one of many similar acts of violence all 
 over England and Scotland connected with the progress of the 
 Reform Bill. 
 
 The local authorities in no way interfered to prevent them, and 
 in our case they and the Lord-Lieutenant even refused Lord 
 Tankerville to identify and punish our assailants. During the 
 Parliamentary struggle for this Reform Bill, the most strange de- 
 lusions as to its results seized the lower classes, who were convinced 
 that it could do 110 less than alter their whole condition. Servants 
 loft their places, feeling sure that somehow they need never serve 
 again. Marriages were put off until the great redemption of the 
 poor from poverty was effected, and orators were not wanting to 
 foster these follies. In short, whilst the contention lasted the 
 country was in a delirium. The years 1830, 1831, and 1832 will 
 be remembered as the most agitated of the century. Discontent 
 and disease pervaded Europe in the shape of revolution and 
 cholera. In France, Charles X. had been exiled, and the throne 
 occupied by his cousin. The Due de Guiche accompanied the 
 King to Edinburgh, with all his family, he being Lady Tanker- 
 ville's brother. He brought with him his boy, who became after- 
 wards Due de Gramont, and in 1870 was Foreign. Minister to 
 Louis Napoleon, when he declared his fatal war with Germany. 
 
 In Paris the cholera was raging during 1831-2. In London 
 it was less virulent, but numbers died, and I did not escape it, 
 but recovered after being dosed with spirits of wine, which was 
 the only thing that relieved the spasms. It was Dr. Quin's 
 remedy, and his patients used, like myself, to carry a small bottle 
 always with them. The Court physician, Sir Henry Halford, was 
 at first very shy of attending cholera cases, until Brougham 
 launched at him one of his diatribes, which was as terrible as the 
 disease. Twenty-fiVe thousand had died in Paris. 
 
 In the winter of 1830 there were serious agrarian riots all over 
 the South and West of England. My two brothers and I were 
 sent for one night from Heron Court by the Ringwood magis- 
 trates, urging us to collect what force we could, and to repair 
 there to stop the advance of a large mob marching from Salisbury, 
 and burning the corn-ricks of the farms on their way. Their 
 object was to destroy the thrashing-machines, but they went 
 
1830 AGRARIAN RIOTS. 31 
 
 further and set fire to all kinds of property. They were led by 
 a man on horseback, who called himself Lord Hunt, and had 
 marched through all Sussex. When we were summoned they had 
 attacked the house at West Park, near Fordingbridge, where 
 there was a party of visitors, who, with the gamekeeper, Woodroe, 
 defended themselves, and fired a volley, wounding several of the 
 assailants, some of whom died. The mob then retreated. My 
 brothers and I hastened to Ringwood and joined Mr. Compton 
 and Mr. Mills. The next day our army of mounted farmers, 
 gentlemen, servants, and many tradesmen, met the rioters just 
 beyond Fordingbridge, charged and routed them. Hunt and 
 three others were taken and hanged at Winchester. Some were 
 found dead in West Park Woods, and I never heard that any 
 inquest was held over them. At that time there was no cavalry 
 nearer than Dorchester, forty miles off', and no infantry nearer 
 than Portsmouth, the same distance no railway to bring either, 
 and no electric telegraphs. The rebellion for such it was was 
 put down by the landed proprietors, their tenants, and the re- 
 spectable shopkeepers at Christchurch, Ringwood, and Lyndhurst. 
 A most medley and grotesque force they were, everyone arming 
 himself with the first weapon he could find. Lord Melbourne 
 was Home Secretary, just appointed with Lord Grey's Govern- 
 ment, and he wrote the magistrates a letter of full approbation of 
 their conduct and courage. In Berkshire the rebels were beaten 
 in the same way by Lord Craven and his friends. The Duke of 
 Wellington, who was our Lord-Lieutenant, took great pains in 
 establishing and fitting out a regiment of five troops of yeomanry, 
 recruited from the New Forest and its neighbourhood. I com- 
 manded one of these for five years, when, just as they had become 
 trained and available, Lord Ho wick, then Secretary for War, 
 disbanded them, he and his colleagues disliking the accidental 
 fact that all the officers and most of the men were Tories and 
 voters for the county, 
 
 It was in 1834 that I made the acquaintance of Lord Derby, 
 then Lord Stanley, which ripened into a mutual and sincere 
 friendship, lasting till his death in 1869. When the great dis- 
 ruption of the Tory party under Sir Robert Peel took place in 
 1846, I for the first time took a strong part in politics not for 
 
32 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1834-1869 
 
 any liking of that stormy life, which I had always shunned 
 but from a sincere conviction that the abolition of the Corn Laws, 
 proposed by Peel, would be the ruin of all who depended directly 
 or indirectly upon land. The gallant Duke of Richmond, 1 Lord 
 George Bentinck, and I, were among the first to rally our partisans 
 in and out of Parliament by all the means which political hostility 
 allows. Disraeli then came forward in all his strength, and dis- 
 played his genius by some of the most remarkable speeches ever 
 heard in Parliament. We succeeded in obtaining the invaluable 
 support of Lord Stanley's 2 prestige and eloquence, though at first 
 he naturally hesitated to break with his colleagues. In February 
 1852 he became Prime Minister, and appointed me to the Foreign 
 Office. I had published in 1844 the ' Diplomatic Journal and Cor- 
 respondence ' of niy grandfather, the first Lord Malmesbury, and 
 the experience I gained by reading and collating, with great trouble, 
 the contents of above two thousand letters and despatches from 
 and to him by all the important personages of the period from 
 1768 to 1800 stood me in good stead at this trying time. Without 
 this accidental education I should have been as great a novice 
 in political business as were most of my colleagues. My former- 
 personal relations with Louis Napoleon were also a lucky accident, 
 and placed us on a footing which saved much trouble and anxiety 
 to both of us when he proclaimed the Empire in 1852. At the 
 end of that year we were turned out of office, to which we were 
 recalled in 1858, I having again the Foreign Office. In 1859, 
 after a tenure of fifteen months and a general election, we were 
 beaten on a false issue, which is explained in my diary of that 
 year. 
 
 From 1834 to 1869 I used to pay an annual visit to Knowsley, 
 where the late Lord Derby had brought battue shooting to per- 
 fection. We used to. go out six or seven guns, each one having a 
 loader and marker, the latter pricking down each shot killed by 
 his master ; and it was very remarkable at the end of the day, 
 when the total killed were counted up, how very accurately each 
 gun found his calculation verified. What was extremely striking 
 was the large and peaceful crowd that accompanied us for beating 
 
 1 The late Duke. 
 
 2 Afterwards fourteenth Earl of Derby and Prime Minister. 
 
 
1869 DEATH OF LORD DERBY. 33 
 
 in line. I have seen two and three hundred of these volunteer 
 beaters, working men and artisans, pour out of the villages near 
 to see the sport, keeping the most perfect line and order ; and the 
 custom was so known and valued by them, that if by chance any 
 individual was not steady and disciplined, his comrades sent him 
 home at once, without any trouble to us. 
 
 Such was the respect and goodwill which Lord Derby inspired 
 by his character and genial manner. He himself was the keenest 
 sportsman I ever met ; whilst he was in the field his whole atten- 
 tion was in his present pursuit, and woe to him who attempted to 
 divert him to politics at the time. When over, he could divest his 
 mind completely of the sport and sit down at once to write the 
 longest and most important paper straight off, in a delicate hand 
 and without a single erasure so completely could he in a few 
 moments arrange his subject in his mind. I have often witnessed 
 this intellectual tour deforce both in and out of the Cabinet. He 
 died on October 23, 1869, in his seventieth year, completely worn 
 out by constant attacks of acute gout, and, although at my age I 
 inevitably miss nearly all my early friends, I have never so 
 deeply felt the loss of any one of them as that of this noble 
 character. When he became Prime Minister for the third time 
 in 1866, he made me Privy Seal, after offering me again the 
 Foreign Office, which my bad health obliged me to refuse, and I 
 held the Privy Seal under Disraeli again in 1868 and 1874, until 
 1876, when I resigned my place, being rendered useless from 
 deafness either in Cabinet or House of Lords. 
 
DIARY. 
 
 1832 
 
 ON February 23, 1832, Lady Fitzharris and I started for a tour 
 abroad, and here I will quote from my journal to show what 
 travelling was fifty years ago for a married couple who wished to 
 visit France and Italy, taking a courier who was bound to ride 
 post and order horses for a britshka and a/o argon. 
 
 February 23rd. Left Dover in a steamer ; only three passen- 
 gers beside ourselves. Fine when we started, but fog came on 
 with hard, black frost, and Captain Bushill, neglecting to sound, 
 ran us aground five miles west of Calais. We were within a 
 stone's throw of the shore, but not allowed to land on account of 
 quarantine for cholera. Cold intense, twenty degrees, and no 
 possibility of a fire. The Coastguard watched us all night to 
 prevent our landing, as the vessel was high and dry at low water, 
 and also to assist in case of danger. 
 
 February 24:th. Entered Calais harbour ; Commission sani- 
 taire inspected us. On asking a member of it how soon we were 
 to be released, he replied, ' Melez-vous de vos affaires ! Veil I 
 come I come.' 
 
 February 26th. Hard frost and fog. Released at 8 A.M. 
 Breakfasted at Dessins Hotel. Slept at Moiitreuil, where the 
 snipe pies and dinner are excellent. 
 
 February 27th. Reached Graiidvilliers. 
 
 February 28th. Arrived at Paris at 7 P.M., after travelling 
 all day. 
 
 February 2$th. Took best rooms at Hotel Bristol for only 
 twenty francs a day. Such is the effect of the Revolution and 
 cholera 011 the first hotel at Paris. 
 
 D 2 
 
3 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1832 
 
 March 4:th. Paris. Went to the Opera and saw ' Robert le 
 Diable.' Singing and dancing far superior to that in our theatres. 
 Nourrit a splendid tenor. 
 
 March Qth. Vaudeville Theatre, where l Le Regent ' was 
 acted. The most barefaced allusions in favour of the Court were 
 received in silence. Trade ruined and much dissatisfaction. 
 Duke of Orleans accused of flirting instead of occupying himself 
 with politics. A very handsome and amiable man. Due de 
 Nemours not in the army. 
 
 March 7th. Dined with the Walewskis. He the son of 
 Napoleon, and very like him. She a daughter of Lord Sandwich. 
 Met the Flahaults and Lord Harry Yane. Gay party. Young 
 Count Candia was there and sang splendidly. 1 
 
 March 9th. Breakfasted with the old Due de Gramont, 
 my wife's grandfather, who has been a ' Garde du Corps ' of Louis 
 XV., and was on duty at Versailles on. the day on which he 
 arrested the Cardinal de Rohan, whose history is well known in 
 connection with Marie Antoinette and the famous diamond neck- 
 lace. He told us many anecdotes of Louis XV., and gave us 
 a dish which he said the King had every day of his life on his 
 table, and which he seldom omitted to eat. It was of chicken 
 or pheasant echarpe, with a BecJiamel sauce, with truffles or chicoree 
 and gratine. I got the receipt from the Duke's cook and have 
 found it very popular. The Due said that ' La Du Barry etait 
 peinte comme 111011 carrosse.' We afterwards drove with him to 
 Versailles, and I never spent a more interesting day, walking over 
 this famous palace with this old man, who had known it in all its 
 former glories. It was like listening to one from the dead to hear 
 his anecdotes and legends about events in which he had acted 
 a part. Although eighty-two years of age, his memory was per- 
 fectly good, and he was as gay as a man in the prime of life. He 
 showed us the room in which he had arrested the Cardinal, and 
 amongst other places the immense flight of stone steps down 
 which, when the palace was invested by the bloodthirsty mob in 
 1789, he and his guards had to ride to save their lives. Three men 
 were killed when their horses fell and rolled to the bottom, the 
 rest escaping by this desperate feat. The mob had stopped every 
 1 AftenvarJs famous as Marie, 
 
18,32 DUC DE GRAMONT. 37 
 
 other issue, and thought this one impassable. The old Duke had 
 a Basque servant, who looked upon his master with feudal adora- 
 tion. He was called Irygpyen, and used to join in the conversa- 
 tion from behind the Duke's chair. His fine castle, Bidache, near 
 Bayonne, was burnt in 1793 by the Bande Noire, and has not 
 been restored. This ancient family were once sovereign princes, 
 coined money 011 their Basque territory, and supplied Henri 
 Quatre with it and troops through Corisande de Gramont. 
 
 At this moment the prices of dress are very moderate in Paris. 
 A velvet gown requiring eight yards costs only IQL, and ladies' 
 silk or satin shoes by the best maker only six francs a pair, the 
 effect of the Revolution. 
 
 J\Farch \i)t/t. Left Paris, our fonryon being well stocked by 
 the old Duke, according to ancient fashion, with various eatables 
 and a proportionate variety of wines. 
 
 March 19th. Reached Lyons, after sleeping at Avallon, 
 Chalons, and Macon. The mountains of Auvergne covered with 
 snow and weather bitter. Spent twenty- two francs a day in fire- 
 wood. The Lyonese very Carlist. In 1789 they were the most 
 savage Republicans. >.:.. 
 
 March '21st. We hired a boat for 400 francs to take us and 
 our carriages to Avignon, and stopped at Condrieu. The whole 
 country on both banks of the Rhone is beautiful even at this 
 time of year ; with its hills, vineyards, and castles, it is far 
 superior to the Rhine. At Condrieu the wine is celebrated and 
 deserves its reputation. It is a white hermitage, and costs thirty 
 sous a bottle. Fifteen thousand bottles of this wine are made 
 annually from the vineyard on the hill. 
 
 March 22nd. This journey by water is the only way to see 
 the valley of the Rhone. We passed Tain and Valence, opposite 
 which is the ruined castle of Crusol, like an eagle's nest, from 
 which the view of the great river is splendid. Here you see the 
 Alps for the first time, looking like an impassable barrier. We 
 slept at Bourg St. Andeol, a wretched tavern for bargemen, where 
 I kept my pistols under my pillow by the advice of my courier, 
 who said it was a notorious den of brigands ; but our boatmen 
 refused to go farther. The people stared at us like savages. The 
 whole country and roads were full of refugee Polish soldiers, 
 
38 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1832 
 
 escaping after their defeats into France, and wherever they passed 
 not an orange or a drop of brandy was left. They appeared to 
 live entirely on these two articles of food, and to fall on them 
 like locusts. 
 
 March 23rd. Shot through the bridge of St. Esprit, built by 
 the Romans, and having twenty-two arches. The current is so 
 rapid and the arches so narrow that the boatmen dare not go 
 through them at night. Arrived at Avignon, at 1'Hotel de 
 1'Europe, after three days' enjoyment of the grandest scenery, 
 without the slightest fatigue. What a difference from the same 
 journey, cramped in a carriage, and only half seeing one bank of 
 this glorious river ! The view from the castle, which the Popes 
 once occupied here, is at sunset one of the finest spe'ctacles it is 
 possible to behold. 
 
 March 2ith. We hired a carriage to go to Yaucluse, quite 
 equal in beauty and curiosity to our expectations, and to its rich 
 traditions. The last, however, did not interfere with a luncheon 
 of trout and crayfish at the inn kept by the infamous Fouche's 
 famous cook. Our return to Avignon very disagreeable in an 
 open carriage, with a furious mistral, which had risen suddenly 
 since the morning. The dust penetrated even into my writing- 
 desk. Bill at the Hotel de 1'Europe at Avignon only 110 francs 
 for three days. 
 
 March 26th. Arrived at Aix, in Provence, an old town 
 seldom visited by English ; once the capital of King Rene, the 
 musical ruler of the land of Troubadours. The cathedral is built 
 upon a Temple of Diana, the pillars of which remain, two of 
 granite, and the rest of Egyptian marble. The water of the 
 famous baths is 24 of Reaumur, and yet gold-fish will live in it. 
 
 March 30th. Stopped at Toulon. Had a letter to the general 
 to admit us into the dockyard. They were very -proud of the 
 frigate ' Proserpine/ taken from the English. The number of 
 convicts at Toulon is 4,000. They work from sunrise to sunset, 
 with the exception of two hours in the middle of the day. 
 Beautiful carvings are made by a man of the name of Miron, who 
 stole Mademoiselle Mars' jewels, and who is condemned atix 
 travaux forces for twenty years. 
 
 March 31 st. Reached Cannes over the Estrelle mountains. 
 
A FATAL DUEL. 39 
 
 Slept at the Hotel de la Poste, close to the sea, one of the worst 
 inns I ever was in. 
 
 April 1st. Left this miserable hole and arrived at Nice. 
 Detained long at the Douaiie on the Italian frontier. The 
 Douaniers pay 110 attention to articles of dress, but are exceed- 
 ingly strict in the examination of books. The man who searched 
 us, not understanding a word of English, took Lord Byron's 
 poems for a dictionary and confiscated them. This excessive 
 surveillance is since the Revolution in Paris. Excellent hotel at 
 Nice, but a bitter north wind prevails. 
 
 April 4:th. Reached Genoa by the Corniche Road, newly 
 made and very dangerous in many parts, with sharp turns and 110 
 parapets ; was a nervous journey, although very beautiful. We 
 had slept at St. Remo, a miserable village. 1 
 
 Having written thus much to show what travelling was fifty 
 years ago, and quoted my diary textually so far, I shall now only 
 use it as reminding me of events in which I took part more or 
 less. 
 
 From Nice we went to Genoa, and, after visiting all the palaces 
 there, we proceeded to Spezzia by Chiavari ; thence to Carrara, 
 where the marble works were wonderfully cheap. I bought a 
 handsome chimney-piece of the whitest marble, with bas-reliefs 
 from the Vaso Borghese, for 201. Proceeding to Lucca, we were 
 told that we required an escort of gendarmes, as travellers had 
 boon, lately robbed passing the mountain. We took two mounted 
 guards, with us, who would have boon of little use if the brigands 
 (said to be twenty-seven in number) had attacked us. The country 
 from Lucca to Florence is hideous and the weather was Siberian; 
 We liiot many people we knew at Florence among them Mr. and 
 Mrs. Ferdinand St. John. I had known him in 1829 at Naples, a 
 very handsome and clever man. At that time he fought a duel 
 with Count Coteroffiano, who was the best shot and swordsman in 
 the country. When they met it was agreed they should stand 
 at forty yards apart, and, at a signal given by the seconds, they 
 
 1 Xow a fashionable resort on the Riviera. 
 
40 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1832 
 
 might advance or not as they pleased, and fire when they liked. 
 Both stood still, and St. John fired first, apparently without the 
 least effect. Coteroffiano then advanced, and St. John thought 
 himself lost, when his adversary walked half way and fell stone 
 dead, having received the bullet without wincing, and intending 
 to kill St. John ct bout portant. 
 
 When we came to Florence, St. John had lately married Miss 
 Keating, an heiress, and one of his amusing stories was that his 
 wife being enceinte, and he being very poor, he asked his relation, 
 Lord Wenlock, to promise to purchase a commission in the Guards 
 for his son, if she had one. The old peer refusing his request, St. 
 John asked him whether he would do so in the event of her having 
 twin boys, to which Lord Wenlock acceded, when in due tiiuo 
 Mrs. St. John won the event. 
 
 There was at that time at Florence a Scotch banker of the 
 name of Lawrie, who had a very good gallery of pictures. He 
 had married a most beautiful girl of poor parents in Florence, 
 having taken her as a child and educated her for his wife. 
 We made her acquaintance, and found her a very pleasant and 
 ladylike person. 
 
 After spending a month at Florence we went with my brother 
 to Geneva. One evening we took a sailing boat and went upon 
 the lake. The halyard slipped out of the block, and my brother's 
 swarming up the mast capsized the boat. Lady Fitzharris, with 
 the most wonderful coolness, turned to me, both of us being in the 
 water, saying, ' Don't be afraid ; I w^on't lay hold of you, but tell 
 me what to do.' My brother, who had got entangled under the 
 sail, came up, and by putting her hands on our shoulders we kept 
 her up for a quarter of an hour, till a watchmaker, who was row- 
 ing his wife, took her in, whilst we hung on to the stern till we 
 reached the shore, which was a quarter of a mile off. Nothing 
 but my wife's cool courage saved us, as, if she had been frightened, 
 we should have been drowned by her struggles. A week after- 
 wards the watchmaker came to ask for what he called 'damages.' 
 I thought he alluded to damages to his boat or loss of time, but 
 it was to his wife, who, in consequence of her alarm at the 
 accident, had miscarried, and, as he insisted, deprived him of a 
 son and heir. As he could not prove this, or show how he was 
 
1832 THE HIGHLANDS. 41 
 
 the worse, or 1 give any items in a bill, and as I had paid him 
 salvage, I resisted this new specimen of Swiss avarice. We 
 returned to London in July, 1833. 
 
 This was the first year that the Highlands became the rage, 
 and that deer forests were made and rented, but for prices not 
 exceeding 300?. a year. Sir Harry Goodricke, who was a leader 
 among the young hunting men, hired Mar Forest, and Lord 
 Kinnaird, Fealar in Athol. We paid the latter a visit, in 
 August, at Rossie Priory, and I went with him, Mr. Errington, 
 and Count Matuschewitz (the Russian Ambassador), to a bothy 
 at Fealar. The Russian (in reality a Pole) was a very able man, 
 and a great favourite with lajeunesse doree at Melton, where Sir 
 H. Goodricke kept the hounds, followed by Lords Wilton, Gardner, 
 Macdonald, Kinnaird, and Mr. Gilmour, all first-rate riders, who 
 had the best horses in England, and kept open houses, as I know 
 from having enjoyed their hospitality. The hunting was not what 
 it is now that it has become racing. At Rossie Priory, in the Carse 
 of Gowrie, Kinnaird lived in great luxury ; his two handsome 
 sisters did the honours admirably to a mixed party, the eldest of 
 whom was twenty- six. Mrs. Norton was there in the zenith of 
 her beauty, and added much to the entrain. I went later to the 
 .Isle of Skye and to Harris. I was harboured at the latter by 
 Mr. Stewart, a gentleman farmer and breeder of cattle, and had 
 the run of the island, which belonged then to MacLeod, and the 
 grouse, deer forest, and fishing, all of which are first-rate, were 
 offered to me for 251. a year. It has been purchased since by 
 Lord Dunmore, and the sporting right let for 2,000?. a year. At 
 that time (1833), a stranger could fish and shoot over almost any 
 part of the Highlands without interruption, the letting value 
 of theferce naturce being unknown to their possessors. Chilling- 
 ham Castle being 011 the posting road north, a great many visitors 
 stopped there on their way south in the autumn. Landseer was 
 a constant one, and this year painted for me a portrait of Lady 
 Fitzharris 1 in a cloak, standing on the ramparts of the castle ; 
 but such were his dilatory habits about his pictures, that I only 
 received it from his executors forty -four years after. It is at 
 
 1 This picture cost 807. In 1884 his * Monarch of the Glen' fetched G,000/. at 
 Christie's', 
 
42 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1832 
 
 Heron Court, and has been engraved. He painted another of 
 her the following year, lying on a sofa with a deerhound looking 
 out of window, and a spaniel in her lap. The former is the portrait 
 of a dog who saved the keeper's life under the following circum- 
 stances, as recorded in my diary. 
 
 1833 
 
 November 9. A large party at Chilling-ham ; Mr. Landseer, 
 Charles Mathews, Lord Macdonald, Lord Ossulston, and Mr. 
 Gilmour, settled to kill one of the wild bulls the next day. Cole, 
 the park-keeper, came to the castle early this morning to say 
 that a bull had been driven out of the herd, and that he was 
 extremely savage. He advised the gentlemen to be very careful 
 how they approached him. Nobody, however, seemed inclined to 
 listen to him, and Mr. Gilmour and Lord Macdonald went to put 
 on their red coats to irritate him. The bull was near a little oak 
 wood, where Cole had left his son and Barnes, the under-keeper, 
 to watch him. After he had received his orders for the chasse, 
 he returned to his post, and the gentlemen began their preparations 
 in great spirits at the prospect of the fun. All at once we saw. 
 Cole running back to the castle as fast as he could. He rushed 
 up to the windows pale and breathless, and exclaimed with a 
 voice of horror, ' Barnes is killed by the bull ! ' and then left us 
 without further explanation. We were all too much shocked to 
 be able to utter a word, and remained looking at each other ; 
 but went out after a time and saw a crowd running across the 
 park towards a cart which was conveying Barnes to his house. 
 Ossulston accompanied it to the village, and sent a man 011 horse- 
 back for the doctor.' As he could not possibly arrive under an 
 hour, Cole bled the poor man, who was not dead as was at first 
 supposed, though severely hurt, several ribs being broken, with a 
 deep wound in the thigh. The accident happened thus : When 
 Cole came to the castle for orders, he left his son and Barnes to 
 watch the bull and prevent his breaking away to join the herd, 
 which he had several times tried to do. The two men were in 
 the oak wood, and Barnes seeing the bull approach the fence, 
 
1833 A WILD BULL. 43 
 
 came out to frighten him away. The beast instantly rushed at 
 him ; he turned to run away, but his foot slipped and he fell. In 
 one moment the bull overtook him and tossed him clean over his 
 head. Young Cole could do very little, for, though he had his 
 rifle, he had no means of loading it, and the other spectators were 
 also unarmed, and too much frightened to be of any use. Young 
 Cole, however, did as much as possible under these circumstances, 
 coming out several times towards the bull and trying to entice 
 him to run at him, but in vain. The bull tossed Barnes five 
 times over his head, then lifted him with his horns, placed him 
 across his knees, and threw himself down with his whole weight 
 upon the man, whom he trampled upon and gored for full ten 
 minutes. The bloodhound refused to go in ; but at last Ossulston's 
 deerhound, Bran, fastened upon the bull's hocks and worried him 
 so that he left his victim. The cart arrived fortunately just at 
 that moment, and they succeeded in getting poor Barnes into it. 
 Had it not been for the dog, nothing could have saved his life. 
 
 The gentlemen went out to kill the bull, and fired several 
 shots at him before he dropped. He had six balls in his head, 
 and even then was not dead, and made an effort to get up again. 
 Then Cole and several others threw themselves upon him and 
 held him down whilst he was stabbed in the throat. Mr. Lands eer 
 made a beautiful sketch of him after his death, and Lord Tanker- 
 ville ordered a picture to be painted of Ossulstoii and the animal. 
 It is now at Chillingliam Castle. Barnes eventually recovered. 
 
 1834 
 
 lith. Chillingham. Lord Durham and Lady Fanny 
 Lambton came to-day 011 their way to Glasgow. Lord Durham 
 seems very much out of spirits ; he confesses that he is very 
 nervous about the Glasgow dinner, which he regrets now having 
 accepted. All his friends blame him for having done so, as they 
 say it will commit him. He says he intends to make an attack 
 upon Lord Brougham, but is afraid he will not be able to keep 
 his head and command his temper sufficiently to do it with effect. 
 November Ind. Left Chillingham, and reached Alnwick by a 
 
44 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1831 
 
 new road. Were kindly received by the Duchess. The Duke is 
 very infirm. After dinner we adjourned to the library, where the 
 ladies established themselves, according to the rule and custom of 
 the house, in a row on one side of the room. 
 
 November IGth. Left Stocken Hall, Sir Gilbert Heathcote's 
 place, and arrived in London. We heard at Wandsford that the 
 Whigs are out of office, the King having dismissed his Government, 
 and that the Duke of Wellington is sent for. As soon as. I 
 arrived, I sent a message to Norman Macdonald, who confirmed 
 the news. The Duke having advised the King to send for Sir 
 Robert Peel, who is in Italy, he cannot get an answer under three 
 weeks. The Duke of Wellington says he will answer for keeping 
 the country quiet. He walked into the Foreign Office to-day, 
 about an hour after he had been appointed, to the great discom- 
 fiture of Norman Macdonald and other secretaries of Lord Dun- 
 cannon. 
 
 November 28th. I went to Manor House, Mr. Compton's 
 place, to accompany him to a Conservative meeting at South- 
 ampton. The meetirfg was ill-attended not above two hundred 
 present, and some of these Radicals. The Tories, as usual, mis- 
 managed the business, and never took any pains to assemble 
 people of rank and influence. They voted Mr. Sloane Stanley in 
 the chair, and, whilst he slept, made a number of foolish speeches, 
 which, considering they only met for the purpose of addressing 
 the King on his prerogative, was a useless 'thing to do. When 
 the meeting was over, Lord Normanton, Mr. Andrew Drummond, 
 and a few more, got Mr. Compton into a private room and suc- 
 ceeded in persuading him to stand for the southern division of the 
 county. Having a large family, he was at first disinclined to do 
 so, but Lord Normanton and Mr. Drummond having offered to 
 guarantee him free of 'expense, he could 110 longer refuse, and the 
 business was settled. Messrs. Compton and Fleming stand 
 against Lord Palmerston and Sir George Staunton. 
 
 December Wth. There is no news yet respecting the new 
 Ministry, but some reports. It is hoped that if Lord Stanley 
 does not join Sir Robert Peel he will give his support to his 
 Government. Lord Ossulston is opposed in Northumberland by 
 Lord Grey and Mr. Liddell, son of Lord Ravensworth, and, I 
 
1831: A SUEPKISE AT WHIST. 45 
 
 much fear, will be defeated in consequence ; but the Duke of 
 Northumberland has promised him all his interest until he sees 
 him safe. I have received a strong requisition to stand for the 
 Isle of Wight, but my father has taken such a decided line 
 against my coming into Parliament that, although I consented at 
 iirst, I found it impossible to risk a serious quarrel, and had to 
 renounce all hope of being in the House of Commons. I might, 
 at this time, have walked over for Chris tchurch. 
 
 I paid a visit to Mr. Compton. in the New Forest. The party 
 consisted of Lord Alvanley, Col. Darner, Mr. and Lady Gertrude 
 Stanley, Sir Henry Fane, and Mr. Irby. Lord Alvanley was as 
 amusing as usual, and told some good stories. One which he re- 
 lated was of the late Sir Watkin Wynn. He was playing at 
 whist with Lords Granville, Sefton, and another famous player 
 all playing very deep. It was Sir Watkiii's turn to deal, and 
 whilst he did so, Lord Granville turned round to speak to someone 
 behind him. This deal was to decide the rubber, upon which 
 several hundreds were staked. The whole party were, therefore, 
 in anxious expectation of the result. One may, therefore, better 
 conceive than describe the surprise and dismay of Lord Granville 
 when, upon his turning to take up his hand, he found none. At 
 the same time his partner, Sir Watkin, said, * I think I have 
 rather too many cards.' He had dealt himself two hands, and 
 had 26 cards instead of 13 ! The confusion was indescribable at 
 this discovery ; all the best whist-players were consulted, but 
 they could come to no decision. Hoyle had never thought it 
 possible. 
 
 1S35 
 
 January Qth. Went to shoot at Somerley, where I was 
 strongly attacked for not standing for the Isle of Wight, and 
 obliged to explain my reasons for not doing so. 
 
 January IQth. Drove to Ringwood, and met Lord Palmer- 
 .ston's mob at the end of the town, and we were, of course, hooted 
 Vsy them. Norman. Macclonald, to our delight, was covered with 
 mud by his own friends. He went about Ringwood all day with 
 
46 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 the Whig attorney in order to retrieve his character, which he 
 considered damaged by having been seen with us. 
 
 January 17 th. The election was decided in favour of Fleming 
 and Compton. 
 
 February 13th. Left Heron Court for Mr. Fleming's place, 
 Stoiieham. Dinner had been ordered at six o'clock, but did not 
 take place till eight, when Mr. Fleming returned home, and we 
 did not sit down till half-past. We were equally unpunctual for 
 the ball at Southampton. Lady Dundonald was there, covered 
 with diamonds, which her husband, I conclude, had won in South 
 America during his adventurous career. 
 
 February 18th. We left for London. 
 
 February \Wi. Mrs. Norton and Mrs. Black wood are looking 
 wonderfully handsome this year. I pointed them out to Madame 
 Sebastiani, who was in great admiration of their beauty. 
 
 February 22nd. Dined with the Duke of Devonshire, and 
 met Lady Granville, Lady Burlington, Lord Elphinstone, William 
 Cowper. He has offered Lady Fitzharris his boxes at the Opera 
 and both theatres whenever she likes to ask for them. 
 
 February 2ord. Left London for Brighton with Miss Km- 
 iiaird. Although it is but fifty-one miles, the stages are long and 
 killing. 
 
 February 24^. Brighton. The Effinghams, Gallweys, and 
 Beauclercs are here ; Colonel Lyster and Francis Mills ; so we 
 have a very pleasant knot of acquaintances. We shall stay here 
 for three months, as I do not expect that London will be agreeable 
 this year. Politics absorb everybody's thoughts, and party feeling 
 is stronger than ever. The Government expect to be beaten to- 
 night 011 the Irish Church, and, if they are, it is impossible to say 
 what may happen. They cannot coalesce with the Tories, and are 
 sure to do so with the Radicals. Lord John Russell has evidently 
 joined O'Connell, for the latter dined at a public dinner to Lord 
 John the other day, and flattered him in the most fulsome manner. 
 It is said Peel does not intend to dissolve if beaten, but resign at 
 once, in which case Lord Grey is to form an Administration. It 
 is said that the King is quite firm, and will not hear of Whig 
 government, but that, if he is forced to it, he will abdicate and go 
 to Hanover. Who could have supposed lire years ago that matters 
 
1833 THE IRISH CHURCH. 47 
 
 would arrive at such a pass, that such an idea could suggest itself 
 to a King of England ? 
 
 March 3lst. The debate upon the Irish tithes began yesterday, 
 and Lord John Russell proposed a resolution, of which he had 
 given notice, to consider the present state of the Church Estab- 
 lishment in Ireland, with a view of applying any surplus of its 
 revenue not required for the general purposes of the Church to the 
 moral and religious instruction of the people. 
 
 April '2nd. Nothing is yet known about the dissolution. Lord 
 Grey says that the present Government would lose 110 votes by 
 it, but that is evidently wrong. Poulett Thomson says thirty. 
 The general opinion, however, is that Government would gain, 
 but not sufficiently to justify the measure. Lord John Russell's 
 speech is thought to be a bad one, and his proposition to send up 
 the Address straight to the King, supposing the House passed it, 
 without consulting the Lords was very coldly received. Peel is 
 harassed and disgusted, as well he may be, and, it is thought, will 
 resign on the first favourable occasion, in which case the King 
 would send for Lord Melbourne, Lord Grey, or Lord Stanley. 
 Poulett Thomson says that all the Opposition would vote against 
 the latter. The debate has been again adjourned. The only good 
 speech last night was Lord Stanley's ; it was very clever, but not 
 at all conciliatory. He attacked the whole Opposition en masse, 
 calling them a ' miscellaneous multitude,' and cut them up in the 
 cleverest and bitterest manner. From the whole tenor of his 
 speech, I think he will be obliged to join the Tories, as he has 
 offended his former friends. 
 
 April 3rd. Peel made a splendid speech this morning on Lord 
 John Russell's resolution ; but all his eloquence was in vain. The 
 'miscellaneous multitude' were determined not to listen, and 
 Ministers were beaten by a majority of 113 a larger one than 
 was expected. The numbers that divided were 322 for the 
 motion, 209 against it. I went up to London. 
 
 April 7th. Lord John Russell's resolution passed the Commons 
 yesterday by a majority of twenty-five. The Whigs are so certain 
 of turning Peel out that they have already formed their Govern- 
 ment, into which Lord Grey would force Lord Howick, though 
 against their will. Lords Brougham, Palmerston, and Auckland 
 
48 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 183-5 
 
 are to be left out, but Lord Lansdowne stipulates for the latter, 
 hitherto without success. 
 
 April 8th. Lord John Russell moved yesterday in the House 
 of Commons ' that it is the opinion of the House that no measure 
 upon the subject of tithes can be satisfactory to Ireland which 
 does not embody the principle contained in the foregoing resolu- 
 tion.' The House divided on this motion, and carried it by a 
 majority of twenty-seven 285 against 258. Sir Robert Peel 
 made, as usual, an excellent speech. 
 
 April 9tk. Peel has resigned, and the King has sent for Lord 
 Grey. It is not yet known how the new Cabinet will be formed, 
 but the King is said to be staunch against admitting any Radicals. 
 Addresses are coming in from all parts of the country praying the 
 King to continue Peel in his present office, and praying Peel. not 
 to resign. 
 
 April 10th. Sir Robert Peel made a magnificent speech on 
 Wednesday, the 8th, announcing his resignation and his reasons 
 for it. He was enthusiastically cheered from all parts of the 
 House. Even his enemies cannot help admiring him, and confess 
 that he is a great man. It is not yet known whom the King has 
 chosen as a successor. Lords Grey and Melbourne have had in- 
 terviews with him. 
 
 April 12th. Addresses are still pouring in from all parts of 
 the country in immense numbers. Peel's resignation has created 
 a greater sensation and more alarm than any event in politics 
 for many years. 
 
 April I4:th. If Lord John Russell takes office he must be re- 
 elected for Devonshire, and Mr. Montague Parker is already can- 
 vassing against him, with every probability of success. All sorts 
 of rumours about persons and places, but not sufficiently well 
 authenticated to be worth reporting. 
 
 April 22nd. We dined with the Sebastianis. One of his , 
 attaches asked me whether la chasse au renard was not bien dange- 
 reuse. I answered, ' Mais oui ; on pent se casser le cou ! ' ' Oh, 
 ce ii'est pas cela que je veux dire,' answered he, ' car on peut aller 
 doiicement. Mais n'est-ce pas que le renard se defend quelquefois 
 et vous sauts a la figure ? ' 
 
 April 2Qth. I hear that Lord Alvanley has called out O'Connell 
 
183.5 t)UEL WITH O'CONNELL; 49 
 
 for the language which he used in the House of Commons, calling 
 Lord Alvanley a bloated buffoon. O'Comiell had left London for 
 Dublin only a quarter of an hour before Colonel Danier, who was 
 charged with the message, reached his house. Lord Alvanley told 
 Lord Tankerville that he did not mean to let the matter drop, and 
 that if O'Connell would neither fight nor apologise he would dis- 
 grace him in the eyes of the country. 
 
 During this month there was a large party at Mr. Compton's 
 to hunt Avith the Queen's staghounds, which were sent down to 
 the New Forest. Among them came Lord Cardigan and Mr. 
 Assheton Smith, both celebrated riders, and jealous of their repu- 
 tation as such. I remember both at dinner on the day before 
 the hunt glaring at one another as if they were mortal enemies 
 about to fight the next day. Nor did they belie their looks, for 
 they rode a regular race_till both their horses were completely ex- 
 hausted, Lord Cardigan's going two or three hundred yards farther 
 than Assheton Smith's, and he thus claiming the victory. There 
 is a story of that impetuous Earl and of Lord Alvanley namely, 
 that at the opening day at Melton, when they met on the field, 
 the latter, with his hat off, said to Lord Cardigan : ' I beg to 
 apologise to you not only for any past offences, but for all that I 
 may commit during the ensuing season.' 
 
 May 4rth. Lord Alvanley fought a duel to-day with Morgan 
 O'Connell. Lord Alvanley received three shots and only fired 
 two. The cause of the duel was an impertinent letter which 
 Morgan O'Connell sent to Lord Alvanley, in which he said that 
 he had challenged his father knowing that he would not meet him. 
 Lord Alvanley immediately sent Colonel Darner to make the 
 necessary arrangements, and the duel took place that same after- 
 noon in a field near the Bar-net Road. Lord Alvanley showed 
 great sangfroid throughout, though Morgan O'Connell fired before 
 the signal was given. Lord Alvanley agreed to consider it as 
 a mistake, and they each fired two shots afterwards, Morgan 
 O'Connell jumping back, very much startled. Colonel Hodges 
 was his second. Mr. O'Connell saying he was satisfied after the 
 last two shots, Colonel Darner withdrew Lord Alvanley from the 
 field without his having made any apology or withdrawn what he 
 had saic\ respecting Mr. Daniel O'Connell, When Lord Al 
 
 I 
 
50 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1835 
 
 paid the hackney coach which had brought him to the ground, he 
 gave the coachman a sovereign, saying : ' I give you that, not for 
 taking me here, but for having brought me back.' 
 
 It is said that Disraeli has called out Mr. Morgan O'Connell 
 this morning, in consequence of an abusive speech of his father 
 at Dublin, in which he said that Mr. Disraeli is probably a 
 descendant of the impenitent thief who was crucified with our 
 Saviour. 
 
 May Qtk. Mr. Montague Parker has just beaten Lord John 
 Russell by 674 for the county of Devon, which is the first turn 
 of fortune for the Tories. Mr. Morgan O'Connell refused to 
 fight Mr. Disraeli, who thereupon wrote a letter to Mr. Daniel 
 O'Connell of rather questionable taste and language, although 
 deserved. 
 
 Sir John Byng is to be made a peer (Lord Strafford). His j 
 eldest son is canvassing Poole, and with such managers as Messrs. 
 Bonham and Ross, the Tory side will probably fail. 
 
 May liQth. London is en emoi to-day on account of the 
 elopement of Miss Colquhoun Grant with Mr. Brinsley Sheridan. 
 The whole thing has been arranged for some time between the 
 parties, through Mrs. Norton, for Sir Colquhoun Grant would not 
 allow his daughter to speak to Mr. Sheridan. They could not 
 find an opportunity till Sir Colquhoun Grant left London to 
 canvass Poole. Mrs. Norton then called for Miss Grant and took 
 her to her house, where Mr. Sheridan was waiting, and they 
 started for Scotland. 
 
 May 17th. We dined with the Sebastianis (the French Am- , 
 bassador). He was employed by Napoleon I., both in the army 
 and diplomacy, and has a high reputation. He has married Lady 
 Tankerville's sister. He is extremely pompous and a boaster. 
 After being beaten by the Duke of Wellington at Talavera, his 
 mother used to say of him, ' Mon fils ressemble a un de ses 
 tambours plus il est battu, plus il fait du bruit.' Sir Colquhoun 
 has returned to London to consult his lawyer, and to prosecute 
 the Sheridan family for conspiracy. His first step has been to 
 shoot Miss Grant's favourite horse. 1 
 
 Mrs. Norton came to Mine. Sebastiani's party, wishing, I 
 l Sir C. Grant became completely reconciled to his son-in law, 
 
1835 MUNICIPAL REFORM. 51 
 
 suppose, to feel the world. She talked in a most extraordinary 
 manner, and kicked Lord Melbourne's hat over her head. The 
 whole corps diplomatique were amazed. 
 
 Nay l$th. Mr. Spring Rice and Lord Wellesley have re- 
 signed, which must embarrass the Government considerably. 
 
 Nay '2Qth. Went to the opera to see ' I Puritani,' a new 
 opera by Bellini, which has been the rage at Paris the whole 
 winter. 
 
 June 5th. Poulett Thomson called to-day in great spirits. He 
 assured us that Sir Robert Peel did not mean to oppose Municipal 
 Reform, and that the bill would pass both Houses of Parliament 
 without material alterations. I ventured to doubt the fact, and he 
 offered to bet me 2 to 1 on it, which I accepted. 
 
 June 6th. Upon reading Peel's speech, I am convinced that 
 he does not intend to let the bill pass without great alteration, 
 as he said he would not oppose its being brought in ; but that he 
 reserved to himself a right of objecting to it in detail. 
 
 June 19^/i. Went to Sion. The Duke of Wellington came 
 up to me whilst I was walking with Lady C. Herbert, and asked 
 me if I had been at Lady Antrobus's concert the night before. I 
 answered that I had not, upon which the Duke turned to Lady C. 
 and said : ' You, were. Did we not send the French Ambassador 
 to the right about ? ' alluding to the foolish conduct oi Sebastiani, 
 which was this : The 1 8th of June being the anniversary of the 
 battle of Waterloo, the Duke, as usual, gave a great dinner, at 
 which the King was present. After dinner the Duke came to 
 Lady Antrobus's party, and the moment he entered the room 
 everybody rose, and the singers struck up ' Rule, Britannia,' set 
 to Italian words, and alluding to him and his glorious victory. 
 Marshal Sebastiani very foolishly chose to consider this as a per- 
 sonal affront, took his wife's arm and walked out of the house. 
 It is a pity they should have done this, as they have made them- 
 selves ridiculous, and more unpopular than they are already. 
 She is blind, he is dumb, and they give neither dinners nor 
 parties an unpardonable offence in their position. 
 
 June 2Qth. Lady Tankerville called this morning, and says 
 that Sebastiani is so angry at what he chooses to call an insult 
 
 E 2 
 
52 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. is3-5 
 
 that he declares he never will set foot in Lady Aiitrobus's house 
 again. 
 
 June 2$th. The papers to-day announce the death of the 
 famous Carlist chief, Zumalacarregui, who was killed before 
 Bilbao. This is an irreparable loss to the Carlist cause. The 
 Duke of Wellington expressed a very high opinion of his military 
 capacity, 
 
 July QQth. News arrived yesterday of an attempt having 
 been made to assassinate Louis Philippe by an infernal machine 
 on the 28th. Marshal Mortier was killed and many others severely 
 wounded, but the King was untouched. The machine was placed 
 at an open window on the first floor of a wine-shop on the Boule- 
 vards, and was composed of thirty pistols loaded with slugs and 
 contrived so as to be all fired off at once. When the National 
 Guard broke into the house, they found that the assassins were 
 themselves wounded by the explosion, and arrested them. This 
 reminds me that poor Marshal Mortier was once the victim of a 
 clever robbery. He attended some great public dinner in a full 
 marshal's uniform, which was very handsome, being highly em- 
 broidered and covered with medals. One of the waiters, apparently 
 by accident, upset the contents of a whole sauce-boat over him, 
 upon which another waiter offered, if he retired for a moment and 
 took off his coat, to remedy the mishap. The Marshal did so, 
 waited a long time, but never saw his coat again. 
 
 September \st. Yesterday the discussion on the Corporation 
 Bill came on in the House of Commons. Lord John Ilussell 
 made a temperate speech, willing to let the bill pass if the Peers 
 would give up some of their amendments. The Radicals were, 
 of course, for throwing it out at once, but the Conservatives 
 mustered very strong, and the Radicals were not even listened 
 to. Peel supported *Lord John and threw over the House of 
 Lords. He, however, would not consent to give up the clause 
 preventing Dissenters from naming to livings in the gift of 
 corporations. 
 
 September 5th. There has been a meeting of Peers at the Duke 
 of Wellington's, and they were unanimous not to give up a single 
 point and furious with Peel, I fear they will spoil all by too 
 much obstinacy. 
 
1835 TRIAL OF LORD MELBOURNE. 53 
 
 September 10th. The Lords and Commons have had an inter- 
 view and agreed to pass the Corporation Bill with the amend- 
 ments of the Lords ; Ministers were so afraid of losing their 
 places if they insisted on the Lords giving up any important 
 clause. 
 
 Jules de Polignac told me that he was not half as culpable as 
 we supposed, and that the fatal ordinances were entirely Charles 
 X.'s making, and that, in fact, he is guilty of nothing but of too 
 blind obedience to his King, to whom he is quite devoted. When 
 the Chambers voted the address to the King, praying him to dis- 
 miss his Ministers, Charles X., instead of doing so, dissolved the 
 Chambers. When they met again, Polignac, finding that the same 
 members had been re-elected and that he consequently could not 
 hope to carry on a Government, begged the King to accept his 
 resignation. Charles X. refused, upon which Polignac said, * Vous 
 voulez done ma tete, Sire ? ' The King answered most brutally, 
 ' Et pourquoi pas 1 ' 
 
 1836 
 
 January 1st. My youngest brother Charles announced to me 
 that he was engaged to be married to the youngest daughter of 
 Sir Edward O'Brien. 1 He has also determined on entering the 
 Church. 2 
 
 February Qth. Lady Pembroke 3 and three daughters arrived 
 at Heron Court. All in great beauty Lady Mary and Lady 
 Catherine as handsome women as can be seen. My father is their 
 guardian, and has a great affection for the family. 
 
 June 22nd. The trial of Lord Melbourne came on to-day, and 
 hi spite of strong evidence against him the jury gave their verdict 
 in his favour. Mrs. Norton must consider herself very fortunate 
 in being let off so easily. All the Whigs are in raptures, which 
 provoked an old Tory to say that ' he really couldn't see why Lord 
 Melbourne should be so triumphant at the verdict given, as it had 
 
 1 Afterwards Lord Incliiquin. He was father of the rebel. 
 
 2 He died in 1874, Bishop of Gibraltar. 
 
 5 Afterwards Lady Ailesbury, Lady Piinmpre, and Lady Shejbiarne, 
 
54 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 been proved that he had had more opportunities than any man 
 ever had before, and had made no use of thorn. 
 
 July '25th. The ' appropriation clause ' was carried yesterday 
 in the House of Commons, by a majority of twenty-six only. 
 Ministers expected a much larger majority, and could not disguise 
 their annoyance. 
 
 Alibaud's execution took place at Paris perfectly quietly, pro- 
 bably owing to the immense quantity of troops under arms. He had 
 improved upon the infernal machine of Fieschi, but was arrested 
 before he could use it. The King goes about in a bullet-proof 
 carriage. 
 
 The Constitution of 1812 has been proclaimed at Madrid, and 
 the Queen forced to acquiesce. Colonel Evans, who commands 
 the Westminster Legion in Spain, enrolled by Lord Palmerston 
 in defiance of international law, to assist Christina against Don 
 Carlos, is in a miserable state defeated, his men starving and 
 destitute of clothing. 
 
 Lord Tankerville related to me to-day an anecdote respecting 
 Sir Philip Francis, whom Wraxall conjectures to have been the 
 author of ' Junius,' and which supposition was vepy well founded 
 and corroborated by many facts. It was supposed that he in- 
 tended his name to be disclosed after his death, and had left 
 papers .establishing his identity with ' Junius,' but they were de- 
 stroyed by his son-in-law. He determined not to acknowledge 
 himself as the author of those letters during his life-time, and 
 disliked to be asked questions on the subject. One evening at 
 Brooks's, the conversation having fallen on a book just published 
 which proved Francis to be ' Juiiius,' Rogers, the poet, went up to 
 him and said, ' Sir Philip, will you allow me to ask you a question ? ; 
 To which the other one replied very fiercely, ' Yes, sir, at your 
 peril.' Upon which, Rogers turned round to someone near him 
 and said, 'If he is "Junius," he is Junius Brutus.' Sir Philip 
 used to say that he had written memoirs which he meant to be 
 published after his death, which would be the ruin of every lady 
 in society, and have the efieet of destroying all filiation, as he 
 clearly proved that not a single person was the son of his reputed 
 father. 
 
 18th. Hunted with the staghounds at Chillingham ; 
 
183G LOUD RANELAGH. 55 
 
 at least t\yo hundred horsemen out. After a run of several miles 
 the stag was lost in a large wood. It is a fine country to ride 
 across, but dangerous from the coal-pits. 
 
 1837 
 
 February 2nd. Address upon the King's speech moved in the 
 Lords by the Duke of Wellington, and by Sir Robert Peel in the 
 Commons. They attacked Lord Palmerston's foreign policy with 
 respect to Spain, but neither moved any amendment. 
 
 February 5th. French very indignant at no mention of them 
 in King's speech. Their Government paper calls the omission an 
 insult. No doubt the Ministers are angry with Louis Philippe 
 because he will not go the length they do about Spain. 
 
 February 9th. Debate on Irish Corporation Bill. O'Connell 
 made a signal failure. His presence of mind seems to have de- 
 serted him. Debate adjourned. 
 
 February IQth. Debate resumed. Sir Robert Peel made a 
 splendid speech. Bill read first time without a division, our party 
 reserving themselves for second reading. Whig papers threaten 
 to indict Lord Ranelagh for high treason for joining Carlist army, 
 which is absurd, as England has never declared war against Don 
 Carlos, and he has as much right to join him as General Evans 
 has to fight for Christina. Espartero still remains in Bilbao. 
 
 February 23rd. Another plot discovered against the life of 
 Louis Philippe. The assassin, called Champion, had constructed 
 a machine after the plan of Fieschi's, but improved, the barrels 
 being arranged in a semicircle and in three rows. The discovery 
 took place by means of a person who lodged in the same house, 
 and who, suspecting, from various circumstances, and also from 
 some things told him by the maid (who was the mistress of 
 Champion), that he was engaged in a plot against the King, wrote 
 to Louis Philippe and to the police, and so the house was searched 
 and the villain arrested, the machine being found nearly com- 
 pleted. He was taken to prison, where he contrived to hang 
 himself with his neck-cloth, thus making it difficult to detect his 
 accomplices. 
 
56 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1837 
 
 February Zitk. I drove to Bournemouth to see the new 
 buildings. It will be a large place some day. 
 
 Lord F. Egerton's amendment to the Irish Municipal Bill has 
 been thrown out by a majority of 80, which I suppose puts an end 
 to all idea of a dissolution. 
 
 February 25tk. A good deal of division exists amongst the 
 Tories, who are very careless in their attendance, and who prefer 
 their pleasures to their duties. Not so the Whigs, who are always 
 ready to obey their leader's call, and never dream of thinking for 
 themselves. 
 
 The King has declared that he won't dissolve for either party. 
 Mrs. Norton made her debut at Lady Minto's a few nights ago, 
 and was very well received. Her reception had been made a party 
 question ; indeed, the whole business has been so from the beginning. 
 
 March !th. News from Spain very favourable to Carlists. 
 Forcadel, a lieutenant of Cabrera's, has defeated near Valencia 
 a corps of 3,000 Christines. Their Brigadier, Aznar, with forty 
 officers, were taken prisoners and shot after the engagement. Four 
 of Evans's men have been taken prisoners and shot by the Carlists. 
 These poor Englishmen are the more to be pitied as they had been 
 forced to remain in the service against their will. At the expiration 
 of a year, which was the term for which they had enlisted, they 
 applied to General Evans to be sent home, but he refused their 
 request. They belonged to a Scotch regiment, and their fate has 
 produced a great sensation at St. Sebastian. Evans must bitterly 
 reproach himself for his conduct to these poor soldiers, for the 
 only way in which he could have obliged them to remain in Spain 
 Avas by refusing to give them the pay due for their year's service, 
 which would have enabled them to return to England. General 
 ' Lazy ' Evans, as his, soldiers now call him (his name being Lacy), 
 after a great deal of blustering, threatening, and issuing ridiculous 
 proclamations to the Basques, remains at St. Sebastian, as he has 
 done for the last six months, and Espartero is inactive at Bilbao. 
 March IQth. I published my pamphlet on the Basque War, 
 which was an answer to one that came from our Embassy at 
 Madrid. 1 
 
 1 The late Lord Carnarvon -vyrote a vpry interesting work on tli.e Basque Way 
 and the/werog, 
 
1837 WAR IN BISCAY. 57 
 
 March 17 th. The attack 011 the Carlists has at last begun. 
 Evans left St. Sebastian on the 10th with 12,000 men, and after 
 several hours' hard fighting and great loss on both sides, succeeded 
 in taking the heights of Asurzegaiia, the Carlists retreating to 
 Hernani, where they intend to make a stand. 
 
 The Abolition of Church Rates Bill passed first reading, 
 House of Commons, on the 15th, by a majority of only 23, which 
 was considered a defeat. 
 
 March IQth. Ministers, with the exception of Mr. Spring 
 Kice, all voted for Mr. Clay's motion to abolish the Corn Laws. 
 The motion was negatived in spite of the support of the Govern- 
 ment. 
 
 March 21 st. Evans has been totally defeated ; a heavy fall 
 of snow having made the mountain roads impassable, obliged 
 Saarsfeld to retreat towards Pampelona. Don Sebastian im- 
 mediately marched upon Evans, and after a severe engagement 
 drove him and his whole army into St. Sebastian. 
 
 March 2th. The heavy loss which Evans suffered would 
 have been still greater if it had not been for the gallant conduct 
 of our Marines, who, though not more than four or five hundred 
 in number, withstood the attack of the whole Carlist army and 
 protected his retreat, or, more properly speaking, his flight. His 
 left flank had been turned, and his men offered hardly any resist- 
 ance. The employment of our Marines by Lord Palmerston 
 against a people who were fighting for their liberties, and with 
 whom we were not at war, is another example of his contempt 
 for international law. 
 
 I shall quote nothing more from my diary about the Carlist 
 War, of which there is a great deal. Everyone knows how it 
 ended. After an heroic defence of their fueros, the Basques were 
 sold by their general, Marotto, and after a desultory resistance 
 by Cabrera, who actually reached the gates of Madrid, the 
 Northern provinces were subdued. Cabrera came to England, 
 and, under the auspices of the Duchess of Inverness, married 
 Miss Richards, a considerable heiress, which marriage turned out 
 yery well till his death, He had been a sacristan in Andalusia. 
 
58 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1837 
 
 General Sir de Lacy Evans afterwards commanded a division in 
 the Crimean War, and was esteemed a good officer ; but Marshal 
 Pelissier told me that when a council of war was held after the 
 battle of Inkerman to consider the necessity of abandoning the 
 Crimea, he was the first to recommend it. The Marshal gave a 
 very graphic description of the scene. He described Lord Raglan, 
 as Commaiider-m-Chief, being the last to speak, in unusual agita- 
 tion moving the stump of his lost arm convulsively, and when 
 Pelissier voted for remaining, rushing up to him to shake hands, 
 declaring that nothing would make him stir. 
 
 April Sth. Received a requisition from Portsmouth. Met 
 Count Pozzo di Borgo, Russian Ambassador at the Tuileries, and 
 was struck with a remark he made as rather undiplomatic. I 
 happened to say that I had been present at the opening of the 
 House of Lords after the sudden dissolution of Parliament upon 
 the rejection of the Reform Bill, when the King was nearly 
 coming in a hackney coach to the House of Lords. Upon this 
 he replied, ' Quand il a jetc sa couronne dans la poussiere.' He 
 is one of the cleverest of living diplomatists. 
 
 April 19/<. Lady Fitzharris and I started from London by 
 steamer to Boulogne on our way to Paris. 
 
 April 23rd. Reached Paris, and went to the Hotel de 
 Loiidres, Place Vendome. Excellent apartments for forty francs 
 a day. 
 
 April 27th. We went with Lady Pembroke and Lady Mary 
 Herbert (who was engaged to Lord Bruce) to the Champ de Mars 
 races. Lord Pembroke famous for his turn-out. I never saw a 
 handsomer equipage. His groom being asked by him whether he 
 had exercised the horses, said : ' Yes, my Lord, I have walked 
 them twenty times round Wyndham Place' meaning Place 
 Vendome. 
 
 Lord Pembroke lives in great state at Paris, and is as famous 
 for his cook as for his horses. He is a very handsome man. 
 
 Dined at Lord Granville's, our Ambassador. Lady Gran- 
 ville has made a rule to present no English at Court, so Lady 
 
is;; 7 PARKS. 59 
 
 Kii/.harris will be presented by her aunt, the Duchc8.se do 
 Gramont. 
 
 JA/y '3rd. Madame Sebastian! took us to the Tuileries to 
 present us. We entered by the Pavilion de Flore, Avhich is a 
 private entrance. After passing through several magnificent 
 apartments, the Queen received us. She was sitting at a round 
 table with Madame Adelaide and the Princess de Lieven. We 
 were asked to sit down by the Queen, who talked a great deal to 
 Lady Fitzharris. It was altogether the most formal business. 
 Nothing could be kinder than the manner of the Queen and Madame 
 Adelaide to both of us ; but I thought they behaved very coldly to 
 Madame de Lieven, and appeared much more at their ease when she 
 left. Madame de Lieven, after she had been ambassadress or rather 
 ambassador in. London, went to Paris, and her salon is one of the 
 most agreeable, not only for fashion, but is one to which all the 
 cleverest statesmen of the time resort. Guizot is never missing, 
 and Mole generally there. Mademoiselle d^ Mensingen a very 
 handsome chanoinesse presides at the tea-table, to which those 
 who are young and careless of politics congregate. The other 
 evening a very good-looking and smart gentleman was announced. 
 The Princess stared at him, saying : ' Monsieur, je lie vous connais 
 pas.' The poor man, looking very foolish, exclaimed, ' Comment, 
 Madame ! Ne vous rappelez-vous pas, a Ems ? ' * Non, Monsieur' 
 and she bowed him out. I never saw anything so cool ; but it 
 was clear to the company, who could not conceal their smiles, that 
 a gentleman who may be useful at Ems may be de trop at Paris. 
 
 May 2lst. I left Paris. It is high time I should look after 
 Portsmouth. Nothing is talked of but the marriage of the Duke 
 of Orleans. The Duchess is said to be plain. Palmyre, her 
 dressmaker, has been ordered to make her gowns different from 
 any that have ever been worn, and has accordingly invented one. 
 
 Mini 24th. London. The Church-Bate Bill has passed by 
 287 to L>8i>. 
 
 May '27th. Finding it useless to go to Portsmouth till I can 
 canvass the whole borough, I shall wait for the July registration, 
 so returned to Paris, and found on arriving that my butler, named 
 Stephens, whom I had taken from Madame V iscoiiti, had gone 
 off with a considerable quantity of property belonging to Lady 
 
60 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1837 
 
 Fitzharris and me, of which he had the care. I sent for the Com- 
 missary of Police, who, after listening to the case, very coolly 
 stated that as Stephens had been gone for two days he should 
 probably not catch him, and in consequence of a book of poetry 
 found in his room (I believe ' Byron '), that he was probably of a 
 romantic nature, and had drowned himself in the Seine ! The 
 next morning he called to say that the thief was not to be found. 
 I expected this from his former manner evidently showing that 
 he never meant to take him. The next day Lady Fitzharris's 
 maid received a pathetic note from Stephens, praying her to save 
 his life by bringing him that night his passport, which he had 
 forgotten, to a certain bench in the Champs Elysees. I persuaded 
 the girl with some difficulty to go, and I followed close 'behind 
 her. It was a dark night, and when she came up to the seat I 
 went round it, collared, and threw him. He made no resistance, 
 and I brought him to our house. I sent again for the Commis- 
 sary, and, showing him Stephens, I said, ( Je suis oblige, Monsieur, 
 de faire votre besogne.' He was furious, but walked out of the 
 room with his prisoner, who I afterwards ascertained was one of 
 the principal and regular mouchards of the police. Hence the 
 attempt to save him. 1 
 
 June \\tli. Having been invited to the fetes at Versailles 
 for the Duke of Orleans' marriage, we went to the Gramonts, who 
 have a house there. On presenting my ticket at the Musee, 
 I was told that foreigners were not to be admitted. On appeal- 
 ing to Madame de Flahault, she said that a mistake had been made. 
 It was first intended to invite them, but it turned out that there 
 was not sufficient room, as one hundred more people had been 
 asked than could be accommodated at the dinner, and of course 
 they had to give way to the heroes of July. 
 
 In the evening we were admitted to the presence of the 
 Royal Family. The Duchess of Orleans is not pretty, but grace- 
 ful, and looks very young. We then all went to the theatre, 
 where there was plenty of room. A great many more might have 
 been invited, yet the coup d'ceil was splendid the theatre being 
 nearly as large as Drury Lane, and every one in full dress the 
 ladies covered with diamonds, the gentlemen in uniform. 
 
 1 Stephens was tried and condemned to two years' iniprisonmcu,t t 
 
1837 MATH OF WILLIAM iv. 01 
 
 The company invited to dinner sat on the balcon. In the 
 seats behind were ladies, the Chamber of Peers and Deputies, and 
 above were all the foreigners, Half the pit was appropriated to 
 the Royal Family and their suite. The performance began by 
 the ' Misanthrope,' which, though beautifully acted, was a terrible 
 bore. Mademoiselle Mars was perfect. Afterwards two acts of 
 ' Robert le Diable,' in which Dupre, the tenor, sang splendidly. 
 The whole concluded with a ballet, in which one scene represented 
 Versailles as it was in Louis XIY.'s time, giving a most complete 
 idea of the magnificence of those glorious clays of France when 
 the King himself danced in a ballet ! 
 
 June 12th. Returned to Paris and heard a very bad account 
 of our King. 
 
 June 15th. No hope of our King's recovery. A horrible 
 accident has happened in the Champ de Mars during the military 
 representation of storming a fort ; and the ball at the Palace is 
 put off in consequence of thirty people having been crushed to 
 death. It made a serious impression on the Duchess of Orleans, 
 who looked on it as a bad omen at her marriage. The Duke is 
 extremely kind and civil to me, and asked me to hunt at Chaii- 
 tilly. The stag broke away from the forest, and took us nearly 
 to Beauvais. His Royal Highness presented me with the foot, 
 which the artist Susse has turned into a pen-rack. The Duke also 
 gave me the buttons of his hunt. The costume is dark blue with 
 a red collar, his crown and initials on silver buttons. 
 
 June 2lst. Our King died yesterday between two and three 
 o'clock. Everybody regretted him, for he was a good man, though 
 not a great king. He showed much firmness and composure in his 
 last moments, and it is said that, two days before he died, being 
 the anniversary of the battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Welling- 
 ton had sent him, according to custom, the banner by which he 
 holds his estates. Lord Munster, thinking to please him, brought 
 it to him, when the poor King, though almost expiring, raised 
 himself up, seized the folds of the flag in his hand, and exclaimed, 
 4 Ah, that was a glorious day for England.' These were his last 
 words, and well worthy of an English king. 
 
 June 22nd. Left Paris for Portsmouth, 
 
62 MKMOlftS OF AX KX-.MIMSTftR. 187 
 
 i repaired to Portsmouth, in consequence of a requisition, and 
 stood for the seat in conjunction with the celebrated Admiral 
 Sir George Cockburn ; his nephew, Mr. Cockburn, 1 being our legal 
 agent. We canvassed Portsmouth for three weeks during the 
 hottest July I ever remember, and at the election were deserted 
 and thrown over by many of the very men who had signed 
 the requisition. Almost immediately afterwards I received one 
 from Christchurch, which I declined. A sharp contest took place 
 there between Sir George Rose (Tory) and Colonel Cameron, a 
 Liberal, in which the latter was defeated. Since that time, 
 another Reform Bill has added the new town of Bournemouth to 
 the borough of Christchurch, which has completely swamped it. 
 My brother, Capt. Harris, R.N., sat for it for eight years. 
 
 September ISth. Arrived at Chillingham, where Lord and 
 Lady Stanley came, and I made his acquaintance for the first 
 time. He is very amusing, and with his high spirits and clever- 
 ness* kept a large party in roars of laughter. 
 
 Poulett Thomson, who was there, was the victim of his jokes, 
 but all made so good-humouredly that it was impossible to be 
 angry. 
 
 S&pt&nb&r 2lst. Went out partridge shooting with Lord 
 Stanley, and I think we have taken a decided liking to one an- 
 other. The Stanleys leave to-morro\v, and we are to pay them a ] 
 visit at Knowsley on our way South. 
 
 October l$th. Left Chillingham for Howick. Found Poulett 
 Thomson and Bear Ellice and the family. Lord Grey bitter againsf ; 
 the present Government. I asked P. Thomson what the Earl's 
 politics were at present, and his answer was : ' What they 
 always have been Charles Lord Grey.' The evening was formal, 
 but all the family very kind. Lord Clanricarde was one of the 
 party. 
 
 November 1st. Dined with Sebastiani, where we met the Duke 
 and Duchess of Terceira. She is the daughter of the unfortunate 
 Marquis cle Louie, who was murdered by Don Miguel. 
 
 1 Afterwards Lord Chief Justice of England. 
 
 
1837 CANADA. 63 
 
 \lth. Took the Duke and Duchess of Terceira to 
 the House of Lords to hear the Queen's speech her first one 
 which Her Majesty delivered in a very clear and distinct voice. 
 
 November 20th. Parliament is only to be prorogued to Janu- 
 ary 16, instead of to Febuary 1, in consequence of the bad news 
 that has been received from Canada. The long-expected insur- 
 rection has broken out, and the English troops have been defeated 
 at St. Denis. The whole number of troops in. that province does 
 not amount to 4,000 men, and the insurgents include nine-tenths 
 of the population. Constant defeat must therefore be expected, 
 for it will be impossible to send reinforcements to Canada for fire 
 months to come. Ministers are terribly frightened. They will 
 have great difficulty in finding excuses for their culpable negli- 
 gence, as they have been repeatedly warned of what was likely to 
 happen if they delayed any longer in taking decided steps for the 
 safety of the Colony. 
 
 November 27tJL The news from Canada is better to-day, 
 although there is no doubt that Colonel Gore's detachment was 
 beaten at St. Denis. The affair was of very little importance, 
 the number of troops engaged not amounting to more than 200, 
 and Col. Wetherell, who commanded another . party, in attacking 
 St. Charles gained a complete victory, and made a great slaughter 
 of the rebels. 
 
 1838 
 
 January 1st. For the last few days the news from Canada 
 has been very good. The insurrection seems to be nearly sup- 
 pressed. Papineau has fled, and it is said that Colonel Browne 
 has been murdered by his own party for cowardice. Troops are, 
 however, going out to Canada as soon as possible, and, in order 
 that their arrival should be more certain and speedy, they are to 
 be sent out in frigates instead of transports. 
 
 January 25th. The news from Canada continues very 
 favourable. Sir John Colborne has been perfectly successful in 
 his attack upon St. Eustache and Grand Bule ; both of which 
 places he has taken and burned with very little loss on his side, 
 
64 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MlNISTiJfc*. 1&98 
 
 January 26tk. I killed five white-fronted geese to-day, stalk- 
 ing them with a pony, which is the only way of getting near 
 them. 
 
 January *2Wi> Sir Robert Peel having obliged the Govern- 
 ment to consent to adopt his amendment to their Canada Bill, 
 they did it with enough ill grace to show that their doing so was 
 compulsory. 
 
 January 3lst, February 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. The American 
 Radical papers are in a state of the greatest fury with this 
 country, and are doing all they can to incite their countrymen to 
 a war, because a party of Canadians attacked and captured a 
 steamboat, the ' Carolina,' belonging to the rebels at Navy Island, 
 which they had bought for the purpose of transporting men and 
 arms to the island. Even if it had belonged to the Americans, 
 the Royalists had a perfect right to take it, as it was employed 
 against them, by every law of neutrality. The American papers 
 are making themselves very ridiculous, threatening vengeance, 
 and writing the most absurd tirades. 
 
 February tk. The news from Canada continues very satis- 
 factory, the American Government being evidently averse to war 
 with England, and anxious to preserve neutrality by all the 
 means in their power. The President even goes so far as to 
 demand additional power to be vested in the executive force in 
 order to compel the population on the frontiers to abstain from 
 any acts of aggression. The news of the capture and burning of 
 the ' Caroline ' had reached the Government ; there had been a 
 debate in Congress on the subject, and the almost universal 
 feeling seemed to be that we were justified in our attack upon 
 that vessel, as the Americans had been themselves the first to 
 infringe the neutrality laws. The destruction of the Emperor of 
 Russia's Winter Palace at St. Petersburg by fire has occurred ; 
 then the Italian Opera House in Paris ; and within the next few 
 days the palace of the Duke of Wiirtemberg,' which the Duchess 
 (a daughter of Louis Philippe) was supposed to have caused, as it 
 Avas in her room the fire originated. The Duchess has lost all her 
 jewels and trousseau. 
 
 February 5th. I killed four wild swans to-day. 1 An immense 
 1 I shot thirty-two of these splendid birds during this severe winter, some of 
 
1838 LORD MAIDSTONE AND O'CONNELL. 65 
 
 flight I counted sixty passed over my head, and a beautiful 
 sight it was. They alighted a long way up the river Avon. 1 
 followed them, when, after waiting for some time longer, I saw 
 the whole flight get up again and fly backwards and forwards, 
 dividing into several parties, then unite again, some ending by 
 alighting again in the Avon, but further down, and the others in 
 the direction of the Moor's River, screaming like a pack in full 
 cry. The cold was intense. The river was choked with mountains 
 of ice and snow, so the scene was very striking. Hundreds of 
 wildfowl were flying about, seeking for a resting-place where the 
 water was open some very rare species. 
 
 February \4:t/i, I5th, and 16^. News has been received of 
 the evacuation of Navy Island by the rebels, on the evening of 
 January 1 4 ; and of the returning of the cannon to General Eyre, 
 the American officer in command of the frontier. The American 
 Government seems sincere in its professions of neutrality, but the 
 citizens have behaved infamously. 
 
 February 2Qth. Lord Maidstone brought forward his motion 
 to-day against O'Connell, and carried it by a majority of nine in 
 a House of over five hundred members. He then moved that 
 O'Connell should be reprimanded by the Speaker, upon which 
 Lord John Russell got up in a passion, and said such a course 
 was a most shabby ending to the proceedings of the Conservatives. 
 This greatly disappointed O'Connell and his party, who had made 
 up their minds to be sent to the Tower in a body, and thereby to 
 excite a popular cry in their favour, as in the case of Sir Francis 
 Burdett, who was escorted to the Tower by all the ragamuffins 
 in London. The Conservatives observed a firm front, and the 
 Government, seeing that they would be beaten, moved the adjourn- 
 ment of the House. Two divisions took place, and, although the 
 Government were beaten each time, Sir Robert Peel, seeing that 
 they were determined to continue dividing, agreed to postpone 
 the discussion on Lord Maidstone's resolution until the following 
 day. 
 
 February 27th. The Government brought down to-day every 
 man they could muster sick, halt, and blind but notwithstand- 
 
 which were of a smaller species, called Bewick's Swan, weighing about 10 Ibs., 
 whilst the Hoopers reached 25 Ibs. 
 
 P 
 
66 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1838 
 
 ing all their exertions were beaten by a larger majority than last 
 night. In the first division the Conservatives had a majority of 
 24, and in the second 29, upon which the Ministers, seeing that 
 they were losing by continuing to divide the House, gave up tho 
 point. 
 
 February 2Sth. I went to Mr. Landseer's, to whom Lady 
 Fitzharris gave a sitting of two hours. He is very anxious to 
 finish her picture for the Exhibition. It has been very much 
 admired, and Lord Coiiyngham, amongst others, was so pleased 
 with it that he mentioned it to the Queen, who desired that we 
 should send it to her as soon as finished, so that I have no doubt 
 his vanity will stimulate Mr. Landseer to exert himself to do his 
 best. 
 
 March Qth. Left London at 11 A.M., and arrived at Dover at 
 7.30 in the evening, although coming all the way with four horses. 
 We went to the York Hotel, which we found very comfortable 
 and particularly quiet. 
 
 March 10th. Embarked at 8 A.M. on board the 'Duke of 
 Wellington ' steamer for Boulogne. There were not more than five 
 or six passengers besides ourselves. 
 
 March 18th. The first people I met at Paris were Count 
 Pahlen, and then the eternal M. de Bonneval, whom I can never 
 see without thinking of the Due de Richelieu's observation about 
 his success at masquerades : ' Bonneval a toujours un succes fou 
 aux bals masques, car il est si bets que tout le monde s'adresse a 
 lui, etant bien sur de n'etre pas reconnu.' Mme. le Hon, who is 
 said to be M. de Moray's belle, is a handsome fair woman, and at 
 the head of all the fashion. Went to a tableau given by Mrs. 
 Locke. It was not begun when we arrived, but we were not kept 
 waiting long before being admitted into the room where the stage 
 was erected. The first tableau represented a scene in 'Les 
 Brigands,' in which Lady Wallscourt, Mrs. Locke's little girl, 
 Mademoiselle Dentici, an Italian, and M. Antonin de Noailles 
 performed. There were three tableaux, all pretty, particularly 
 the last, which was taken from Lord Byron's ' Parisina.' Lord 
 Douglas represented Hugo, looking very handsome ; Miss Raikes 
 was Parisina, and did it remarkably well. Count Zichy acted 
 the part of the husband, and M. Antonin de JSToailles that of the 
 
1833 FAKJS. G7 
 
 executioner, but all with the exception of Miss Raikes were seized 
 with an unfortunate fit of laughter as soon as the curtain was 
 drawn, occasioned by the Duchesse de Poix exclaiming, ' Ah ! !e 
 bel liomme ! ' a remark which she applied to Count Zichy, who 
 laughed to that degree that he rolled in his chair, which was 
 peculiarly unlucky, as he ought to have looked the stern and 
 unbending tyrant. The curtain was closed for a few minutes to 
 give them time to recover, and when they had regained their 
 composure they went through their parts with great effect. I 
 also saw the famous Madame Martinetti, who was mistress to 
 Napoleon in his first campaign in Italy. She is now sixty-five, 
 but does not appear to be more than forty, her face being still 
 very handsome, and her figure like that of a young woman. 
 
 March 24#7i. We went to Princess Lieven's, where there 
 was rather a pleasant party. I saw M. Guizot for the first 
 time. He is a very remarkable-looking man, ugly, but with a 
 very sharp, clever countenance, though with the expression of the 
 old Puritans. 
 
 April 7th. Lady Fitzharris went to see her cousin Adele, 
 Superior of the Convent of the Sacre Coeur, who made a violent 
 attack upon her Protestant religion. To make up for all the 
 harsh things she said, she proposed to her to go and see the 
 corpse of the Archbishop of Toulouse, who had died in the con- 
 vent a day before. She assured her he was ' dressed,' and not at 
 all a disagreeable object ; notwithstanding which we made our 
 escape as quick as possible, determined not to return to the con- 
 vent until he is buried, as Adele is quite capable of having him 
 brought to us, if we don't go to him. Went to Princess Lieven's 
 in the evening and found M. Guizot there ; M. Berryer, the 
 famous Royalist lawyer, and Lord Brougham, who kept everyone 
 in a roar of laughter by the absurd things he said in his bad 
 French. Amongst others, talking of the Princess Charlotte 
 having run away from her nurse to her mother, he said : ' Dans 
 ce temps-la j'ai passe un nuit avec Madame de Flahault un nuit 
 tres agreable entre elle et la fille du Roi.' Everybody was 
 amazed at this speech : poor Madame de Flahault looked perfectly 
 horrified. Madame de Lieven, with all her good breeding, could 
 not keep from laughing, and of course the rest followed her ex- 
 
 F2 
 
68 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1838 
 
 ample. It is quite decided that M. de Flaliault is not to go to 
 England as ambassador, and the King has named Marshal Soult, 
 and Soult thanked him for his appointment. The King said : 
 ' You must not thank me ; it is the young Queen of England who 
 lias asked for you.' Madame Graham came up to Lady Fitzharris 
 in the evening, when she was sitting by Madame de Lieven, and 
 said : ' Eh bieii, miladi, quel est 1'amoureux que vous voulez que 
 je vous ameiie choisissez ? ' Mr. Raikes, who heard this wonder- 
 ful speech, said, alluding to the report that Madame Graham 
 was formerly a milliner, ' Cela est plus modiste que modeste.' 
 
 April 27th. Dined with the Sebastianis ; the Marshal in a 
 bad humour, and dinner went off heavily. 
 
 May 1st. Nobody at Madame de Lieven's this evening except 
 the faithful M. Guizot, so we went on to Madame de Segur. I hear 
 the Duke de Valenciennes will not go to England with Marshal 
 Soult, as he does not like that M. Airgues, who is appointed Secre- 
 tary to the Embassy, should have the pas over him. This would not 
 have been the case under the old regime, as gentlemen who ac- 
 companied an Ambassador Extraordinary were never designated 
 as Attaches, but simply as gentilshommes, which left them pre- 
 cedence according to their rank. Now the appellation of gentil- 
 homme is prohibited, and all who accompany the Ambassador 
 must go as Attaches, which of course places them below the 
 Secretary to the Embassy. We went to the reception at the 
 Tuileries this evening at eight o'clock with Madame Sebastian!, 
 but notwithstanding that we started so early, all the seats were 
 taken, and we had to stand the whole time. It was a very fine 
 sight, and, though a great fatigue, we are glad we went. The 
 crowd was very great, but the apartments were so large that we 
 suffered no inconvenience, except not getting seats, for there was 
 no pushing and scrambling such as I saw at the Queen's Draw- 
 ing Rooms in England. The reception also took place in the 
 evening, and it was very pretty, owing to the effect 011 both the 
 complexions and the dresses of the ladies, which look much 
 better by candlelight. 
 
 May Qtk. Dined at home with Lord Douglas. We went at 
 eight to the Russian Ambassador's to fetch the Sebastianis, and 
 from thence to the Tuileries, where there were a good many 
 
1838 THE TU1LERIES. 69 
 
 people. All the chairs were occupied ; but the Queen ordered 
 Lady Fitzharris to be placed next to her, and talked to her the 
 greatest part of the time we remained. 
 
 May I2tk. We dined at the Tuileries, and I was introduced 
 to the Duchess of Orleans. The King came in soon after six, 
 and immediately led the Duchess of Orleans to dinner. The 
 Queen followed with the Duke of Wurtemberg, the Duke of 
 Nemours with the Duchess of Wiirtemberg, the Duke of Orleans 
 with the Princess Clementina, and one of the unknown Bavarians 
 fell to Lady Fitzharris. The dinner was in the Galerie de Diane, 
 and everything of course was very handsome in the way of plate ; 
 but the dinner itself was execrable, and the wine the same. The 
 attendance was very perfect, every person at table having a 
 servant behind their chair, whose sole duty it was to wait upon 
 them. The dinner lasted very little more than an hour. We all 
 returned to the room where the Queen received, and everybody 
 remained standing while coffee was served. I was near Mine. 
 Sebastiani, to whom the King was talking, and I overheard her 
 say ' Oui, Monseigneur,' and very foolishly, instead of letting it 
 pass as a slip of the tongue, said : * Ah, pardon, sire ; c'est sire 
 que je voulais dire.' The King answered : ' Mais, vous n'avez 
 pas d'excuses a me faire ; c'est bien naturel que vous m'appeliez 
 " Monseigneur ; " il y a beaucoup de personnes qui le font, c'est 
 une meprise bien excusable.' She then tried to get out of it by 
 saying that, having sat at dinner next to the Duke of Orleans, 
 she had got into the habit of saying it, and forgot that she was 
 no longer talking to him. The King again repeated : ' C'est tres 
 excusable ; vous avez ete habituee pendant si longtemps a 
 m'appeler " Monseigneur," que la meprise est bien iiaturelle.' 
 
 May 16^. I went to Chantilly, where the Duke of Orleans 
 entertained a party very handsomely. 
 
 May 2Ist. I returned from Chantilly. The Duke of Orleans 
 was extremely kind and civil, and on the day of the hunt, having 
 arrived before the other foreigners at the taking of the stag, he 
 gave me the foot as a souvenir of himself and of Chantilly. We 
 dined afterwards at the Rothschilds, where we met the Sebasti- 
 anis, the Apponyis, Lord Granville, Marshal Soult, &c. 
 
 May 22nd. Prince Talleyrand's funeral took place this morn- 
 
70 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1838 
 
 ing at the Church of the Assumption. There was a great crowd 
 collected to see the procession, and of course a large military force 
 to prevent any disturbance. He died 011 the 1 7th, having received 
 the sacraments, although during his life he was supposed to have 
 been an unbeliever, and in fact did not deny it. His memoirs, 
 which must be most curious, are not to be published for twenty 
 years. 1 He received the sacraments from 1VL Dupanloup. 
 
 June, 7th. I hear there have been dreadful riots. in Kent. 
 The country people had been persuaded by a madman calling 
 himself Sir William Courtney that he and they were invulnerable, 
 and accordingly they fought desperately, and, in spite of their 
 inferiority in numbers and arms to their opponents, would not give 
 in until Courtney and eight or nine of their side had been killed. 
 Lieutenant Bennett was killed by Courtney in the act of rushing 
 upon him. Courtney was immediately shot by the soldiers, after 
 which the rioters attacked them with such ferocity that they were 
 obliged to fire in self-defence. This morning Louis Philippe had 
 a review of the troops of the Line garrisoned at Paris. He 
 stationed himself near the Obelisk at the Place Louis Quinze, and 
 they all passed by en grande tenue. Before the attempts were 
 made to murder the King, the reviews used to take place on the 
 Boulevards ; now they are always in the Place Louis Quinze, 
 where he is as safe as in his palace, for not a single carriage or 
 foot passenger is allowed to approach him, and guards are placed 
 in all the streets leading to the Place, who stop everybody without 
 any exception. The Gardens of the Tuileries are closed, so that 
 the road from the Palace along the Quays is quite safe, the river 
 being on one side and the empty gardens on the other. 
 
 June 14:th. We left Paris at twelve, stopped for an hour at 
 Beauvais to dinner, and reached Grandvilliers at nine. 
 
 June 15th. Reached Montreuil at seven ; got along very 
 slowly, as there was much travelling on the road and a deficiency 
 of postboys. 
 
 Jime lth. Reached Calais at four. 
 
 June 17th. Embarked on board the ' Ocean,' a large steamer 
 with bad accommodation. The sea was smooth. Amongst the 
 passengers there was a man who said he was returning for the 
 i They are not published yet, 1884, 
 
1838 QUEEN'S CORONATION. 71 
 
 coronation, which he was to attend as a page. He talked of 
 nothing but Italy, himself, and his travels, telling many marvel- 
 lous stories which his audience swallowed with the greatest 
 readiness. 
 
 June 18th. Found London occupied by the duel which had 
 just taken place between Lord Castlereagh and M. de Melcy, 
 Grisi's husband, in which the former was wounded in the wrist. 
 It is said M. de Melcy intercepted a letter from Lord Castlereagh 
 to his wife, and immediately called him out. 1 
 
 June 27th. Owing to the Queen's coronation, I never saw 
 anything like the state of the streets to-day. It was nearly im- 
 possible to move along them for postboys and strings of carriages 
 going at a foot's pace. They are stopped up at every turn by 
 carts carrying planks for the scaffoldings that are being erected 
 along the line of the Coronation procession. 
 
 June 28th. The coronation took place to-day. We called for 
 Poulett Thomson, who accompanied us to the Board of Trade. 
 The Government, or rather Lord John Russell, had given no orders 
 to the police to make carriages keep the line, and there was in 
 consequence a good deal of confusion, coachmen cutting in, &.c. 
 But the day was so very fine, and the appearance of the streets 
 so new to us, as we had never been in London during a coronation, 
 that we were in no hurry to arrive. The crowd was in perfect 
 good humour, and behaved very quietly. We reached the Board 
 of Trade at ten, when the firing of cannon announced that the 
 Queen had left the Palace, and at about eleven the procession 
 appeared in sight. It was a magnificent show, though we had to 
 thank the foreign ambassadors for a great part of its splendour, 
 as without them the procession would have been very little more 
 brilliant than when the Queen goes down to the House of Lords 
 to open Parliament. The only people cheered besides the Queen 
 were the Duchess of Kent, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke and 
 Duchess of Cambridge, and Marshal Soult. The latter was quite 
 overcome by his reception, which was entirely unexpected by him, 
 and he said it was a most noble trait in the English character to 
 receive an old enemy so enthusiastically, for the cheering proceeded 
 from all classes. 
 
 l Lord Castlereagh appeared at the Opera the same night, 
 
72 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1833 
 
 August 4th. I started for the Isle of Skye with Mr. Compton, 
 M.P. for South Hants, and arrived at Oban 011 the 10th. I found 
 the state of the population rather deteriorated than otherwise 
 since my last visit. The crofters seem to have entirely worked 
 out their little plots and have no manure to refresh them. Lord 
 Macdonald has done all he could to improve their position by 
 building new and clean cottages ; but so fond are they of their 
 old state of dirt, that they pulled up the planks of the floor, pre- 
 ferring to lie on the bare ground. "What is to be done with these 
 Celts ? 
 
 August 1$th. I returned to Chillingham Castle. 
 
 October 4th. At a great agricultural dinner at Wooler ; from 
 thence I went to Cornhill to fish for salmon in the Tweed. I 
 killed seventeen in one day. 
 
 October 20th. The papers to-day announce Lord Durham's 
 resignation of the Governorship of Canada. Mr. Poulett Thom- 
 son, who was staying at Chillingham, shot one of the wild bulls 
 in the park, which is considered high treason by Lord Tankerville. 
 Mr. Thomson, thinking it was not known, was thunderstruck at 
 seeing a long account of his performance in the 'Newcastle 
 Journal,' which his host read out at breakfast and covered him 
 with confusion. 
 
 November 8th. I left Chillingham for London. This is a 
 journey of four days, with four horses and well-paid postboys. 
 The inns on the road are most of them as comfortable as one's 
 own house, quiet and very well served, with generally good wine, 
 and the landlord attending in person. Horses are changed in four 
 minutes, as the relays stood at the door, with the postboys ready 
 mounted. 
 
 December 3rd. Another insurrection has broken out in 
 Canada, and Sir John ' Colborne has proclaimed martial law a 
 vigorous measure, which Lord Durham never would have dared 
 to resort to. 
 
 December 5th. Good news, from Canada. There has been an 
 engagement between the rebels and the volunteer forces com- 
 manded by Colonel Taylor, which ended in the total defeat of the 
 former after two hours' hard fighting. Mr. Ellice and some other 
 gentlemen who had been taken prisoners made their escape : 
 
1838 OPENING OF PARLIAMENT. <3 
 
 those who had been left to guard them having run away. Sir 
 John Colborne marched against the rebels, but they did not wait 
 for him. The insurrection is at an end. Lord Durham has 
 arrived in London and looks quite subdued. He must be greatly 
 vexed, now that he hears how easily the rebellion in Canada has 
 been quelled, that he did not remain, for he would have got all 
 the credit Colborne has obtained, and without any risk whatever ; 
 Quebec and Montreal having remained perfectly quiet. 
 
 December 2'3rd. We went to Wilton. There is a very large 
 party now staying in the house ; among them being the Count 
 and Countess Woronzow. Madame Woronzow is now old. She 
 is clever and agreeable, but evidently very much afraid of Lady 
 Pembroke, before whom she is silent and reserved. Count 
 Woronzow is still a very handsome man, and quite the Russian 
 grandee. The whole party is occupied in rehearsing a play that 
 is to be acted next week. 
 
 December 27th. We left Wilton for Savernake; a charming 
 villa belonging to Lord Bruce in the Park at Tottenham, and I 
 should think much preferable as a residence to the great house. 
 
 1839 
 
 February 5th. Parliament opens to-day. 
 
 February Qth. The Queen's Speech was a very poor composi- 
 tion as usual. The Ministers dare not make any allusion to the 
 Corn Laws. Nothing is said respecting the dreadful state of 
 Ireland ; very little about Canada, and that little evidently 
 framed to avoid giving offence to Lord Durham, attributing the 
 suppression of the disturbance to the valour of the troops and the 
 loyalty of the inhabitants. Not a word in praise of Sir John 
 Colborne. l 
 
 February 1th. The debate yesterday on the Address was a 
 triumphant one for the Opposition. Peel made a splendid speech 
 in favour of the Corn Laws, turning Mr. Wood, the seconder of 
 
 1 Sir J. Colborne commanded the celebrated 52nd Regiment in tjie Peninsula 
 and at Waterloo, 
 
74 MEMOFKS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1839 
 
 the Address, into ridicule. Mr. Heathcote, hitherto a supporter 
 of the Government, declared in favour of the present system of 
 the Corn Laws, and none of our side, with the exception of Peel, 
 said a word. Tommy Duncombe proposed an amendment to the 
 effect that the Reform Bill didn't go far enough. It was opposed 
 by the Government, and thrown out on a division by a majority 
 of 426 to 86. The debate in the House of Lords was equally in 
 our favour. The Duke of Wellington made an excellent speech, 
 and Lord Brougham a very eloquent one, in which he inveighed 
 against O'Connell in the strongest terms. A meeting took place 
 at Sir Robert Peel's two days before, at which he implored the 
 Conservatives to be united and not to split upon minor differences 
 with respect to the Corn Laws, declaring himself in favour of the 
 present system, against fixed duty or any alteration whatever. My 
 father received to-day a letter from Milan, which makes it 
 necessary that I should proceed there immediately. I shall have 
 a very fatiguing and tiresome journey at this time of year, as the 
 weather is as bad as possible. 
 
 February 22nd. I arrived at Paris with my uncle, Admiral 
 Dashwood, on the 19th, after a very tedious journey, the roads 
 being hardly passable and like nothing except a ploughed field. 
 Lord Ebrington has been appointed to the Lord Lieutenancy of 
 Ireland. It is the old story of the mountain and the mouse, for, 
 judging by the boasting language of Poulett Thomson, that their only 
 difficulty was embarras de richesses, I expected at least the Duke 
 of Sussex or the Duke of Sutherland. Lord Ebrington is to be 
 called up to the House of Lords by the title of Baron Fortescue, 
 which will make a vacancy in the representation of North 
 Devon, and there is no doubt that the Opposition will gain the 
 seat. 
 
 March Hth. Reached Milan to-day. The debate on Mr. 
 Villiers' motion terminated by a triumph for the Conservatives ; 
 195 voted for the motion and 342 against, giving a majority of 
 147. 
 
 March 25th. I returned to England, having succeeded in the 
 object of my journey, through deep snow. 
 
 April 7th. Lord Ossulstoii arrived from Paris, and amused us 
 very much with the accounts of his journey. He travelled in 
 
1839 PEEL SENT FOR BY THE QUEEN. /O 
 
 company with Lord Brougham and Mr. Leader ; the former going 
 under the name of Mr. Edmunds, and Mr. Leader as the young 
 Edmunds. At every inn they stopped at, if it was only for a few 
 minutes, Lord Brougham got out to write a letter to some lady or 
 other. He is more mad than ever. 
 
 April 15th. Lord John Russell brought forward this afternoon 
 his motion in support of the Irish policy of the Government. I 
 went to Lord Clanwilliam's, where there was a large concourse of 
 Herberts and "Woronzows assembled to see a conjurer. -I sat by 
 the great heiress, the young Countess Potocka, who was rather 
 good-looking one may say beautiful, considering that she has 
 above forty thousand a year. 
 
 May 7th. The division on the Jamaica Bill took place this 
 morning. The Ministers had only a majority of five against Peel's 
 amendment. A Cabinet Council was held a few hours afterwards, 
 at which the Ministers decided to tender their resignations to the 
 Queen. Poulett Thomson wrote me a note at half-past two from 
 the Council announcing the news. Lord Melbourne had announced 
 his resignation in the House of Lords, and added that the Queen 
 had accepted it. Lord John Russell made the same announce- 
 ment in the Commons, omitting the last important fact. I after- 
 wards met Thomson, who said that the Queen had sent for Lord 
 Spencer, who would of course advise her to send for Peel, as none 
 but a Tory Government could stand. 
 
 May 8th. The Duke of Wellington and Sir Robert Peel were 
 sent for to-day by the Queen, who received them most graciously, 
 and gave the latter a carte blanche to form an Administration. 
 
 May 9th. Sir Robert Peel had an audience with the Queen 
 yesterday, lasting for three hours. She received him very kindly 
 and said she would not conceal from him that she was much 
 grieved at parting with her old Government, but she felt it was 
 necessary, and the good of the country was her first object, super- 
 seding every other consideration whatever ; she had perfect con- 
 fidence in him, and would act fairly towards him, and give him 
 every assistance in her power to carry on the Government. The 
 list of the Cabinet is to be out to-night. 
 
 J/>/// IQth. Sir Robert Peel has resigned in consequence of 
 the Queen refusing to change her ?adies. Went to the Queen's 
 
76 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1839 
 
 ball. The Queen danced a quadrille with the Grand Duke of 
 Russia. He is far from being handsome has a great deal of the 
 Calmuck in. his features, and, though of a fine height, he stoops, 
 which gives him an awkward appearance. I talked for some time 
 to Pozzo di Borgo, who is in a terrible state about Sir Robert Peel's 
 resignation. The Duke of Wellington came downstairs as we 
 were waiting for the carriage, and spoke most affectionately to us. 
 Everybody at the ball seemed anxious and pre-occupied. The 
 men, instead of making themselves agreeable to the ladies, were 
 assembled in groups all over the rooms talking earnestly ; and 
 people disseminated every sort of fabrication saying that Peel 
 wanted to turn away the Baroness Lehzen, &c. Lord Normanby 
 had said openly at the dinner which Lord Palmerston gave the 
 day Peel accepted office that lie was determined his wife should 
 not be dismissed, and that he would take good care she was not. 
 
 May \Wi. Sir Robert Peel made his explanation to the 
 House of Commons, which was perfectly satisfactory to his party, 
 proving his conduct to have been most honourable, his demands 
 very moderate, and their rejection by the Queen perfectly incon- 
 ceivable, except under the supposition, which now amounts almost 
 to a certainty, that she has been misled by a party, and that she 
 was told to refuse to give up any of her ladies, which Lord 
 Melbourne and his colleagues knew that Peel would not agree to, 
 and that he would therefore be obliged to resign, as has been the 
 case. The House was very crowded, and Peel loudly cheered by 
 the whole of his party when at the termination of his speech he 
 appealed to them for an approval of his conduct. The Ministers 
 looked in very good spirits before he began, but as he proceeded, 
 the clearness of his statement and the strong case he made out in 
 favour of the extreme moderation of his demands, produced a 
 sensible change in his opponents' countenances. It turns out that, 
 far from having required 'the dismissal of the whole of the 
 household and the friends who had surrounded the Queen from 
 childhood ' meaning the Baroness Lehzen ! Peel only wished to 
 dismiss the wives and sisters of the Cabinet Ministers, and only 
 those who were of the rank of ladies of the bedchamber and 
 above that rank, but none below. The number dismissed would 
 1 The Queen's governess, 
 
1830 fcEEL RESIGNS. T7 
 
 not therefore have exceeded three or four. Tlie opinion that 
 Lord Melbourne's resignation was a sham gains ground every day. 
 Even Lord John Russell's reply to Peel confirms it, as he 
 admits that a Cabinet Council was held on the Thursday, at which 
 Lord Melbourne and his colleagues agreed that the Queen ought 
 not to give up her ladies, and drew up a paper to that effect. Lord 
 Melbourne also wrote a letter to Peel, informing him of her 
 determination not to do so, in consequence of which he sent her 
 his resignation on Friday. The Ministers are, therefore, proved 
 by their own evidence to have given this advice after they were 
 no longer responsible, or in other words by an intrigue on their 
 part. 
 
 May 27th. The House of Commons met to-day for the first 
 time since the holidays, and chose Mr. Shaw-Lefevre as Speaker 
 by a majority of 18 votes against Mr. Goulburn, the Tory 
 candidate. 
 
 May 31 at. Lord Brougham has made a very clever and bitter 
 speech against the Government. He reproached them with hav- 
 ing given the Queen treacherous and unconstitutional advice, and 
 with having circulated lies all over the country, which, though 
 they were contradicted by Lord Melbourne and Lord John 
 Russell, were repeated by their friends. He attacked O'Connell, 
 and said if the Government leaned upon him for support they 
 deserved the contempt of the country, but if they raised him to 
 the Bench they deserved to be impeached. His speech was the 
 most damaging to the Government of any made this session. 
 Lord Melbourne bore it good-humoured ly, and made a Conserva- 
 tive declaration which will probably lead to his again resigning, 
 as the Radicals are almost sure to throw him over. 
 
 June 7th. We went to the Opera. Heard Mario cli Caiidia, 
 an officer in the Piedmontese army, of noble family, who has taken 
 to the stage. He has a beautiful-toned voice, but not strong 
 enough to fill the theatre, and his style and execution are unfin- 
 ished ; but as he is still very young he will probably improve both 
 in his acting and singing. 
 
 June \Sth. Mr. Grote's motion for the ballot was negatived 
 by a majority of 333 votes to 215. Lord John Russell and Lord 
 Howick both voted against the motion. 
 
78 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MIXISTEtt. l8a 
 
 July 4:th. Lady Flora Hastings is dying, and the dinner at 
 the Palace put off in consequence. The Ministers are becoming 
 more unpopular every day ; even the Duke of Wellington is 
 losing all patience, and made a violent speech on the subject of the 
 late riots at Birmingham. He said, alluding to the mob having 
 plundered several houses and burned the property in the streets, 
 ' I have often been present at the sacking of towns, but I have 
 never seen any town treated like Birmingham.' He accused tin- 
 Government of not having taken proper precautions to prevent 
 these outrages, for they knew the town had been in a state of in- 
 surrection for the last ten days. He also said the conduct of the 
 magistrates most of whom had been appointed by Lord John 
 Russell, and some illegally, not having been submitted for the 
 approbation of the Queen or recommended by the Lord-Lieutenant 
 of the county was most reprehensible, and ought to be inquired 
 into. This put Lord Melbourne on his mettle, and he made a very 
 angry speech, to which the Duke alluding the following day, I be- 
 lieve, said : ' The noble lord ought not to get into those towering 
 passions.' 
 
 June 27th. The Capitan Pasha has revolted against the 
 Turkish Government, and has sailed with the whole of the fleet 
 to join the Egyptians, who, it is believed, will inarch upon Con- 
 stantinople, unless the European Powers interpose. 
 
 August 9th. The House of Lords have passed the Penny 
 Postage Bill without a division. 
 
 August 14th. We sailed for Dundee from Wapping, and 
 arrived there after a very rough passage ; from thence to Lord 
 Kinnaird's country seat Rossie. 
 
 August 30th. Poulett Thomson is going as Governor to 
 Canada. 
 
 September Uh. 1 am just returned from Lord Eglinton's 
 Grand Tournament, given at his castle, in Ayrshire. Nothing 
 equal to it has occurred for many years, and the expense to him 
 must have been enormous. Besides filling his castle with all the 
 rank and fashion of the day, he quartered an immense number of 
 guests at his farm-houses. It may 'be said all London, if not all 
 England, was there. The actors in the pageant were chosen from 
 the finest young men in society, and the women from the greatest 
 
1:31) ANNOUNCEMENT OF QUEEN \S MAftRlAGE. 79 
 
 beauties of the day. Lady Seymour l was elected Queen of 
 Beauty, and certainly deserved her throne. The horses mounted 
 by the knights and their attendants were all picked animals, and 
 nothing could exceed their gorgeous trappings and the arms of 
 their masters. Two banquets were given in the great hall, and 
 balls afterwards, but the badness of the weather, as it rained two 
 out of the three days, injured the show. The principal knights who 
 performed in the lists were Prince Louis Napoleon, then in exile, 
 and his faithful squire, Persigny, Lord Waterford and his stalwart 
 brothers, Mr. Gilmour, the celebrated horseman, and Lord Eglin- 
 ton himself, in a cuirass entirely inlaid with gold. I never saw 
 a more general display of gaiety and enjoyment than that which 
 prevailed during the whole of this splendid pageant, given by one 
 of the most generous and popular men in Great Britain. 
 
 November 22nd.- The Queen's marriage is to be announced 
 to-morrow. The Duke of Wellington has been ill report says, 
 alarmingly but I hope it is exaggerated. His illness seems to 
 have been occasioned by over- fatigue. 
 
 November 24th. The Queen's Speech announcing her marriage 
 is as follows : ' I have caused you to be summoned at the present 
 time that I may acquaint you with my resolution in a matter which 
 deeply concerns the welfare of my people and the happiness of my 
 future life. It is my intention to ally myself in marriage with 
 Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg Gotha. I have thought fit to make 
 this resolution known to you at this early period in order that you 
 may be fully apprised of a matter so highly important to me and 
 my kingdom, and which I persuade myself will be most accept- 
 able to my loving subjects.' The announcement was received with 
 great enthusiasm. 
 
 1840 
 
 January 7th. The accounts from Algiers are most unfavour- 
 able to the French. Though not positively defeated by Abd-el- 
 Kader, they are completely hemmed in by his army, obliging them 
 to abandon all their camps and outposts, and take refuge within 
 
 1 Afterwards Duchess of Somerset, She died December, 1884. 
 
80 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1840 
 
 the walls of the town. Accounts have arrived of an affray at 
 Macao between the English and the Chinese, which ended in the 
 former being expelled from China. We must, of course, go to 
 war with them ; but for the present there is an end of our trade, 
 and tea will soon become extremely scarce, if it does not altogether 
 fail. In the Queen's Address announcing her marriage, she made 
 110 allusion to Prince Albert being a Protestant. The Duke of 
 Wellington proposed an amendment to insert the word ' Protes- 
 tant ' before that of ' Prince,' and, notwithstanding the opposition 
 of Lord Melbourne, the amendment was carried without a divi- 
 sion. Peel proposed no amendment to the Address in the Com- 
 mons, but Sir J. Buller gave notice of a motion of want of confi- 
 dence in the Ministers for the 28th. A meeting had been held at 
 Sir Robert Peel's house, where this motion had been decided on, 
 and the announcement of it by Peel was greatly cheered. 
 
 There is a report that the Chartists meant to set fire to London 
 011 the night of the 14th or loth, in consequence of which troops 
 are kept under arms all night, and the police and fire brigade or- 
 dered to be in readiness to act at a moment's warning. The riots 
 at Sheffield have been of an alarming character. The intention of 
 the Chartists was to fire and plunder the town, and there is little 
 doubt they would have succeeded in their plans, as they were well 
 arranged, and they had a clever leader of the name of Holdbury, 
 but fortunately their delegate at Rotherham got frightened and 
 disclosed the whole plot to Lord Howard. Troops were stationed 
 at all the entrances to the town, and the rioters, seeing their 
 plans discovered, ran away after firing a few shots. Several were 
 arrested. 
 
 January ISth. It is curious that no mention has yet been 
 made of the settlement for the Queen's marriage. It is the more 
 extraordinary as Parliament has been assembled a fortnight earlier 
 than usual for that purpose. It formed the first paragraph in 
 the Queen's Speech, and it looks rather as if the Ministers feared 
 the result of the division on Buller's motion, and foreseeing the 
 possibility of being forced to resign, intend to leave the trouble to 
 the Tories of making all the arrangements. Frost, Williams, and 
 Jones are sentenced to death for leading the riots in Wales, at 
 Newport ; and several others to confinement and transportation. 
 
1840 ALLOWANCE TO PRINCE ALBERT. 81 
 
 January 23rd. Prince Albert's Naturalisation Bill has passed 
 the House of Lords without discussion. Lord John Russell has 
 given notice that Ministers intend to ask the House of Commons 
 to grant 50,000. per annum, and Hume immediately intimated 
 that he would move an amendment to the effect that 21,000. 
 would be sufficient. 
 
 January 24A. Lord Stanley writes to me a few lines at 
 Heron Court, and says that the Ministers expect a majority of 
 nineteen on the 28th, but that must depend upon the elections 
 this week and also how the extreme Radicals mean to vote. 
 Went out shooting with Lord Canning. 
 
 January 25th. Mr. Wood, the Ministerial candidate, has 
 been returned by a majority of 524 for Southwark. 
 
 January 26th. Mr. Tufnell has been returned for Devonport 
 by a majority of 332 ; and the Solicitor-General by one of 9 for 
 Newark. In the latter town serious riots occurred, and the 
 authorities were obliged to call out the military. Mr. Thesiger 
 was beaten. At Birmingham Mr. Muntz has been returned over 
 Sir Charles Wetherell. 
 
 January 27th. Lord John Russell has admitted that the 
 expense of Prince Albert's household would not exceed 7,000. or 
 S,000. ; such a large sum, therefore, as 50,000/. is unnecessary. 
 
 January 28th. Left Heron Court this morning for London, 
 where I shall remain till after the division on Sir John Buller'.s 
 motion ; and if by any chance, which is I fear very unlikelv, the 
 Government should have a majority under ten, I shall probably 
 remain a few days longer to see the event, which must be either 
 a dissolution or resignation. 
 
 January 29th. On Monday last the House of Commons went 
 into committee in consideration of the proposed settlement on 
 Prince Albert. Mr. Hume made a long speech, and moved that 
 the grant should be reduced from 50,000. to 21,000, the amount 
 allowed to the Royal Dukes. On a division the motion was 
 negatived by a majority of 267 the numbers being 38 for and 
 305 against the proposed reduction. Colonel Sibthorp then moved 
 that the allowance should be 30,000/., and Russell, in supporting 
 the original proposition, insinuated that the opposition to it 
 evinced a want of respect for the Queen. Lord Eliot and Sir 
 
 G 
 
82 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1840 
 
 James Gordon denied this ; Hume advocated the smallest grant 
 and O'Connell the largest. Sir Robert Peel expressed his asto 
 nishment at the insinuation that had been thrown out of the 
 want of loyalty on his side of the House, and said it was un- 
 worthy of Lord John Russell's position as a Minister. He 
 himself had nothing in view but to support the honour and dignity 
 of the Crown by guarding it against the unpopularity that would 
 follow this grant. Peel concluded by saying that he was resolved 
 not to enter into a party contest of who should go farthest to 
 please the Court ; that he had no difficulties to reconcile on the 
 subject of his loyalty ; that he had never made the Sovereign's 
 political support a condition of his allegiance ; and that he had 
 never been guilty of disrespect either to the Queen or Royal 
 Family, and could afford to take his own straightforward course 
 without needless professions of the loyalty he felt. The House 
 divided on the resolution, and there was a majority of 104 in 
 favour of 30,000. the numbers for the proposal of the Govern- 
 ment being 158, and against it 262. In the House of Lords the 
 Lord Chanceller moved the second reading of the Prince Albert 
 Naturalisation Bill, observing that one of the objects of the bill 
 was to give Prince Albert precedence next after the Queen. The 
 bill was framed on the precedent of Mary and Philip, but the 
 Duke of Wellington condemned the proposals of the bill, particu- 
 larly the precedence clause, and after some conversation the 
 second reading was postponed until Friday next, the 31st. 
 
 February 2nd. The division on Sir John Buller's motion took 
 place yesterday, and the Ministers had a majority of 21 287 for 
 the motion, 308 against. Sir Robert Peel's speech was very fine, 
 lasting three hours, but it was not so effective as Lord Stanley's. 
 In the House of Lords the Lord Chancellor, in answer to a ques- 
 tion, said he intended to introduce a clause in the Naturalisation 
 Bill giving Prince Albert precedence after the heir- apparent to 
 the throne. After some discussion the bill was read a second 
 time and ordered to be committed on the 3rd. General Sebas- 
 tiani is recalled. 
 
 February 5th. In the House of Lords yesterday Lord Mel- 
 bourne said he was so anxious to get the Naturalisation Bill 
 passed, that, to prevent opposition, he would withdraw the pre- 
 
1840 MARRIAGE OF THE QUEEN. 83 
 
 cedence clause, and added, in answer to Lord Brougham, that it 
 was not intended to withdraw it altogether, but only for the 
 present. Lord Brougham asked whether the Crown intended to 
 make any attempt to give precedence to Prince Albert without an 
 Act of Parliament, but no answer was given. The bill was then 
 read a third time and passed. Colonel Sibthorp in. the Commons 
 moved that the annuity granted to Prince Albert should cease in 
 the event of his surviving the Queen and not residing six months 
 in every year in England (this in consequence of Prince Leopold's 
 re-marriage and compensation), or in case he married a Catholic 
 or ceased to profess the Protestant religion as by law established 
 in these realms. Sir Robert Peel opposed the motion, and per- 
 suaded him to withdraw it. The French papers give as the reason 
 for Sebastiani's recall that, connected as he had been with the 
 Bonaparte family, he would not keep as active a surveillance over 
 Prince Louis Bonaparte, now in England, as was desired by the 
 French Government. 
 
 February IQth. The marriage of the Queen with Prince Albert 
 took place to-day. The title of Royal Highness has been conferred 
 upon him. The Duke of Sussex gave her away, and the ' John 
 Bull ' says that he is always ready to give away what does not be- 
 long to him. There were only two Tories present at the ceremony, 
 the Duke of Wellington and Lord Liverpool. The Queen was 
 very much cheered by the mob on her way to and from the chapel. 
 They left Buckingham Palace for Windsor. 
 
 February 18th. The Duke of Wellington has been ill, but is 
 much better. A large number of Peers and members of the 
 House of Commons went to Windsor with the Address congratu- 
 lating the Queen on her marriage. 
 
 February 23rd. The French Chamber has rejected the Duke 
 de Nemours' Dotation Bill. M. Guizot was to have set out to- 
 morrow for London, but this event may probably delay his depar- 
 ture. Louis Philippe has not yet formed a Ministry. It is not 
 known whether he has accepted the resignation of Soult and his 
 colleagues. 
 
 March 3rd Prince Louis Bonaparte was to have fought this 
 morning with Count Leon, who has been sent over here by the 
 French police, either to get rid of him or to get him expelled the 
 
 G 2 
 
84 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1840 
 
 country by inducing him to infringe the laws. This villanous 
 project was defeated by the interposition of our police, who took all 
 the parties before a magistrate, and they were bound over to keep 
 the peace for a year under a penalty of 5001. Count d'Orsay was 
 to have been second to the Prince. 
 
 March 30th. We dined at the Palace. The Queen entered 
 the room at eight, shaking hands with all the ladies, and then 
 went into the dining-room with the Prince. After dinner the 
 Queen and the Duchess of Kent went into the gallery, where the 
 rest of the company were assembled. The Queen danced the first 
 dance with the Duke of Devonshire, and valsed afterwards with 
 Prince Albert, but the band played so fast and out of time that 
 she only took one turn and then sat down, looking annoyed. We 
 remained till the Queen retired, which was about 1.30. 
 
 April 2nd. The debate upon the Corn Laws was adjourned, 
 and it is supposed will last two nights longer at least, and it is 
 said will be adjourned again, as the Government hope to get rid 
 of the China question, which would come on if it were not. 
 
 April 4:th. The Corn Laws debate has terminated in the most 
 unexpected and absurd manner. As soon as Sir Robert Peel had 
 sat down, having made a splendid speech, Mr. Warburton, fearing 
 probably the result of an immediate division, rose and moved the 
 adjournment of the debate till Monday next, when there voted 
 for 129, and against 245, giving a majority of 116. Mr. War- 
 burton then moved the adjournment of the House, the Speaker 
 put the question, and the Conservatives, amidst loud laughter, 
 shouted 'Aye,' and the motion was carried. The Corn Law 
 question is therefore at an end for this year. 
 
 April 9th. Went to the Drawing Room. Amongst the com- 
 pany was Mrs. Lushingtoii, veuve Carnac, who last year married 
 a man young enough -to be her grandson. They are now separated, 
 and she was presented this year in her former name of Mrs. 
 Carnac. She was Indian, and very rich. Left London for 
 Cassiobury. 
 
 May 1st. There was a tremendous row last night at the Opera 
 to force Laporte to engage Tamburmi. He came forward five or 
 six times to explain, but the audience would not listen, and lie 
 was obliged to retire amidst the groans of almost everybody 
 
18-iO MURDER OF LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL. 85 
 
 present. The occupants of the boxes and stalls were the most 
 active in the disturbance, especially gentlemen in the dandy and 
 stage boxes. The row began immediately after the opera was 
 over, and lasted till one o'clock. The ballet would begin, but 
 would not be allowed to proceed, as every time the orchestra 
 attempted to play, and the dancers came forward, they were 
 assailed with such a chorus of cries that they were obliged to give 
 up the attempt. They, however, enjoyed the treatment which 
 was conferred on their manager, and they were all laughing, and 
 seemed much amused at the treatment he received. The gentle- 
 men in the stage-boxes, who had been the ringleaders throughout 
 the evening, sprang upon the stage and lowered the curtain. They 
 were not, however, quick enough to get beyond it before it fell, 
 and were therefore obliged to cross the stage to gain the scenes, 
 amidst the applause of the rest of the audience. 
 
 May 6tk. All London is in a state of consternation that I 
 never saw equalled, Lord William Russell, brother to the late 
 Duke of Bedford, and father to Mrs. Bennett, having been found 
 murdered in his bed this morning. It appears that the housemaid 
 went downstairs at half-past seven to her work, and found every- 
 thing in great confusion plate, clothes, and furniture scattered 
 about the staircase and hall, doors broken open, &c. She imme- 
 diately called the valet, who slept in a room adjoining that which 
 she and the cook occupied, and acquainted him with her suspicions, 
 upon which he accompanied her into Lord William Russell's bed- 
 room, whom, 011 opening the shutters, they saw lying dead in bed 
 with his throat cut in such a dreadful manner that his head was 
 nearly severed from the body. They then came downstairs and gave 
 the alarm, and the police and surgeon were sent for. The latter 
 declared Lord William must have been dead for three or four 
 hours; and, from the nature of the wound and the fact of no 
 instrument being found with which it could have been inflicted, 
 it was clear he had not committed suicide, but had been murdered. 
 The police examined the house, but could not find any appearance 
 of anyone having forced an entrance, as the marks 011 the back 
 door had evidently been done from the inside, and they thought 
 as a blind. The way also in which the different things were 
 strewn about looked more like design than the confusion that 
 
86 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1840 
 
 would have prevailed after thieves had been disturbed. A chisel 
 corresponding exactly with the marks on the drawers which had 
 been forced open was found in the valet's box, and though the 
 police say they are sure he is guilty, the evidence is not strong 
 enough to convict him, and the coroner's jury therefore returned 
 a verdict of murder against some person or persons unknown. 
 The police are to keep a strict watch over him, and, if he is guilty, 
 as they suppose, they hope by allowing him to remain at large he 
 may do something to criminate himself. It is supposed from 
 different circumstances that the murder must have been com- 
 mitted at about two in the morning. 
 
 May 8th.-- Lord William Russell's house was searched again 
 this morning. One of the two bank-notes that the valet men- 
 tioned as having seen in a box at the head of his master's bed, for 
 IOL, was found behind the skirting-board in the pantry. The 
 valet, whose name is Courvoisier, showed the greatest uneasiness 
 when it was proposed to search the pantry, which of course made 
 the police more particular in their investigation, and when the 
 fact of the note having been found was mentioned to him he 
 became quite ill. 
 
 May 2lst. The division upon Lord Stanley's bill 1 took place 
 this morning, and the result was a majority of three in favour of 
 the motion ' That the Speaker do leave the chair 'the numbers 
 being 301 for- and 298 against. Lord Howick and Mr. Charles 
 Wood voted with Lord Stanley. 
 
 May 22nd. Courvoisier was again examined to-day, and a 
 good deal more evidence was brought forward as to the extreme 
 agitation of his manner after the discovery of the murder. The 
 instrument has not been found, but a pair of gloves spotted with 
 blood were discovered in his portmanteau, which must have been 
 placed there by him after the search had been made by the police, 
 for everything in the portmanteau was turned out, and they were 
 not there. But as Courvoisier was allowed to sleep alone two 
 nights after the murder he might have placed them there, thinking 
 that as he had been already searched it was the safest place. 
 
 May 23rd. The Cambridge and Ludlow elections have ended 
 in a triumph for the Conservative candidates. The examination 
 1 The Irish Registration Bill. 
 
1840 EXAMINATION OF COUftVOISIER, 87 
 
 of Courvoisier was resumed to-day, but, with the exception of 
 two handkerchiefs stained with blood, both marked with the 
 initials of Lord William Russell, nothing of any great importance 
 came out. It is quite evident that no one could have broken 
 into the house, and this of course implicates those inside, as they 
 must have either done it themselves or permitted others to enter 
 for that purpose. The different things that have been found 
 belonging to Lord William Russell must also have been concealed 
 by some one constantly in the house ; as they were concealed with 
 so much care, it is evident the different hiding-places had been 
 prepared beforehand. The boards of the pantry were taken up, 
 and a sovereign was found under one of them which could not 
 have slipped in between the crevices, as the boards fitted quite 
 close. It is evident the boards under which it was placed 
 must have been lifted and then fastened down again, for it was 
 found necessary to have regular workmen to take them up. A 
 locket was also found under the hearthstone in the pantry. The 
 prisoner is remanded until next Wednesday, the 27th. 
 
 May 26th. Mr. Villiers's motion for a Committee on the 
 Corn Laws was defeated by a majority of 300 to 177. 
 
 May 27th. Courvoisier was again examined to-day, and 
 committed to take his trial. No further evidence was pro- 
 duced, and it is said if no more can be procured he can't be 
 hanged, as, though no doubt can exist of his guilt, there is not 
 sufficient legal evidence to convict him. 
 
 June IQth. Mr. Smythe rode up to me in the Park and 
 said the Queen had just been fired at as she was leaving 
 Buckingham Palace to take a drive. The man who fired did 
 not attempt to escape. The Queen showed great courage, as 
 she always does, and went immediately to the Duchess of Kent 
 to inform her of her safety. 
 
 June 12th. The House of Commons divided last night on 
 the amendment proposed by Mr. Charles Wood, 1 and the motion 
 for the Speaker to leave the chair on Lord Stanley's bill 
 having for its object to postpone the Irish Registration Bill of 
 Lord Stanley, and to give precedence to the sham measures 
 of the Irish Solicitor- General and Lord John Russell was 
 1 Afterwards Viscount Halifax. 
 
88 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18JO 
 
 supported by the whole strength of the Administration, the 
 numbers being, for the Ministerial amendment, 195, against 
 206 ; giving a majority of 11 against the Ministers. The 
 Corn Laws were discussed in the House of Lords, and Lord 
 Fitzwilliam's motion for an inquiry rejected. The missing 
 spoons in Lord William Russell's house and two gold and 
 silver ear-trumpets have been discovered. It appears that 
 Courvoisier left a parcel a week or a fortnight before the murder 
 in the care of Charlotte Piolini, who keeps the Hotel de Dieppe, 
 in Leicester Square, desiring her to take charge of it for a few 
 days. He never returned, and the day before yesterday she 
 sent the parcel to her solicitor, who opened it in her presence 
 and in that of some other persons, and it was found that it was 
 the missing property that had been advertised by the police. 
 She also identified Courvoisier as the person who had left it. 
 Although under a different name, he had lived in her service 
 about a month four years ago, and since that she had not seen 
 him. 
 
 June 20th. Courvoisier's trial concluded to-day. He was 
 found guilty of the murder and sentenced to death. He con- 
 fessed afterwards having committed the crime because Lord 
 William Russell found him stealing. He did it with a carving- 
 knife. 
 
 June 2lst. Courvoisier was induced to confess his crime 
 in consequence of the discovery of the plate, for as soon as he 
 had seen Mrs. Piolini, who identified him as the person who had 
 left it at her house, he sent for Mr. Phillips, his counsel, and 
 confessed his guilt. He said Lord William had been taken 
 suddenly ill after he went to bed, and in going downstairs 
 caught him packing up the plate. He taxed him with intending 
 a robbery, and threatened to call in the police, but on begging 
 his pardon he after some altercation forgave him, and promised 
 not to prosecute him, but told him to leave his service the 
 following day. The villain added : ' His Lordship and I then 
 parted quite comfortably/ and Lord William went to bed un- 
 suspicious of the fate that awaited him. Courvoisier waited an 
 hour at his door until he was sure he was asleep ; then he went 
 gently into the room and cut his throat while he slept. He 
 
18'40 COURVOISIER EXECUTED. 89 
 
 says Lord William never awoke, and must have died with little 
 or 110 pain, as he did not struggle at all, and there was only a 
 slight tremulous motion of the right hand, which he raised 
 almost involuntarily. 
 
 June 25th. Lord Stanley has gained another victory over the 
 Government, Lord Morpeth having proposed an amendment to 
 the Irish Registration Bill, and when a division took place he 
 was beaten by a majority of four. 
 
 July 6th. Courvoisier was hanged this morning. I went 
 to see the execution, and was admitted into the condemned cell, 
 where he was praying with the clergyman, and I followed the 
 procession to the scaffold, which was erected 011 the outside of 
 the prison. He showed great firmness, and though very pale 
 seemed perfectly composed even to the last moment. Several 
 of the City authorities were assembled in the room of the prison, 
 and I was not a little shocked to see punch, or some beverage of 
 that sort, handed round, as if it was a pleasant festivity. It 
 seems to be the custom, and the sooner it is abolished the better. 
 
 July 7th. Lord Stanley has given up his Irish Registration 
 Bill, but announced that he will bring it on next year at an 
 early period of the session, upon which Lord John Russell 
 withdrew his sham measures for the Irish and English Regis- 
 trations amidst the laughter of the House. 
 
 August 1st. The French are very indignant with this 
 country, and threaten us with war because Lord Palmerston, 
 finding that he could nob induce them to take any steps towards 
 a settlement of the Eastern Question, has signed a treaty with 
 Russia, Prussia, and Austria, leaving out France altogether. 
 
 August 1th. News arrived this morning of Louis Napoleon, 
 having landed yesterday morning at Boulogne with fifty 
 followers. None of the soldiers, however, having joined him, 
 the attempt totally failed, and he and most of those who 
 accompanied him were taken. This explains an expression he 
 used to me two evenings ago. He was standing 011 the steps 
 of Lady Blessington's house after a party, wrapped up in a 
 cloak, with Persigny by him, and I observed to them, ' You 
 look like two conspirators,' upon which he answered, ' You may 
 be nearer right than you think.' 
 
90 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1840 
 
 August 8th. The mad attempt of Prince Louis Napoleon 
 at Boulogne is confirmed. He had hired a steamer from the 
 Commercial Company, called the 'Edinburgh Castle/ for a 
 fortnight. He embarked at London on the 5th ; and on 
 Thursday, the 6th, landed at Vimereux, a mile from Boulogne, 
 with fifty followers. He marched to the barracks, and tried 
 to seduce the soldiers from their allegiance, but having failed 
 in consequence of the accidental absence of the officer on guard, 
 who was in the plot, the soldiers at the barracks remained 
 faithful, and the National Guard being called out, the Prince 
 and his followers were obliged to fly. They had taken possession 
 of the life-boat, which was swamped, and the Prince was 
 picked up by a steamer while clinging to a buoy a short 
 distance from the shore. The Custom-House officers, fortunately 
 for him, had seized the vessel whilst the disturbance was 
 proceeding on shore, and were bringing her into the harbour, 
 by which means his life was preserved. Some of the party 
 made their escape by taking forcible possession of horses 
 belonging to some English gentlemen, but were pursued and 
 most of them taken. Some were killed by the soldiers after 
 they had surrendered. The Prince had issued a proclamation 
 to the French nation appointing Marshal Clausel chief of the 
 troops at Paris, General Pajol and other officers and sub-officers 
 to military appointments, and promising many recompenses. 
 Ever since I kiiew the Prince he has a fixed notion, which 
 nothing can eradicate, that he will some day govern France ; and 
 so strongly is he impressed with this idea that it is the only 
 way to account for his repeated attempts under what appeared 
 to be hopeless circumstances. 
 
 August 2 \st. Received a letter from my father to say that 
 Lady Pembroke has offered the living of Wilton to my younger 
 brother Charles, and that he has accepted it. 
 
 September 2nd. Lady Pembroke and her daughters visited 
 us at Heron Court. We went out with Mr. Grantley Berkeley's 
 otter-hounds, which, although we did not kill, was very amusing 
 in that wild country. 
 
 September 1th and 8th. -News is in that an insurrection has 
 broken out at Madrid, Lisbon, and also at Paris the latter 
 
1840 COMPLICATIONS IN THE EAST. 91 
 
 not serious. The French papers are very warlike in their tone, 
 and if the news from the East be true, it will be very difficult 
 to preserve peace. Commodore Napier has issued a proclamation 
 inciting the Syrians to rebellion, and has also taken twelve or 
 fifteen small vessels belonging to the Pasha of Egypt, old 
 Mehemet Ali. The latter is very firm in his refusal to accede 
 to the Quadruple Treaty, being, it is supposed, supported by 
 France. Orders have been sent to Admiral Hugon, who 
 commands the French fleet, which, if acted upon, a collision 
 must occur, and war then becomes inevitable. News may soon 
 be expected from China, if Mehemet Ali does not stop the mails, 
 which he threatens to do. 
 
 September llth. The French papers continue very warlike, 
 and the English Ministerial papers are the same. I think that 
 peace will be preserved, as Louis Philippe is very much against 
 any wars. 
 
 September Yitli. -The blockade commenced at Alexandria 
 on the 1st, by Admiral Stopford. Several of the Pasha's vessels 
 had been sequestered by the British naval authorities. His 
 fleet, both Egyptian and Turkish, was drawn up in order of 
 battle in the roads of Alexandria, and Admiral Hugon took 
 command of the French fleet on the 26th. It appears that the 
 blockade has been commenced before the expiration of the time 
 allowed by the Treaty of London to -the Pasha to refuse or accept 
 the Ultimatum- of the Powers. Count Wale*wski, who had been 
 sent by France 011 a mission to Mehemet Ali, had left him to 
 return to France. It is reported that he succeeded in persuading 
 the Pasha to accept the terms offered by France. 
 
 September 27th.- There is no news from the East, and the 
 report which was current on the 2 2nd that Mehemet Ali had 
 agreed to the terms proposed by France, not being confirmed or 
 alluded to in any way, is probably false. The tone of the French 
 papers is more warlike than ever ; great preparations are being 
 made in all the ports of France, the fortification of Paris is begun, 
 and the different fortresses are being put in a state of defence. 
 The telegraph at the North Foreland says the Russian fleet of 
 eighteen sail was off the Graveline Sands. 
 
 October 2nd. Prince Louis Napoleon's trial is begun and 
 
92 MEMOIKS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1840 
 
 excites no interest whatever. It is thought that the sentence 
 will be confinement for life. 
 
 October 3rd. The following important news has arrived from 
 the East through France. The ' Prometheus/ which arrived at 
 Beyrout on the 20th, announced that, after a bombardment of 
 nine days, which reduced the town to ashes, it was evacuated by 
 the Egyptians in the night, and the Allies took possession. The 
 ' Oriental,' which quitted Alexandria on the 24th, makes known 
 that the firman deposing Mehemet Ali had been communicated to 
 him on the 21st, as well as to the Generals of the four Powers, 
 who instantly struck their flags and retired on board their ship- 
 ping. An attempt has been made to fire Sheerness Dockyard. 
 H.M.S. ' Camperdown,' 120 guns, was set fire to in the basin by 
 some incendiary. It was first discovered in a midshipman's berth, 
 but it was extinguished after burning a locker. On a further 
 search a well-laid train was discovered in the warrant officers' 
 store-rooms, consisting of resin, oakum, and lucifer matches. The 
 inquiry respecting the fire at Plymouth is still going on. The 
 King of Holland has announced his intention of abdicating in 
 favour of his son. 
 
 October 5th. Three persons named Wright, Grigg, and Britt 
 have been taken up on suspicion of attempting to fire the ' Cam- 
 perdown.' The preservation of the ship as well as the dockyard, 
 and probably the town, is entirely owing to an accidental circum- 
 stance. The ship had been visited as usual and reported ' all safe,' 
 when, just as the officers were leaving the yard, Mr. Henty, the 
 ship's carpenter, remembered that he had left his umbrella behind. 
 He returned to the ship, and on going down to the lower deck he 
 perceived a thick smoke issuing from the cockpit, and at the same 
 time heard heavy footsteps, although it was too dark for him to 
 see the person. He instantly gave the alarm, and one of the fire- 
 men of the yard came immediately, and by his exertions and those 
 of Mr. Henty, the fire was extinguished before it had done any 
 serious damage, the fire casks and buckets being close at hand. 
 It is said the Albanians are deserting fast from the Pasha's army 
 and the Druses are arming. This attack upon Beyrout seems to 
 have been solely for the purpose of keeping up communication 
 with the insurgents in Syria, for the possession of such a miser- 
 

 1840 HOSTILITY OF FRANCE. 93 
 
 able place could not have been of any other advantage to the 
 English. A list of the fleet is given, which, including English, 
 Austrian, and Turks, consists of twenty-eight sail, of which 
 twenty-three are English. It is reported that the terms offered 
 by the Sultan to the leaders of Mehemet Ali are as follows : To 
 Soliman Pasha (Colonel Selves) and his son the island of Cyprus 
 for inheritance as a Pashalik ; to Mahmoud Pasha the Pashalik 
 of Tripoli ; also an hereditary fief ; and, lastly, to Sherif Pasha 
 the remainder of Syria on a similar tenure but that they have 
 all refused and acquainted Mehemet with the proposals made to 
 them. The French are perfectly frantic at the news of the burn- 
 ing of Beyrout, and threaten immediate war. 
 
 October 19. A reinforcement of a thousand Turks has arrived 
 in two Austrian steamers with the newly-appointed Pasha of 
 Syria. The only loss we have sustained is at Ghebal, whence the 
 Marines were driven back by a most unexpected fire, having four 
 men killed and thirteen wounded. When we took possession of 
 the fort next morning the Albanians had evacuated it. It was a 
 very strong fort, bomb-proof, and commands the road to Tripoli. 
 
 October 8th. The rage of the French at our proceedings has 
 not in the least abated. A schism has broken out in the French 
 Cabinet on the question of war ; four Ministers, with Thiers at 
 their head, are for it, and four are against it. It is said that M. 
 Thiers tendered his resignation to the King, who accepted it. 
 Izzett Mahomet Pasha has been appointed Pasha of Egypt in place 
 of Mehemet Ali. 
 
 October llth. The bombardment of Beyrout has been ex- 
 aggerated. Not a shot was fired into the town, but only at the 
 citadel. Ibrahim Pasha is in the neighbourhood of the camp and 
 reconnoitred it on the 14th. His force amounts to fifteen 
 thousand men ; but the English have fortified their lines with 
 cannon, and are, therefore, a match for him, though inferior in 
 numbers. 
 
 October 16th. Mehemet Ali has replied with moderation to 
 the action of deposition, but was preparing to oppose an energetic 
 resistance. He received the news with great sangfroid, observ- 
 ing that such denunciations were nothing new to him ; that this 
 was the fourth, and he hoped to get over it as he had done the 
 
94 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1840 
 
 other three, with the help of God and the Prophet. He then 
 ordered both his fleets to get ready to put out to sea, but the 
 French Consul dissuaded him from committing such an imprudent 
 act. 
 
 October l$th, The Queen-Regent of Spain abdicated on the 
 12th. This is the second royal abdication within one month, and 
 it is probable that this event will add to the difficulties that 
 already existed towards the settlement of peace between England 
 and France, as Lord Palmerston and M. Thiers are sure to take 
 opposite views on this question as well as that of the East. The 
 general opinion in Paris is that the Ministry will resign at the 
 beginning of the session, and that M. Thiers will join the ranks 
 of the Gauche, or ultra- Radical party. M. Guizot's arrival is 
 anxiously expected, and he holds in his hands the fate of the 
 Cabinet. The deposition of Mehemet Ali having been made 
 known at Alexandria, the Turkish officers refused to remain in 
 his service. 
 
 October 25th. The cause of quarrel between the King and 
 Thiers arose from a paragraph that the latter wished to insert in 
 the King's Speech, and which Louis Philippe objected to on 
 account of its hostile tone, observing that it would be highly in- 
 expedient to introduce into the discourse expressions calculated 
 to alter the pacific character that the Eastern Question had within 
 a few days assumed. Discussion on this point had been going on 
 for some days, but at twelve last night the difference came to such 
 a height that the Ministers resigned in a body and the King ac- 
 cepted their resignation. An attack had been made upon Ibrahim 
 Pasha's advanced position, which was perfectly successful. The 
 Syrians were coming in, and great desertion was taking place 
 amongst the Egyptians. Sidon has been taken and the garrison 
 made prisoners. From all appearances the affairs of Syria will 
 soon be terminated ; the insurrection makes progress, and fourteen 
 thousand mountaineers have joined the insurgents. The Turks 
 behaved nobly. Tyre and Tripoli have been taken. Sidon was 
 defended by three thousand men, and capitulated after a battle of 
 ten hours. 
 
 October 30th. M. Guizot has accepted the Ministry of Foreign 
 Affairs. 
 
1840 FUNERAL OF NAPOLEON IN PARIS. 95 
 
 November 1st. The Allies have gained an important victory 
 over Ibrahim Pasha, and are in possession of the greater part of 
 the coast. 
 
 November 6th. The speech of Louis Philippe on opening the 
 Chambers is extremely pacific, and, therefore, cannot please the 
 French. We dined yesterday with the Tankervilles, and met 
 Lord Lyndhurst, Mr. Smythe, Mr. and Mrs. Disraeli, and Count 
 d'Orsay. Much struck by Mrs. Disraeli, who is a most extra- 
 ordinary woman both in appearance and in her conversation. She 
 was a widow with a large jointure and twenty years older than 
 him, but he seems much attached to her. 
 
 November 8th. News has been received from China, and gives 
 an account of the capture of the island of Chusan by General 
 Burrell. 
 
 November 17 'th. The Sultan refused to revoke the decheance 
 of Mehemet Ali. 
 
 November I8th. The ashes of Napoleon having been brought 
 from St. Helena to Paris, their funeral took place on the 15th. 
 It went off quietly. The procession must have been magnificent. 
 The King was present, but made himself as little conspicuous as 
 possible, and hardly anybody saw him, as he took no part in the 
 procession and contented himself with receiving the body at the 
 entrance to the church, after which he hid himself in a corner. 
 The medical and law students followed the procession to the 
 number of two thousand, singing the Marseillaise and shouting 
 ' Guizot a la lanterne ! ' None of the Foreign Ambassadors were 
 present, as Lord Granville refused, and all the others followed 
 his example. 
 
 1841 
 
 January 27th. The Queen opened Parliament in person, and 
 was very well received on her way. Syria is spoken of, but not 
 as settled, and the hope only expressed that its affairs will soon 
 be terminated. 
 
 January 28th. The Address was carried in both Houses 
 without a division. Mr. Hume proposed an amendment cen- 
 
96 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1841 
 
 suring the Government for forming an alliance with the four 
 Powers to the exclusion of France, but was not supported. 
 
 February 18th. Lord Cardigan's trial in the House of Lords 
 for fighting a duel with and wounding Captain Tuckett has ended 
 in his acquittal, there not being sufficient evidence to prove the 
 identity of the Captain. 
 
 February 20th. It is said that Poulett Thomson has had a 
 quarrel with Sir John Harvey, Lieutenant-Governor of New 
 Brunswick, in consequence of which the latter has been recalled. 
 The difference arose from a dispute respecting the disposal of 
 some troops along the frontier, and as Poulett Thomson is not a 
 military man the probability is that he was quite wrong. 
 
 February 24:th. The debate upon Lord Morpeth's 1 Irish 
 Registration Bill began the day before yesterday. Lord Stanley 
 made a splendid speech opposing the second reading, and the 
 House adjourned. 
 
 February 25th. Debate again adjourned. 
 
 February 21th.- The second reading of Lord Morpeth's bill 
 was carried. 
 
 March 12th. News from America is very warlike. It is 
 said that ten sail of the line are to be sent there immediately. 
 The news from the East is also unfavourable, the Sultan being 
 apparently disposed not to keep faith with Mehemet AH. Affairs 
 in China are not more prosperous. Great sickness and mortality 
 amongst the troops at Chusaii. Admiral Elliot has resigned his 
 command. 
 
 April 10th. The news from China is better. Admiral 
 Elliot has concluded a treaty with the Chinese, after battering 
 down the forts, which cannot be considered satisfactory, as he 
 only stipulates for six millions of dollars as an indemnity for the 
 opium dispute, which is equal only to a million sterling, whereas 
 our first claim was three millions. He also consents to allow the 
 Chinese six years for the payment of this sum. 
 
 April 14th. Ministers will neither resign nor dissolve, in 
 which case the Tories must propose a vote of want of confidence. 
 The Chancellor, Lord Lansdowne, Lord Melbourne, and Lord 
 
 1 Lord Morpcth was Secretary for Ireland. 
 
1841 LORD MELBOURNE'S GOVERNMENT DEFEATED. 97 
 
 Duncannon wish to resign, the others to dissolve or stay in. 
 There is great excitement. 
 
 April 16th. At this moment there is a meeting at Lord 
 Aberdeen's, which is attended by Sir Robert Peel, Lord Stanley, 
 the Duke of Wellington, and Sir Henry Hardinge. 
 
 April 1 9th. The long-expected division on Lord Sandon's * 
 amendment took place this morning, and the result has surpassed 
 our expectations ; the Ministers being defeated by a majority of 
 36. There is very little chance of their resigning, as Lord John 
 Russell, before the House divided, talked of discussing the ques- 
 tion of the Corn Laws more fully. 
 
 April 20th. Lord John Russell declared this afternoon in the 
 House of Commons that the Government intend to go on as long 
 as they can. The discussion on the Corn Laws is put off to June 3. 
 They think that will carry them on to the middle of the month. 
 They would then probably dissolve ; and as Parliament could not 
 meet before the end of July, they will prorogue it immediately, 
 and thereby keep office till next session. This is supposed to be 
 their plan, but some say that Lord Melbourne will resign, not 
 being prepared to go so far as Lord John Russell, in which case 
 the latter will be Premier. It may be, indeed, that Lord John 
 Russell is intriguing to turn out Lord Melbourne in the same way 
 as Lord Grey was pushed out by his colleagues some years ago. 
 
 April 24:th. Sir Robert Peel gave notice this evening that on 
 Thursday next he would move : ' That Her Majesty's Ministers 
 do not sufficiently possess the confidence of the House of Commons 
 to enable them to carry through that House the measures which 
 they deem to be of essential importance to the public welfare, 
 and that their continuance in office under such circumstances is 
 at variance with the spirit of the Constitution.' It is said that 
 the Ministers are determined not to resign even if beaten on Peel's 
 motion next Thursday, but to proceed with the Corn Laws and 
 then dissolve. 
 
 April 26th. I went to the Derby, and to a party given by 
 Lady Salisbury, to hear Mademoiselle Rachel recite some scenes 
 out of Racine and Corneille, and was much pleased with her. 
 Her style is completely French, and therefore not very natural, 
 
 1 The present Earl of Harrowby. 
 
 II 
 
98 .MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MLMSTKK. 1811 
 
 but is the perfection of art. She is not handsome, but is very 
 pleasing in her appearance and manners. 
 
 June 5th. The Ministers have been defeated upon Sir Robert 
 Peel's motion of want of confidence. The Opposition did not ex- 
 pect such a victory, but their majority is only one. The division 
 took place at a quarter before three this morning, the numbers 
 being 312 in favour and 311 against the motion. The announce- 
 ment of the numbers was received with deafening cheers by the 
 Conservatives, and the Ministers looked completely overcome. 
 Lord John Russell grew very pale and nervous. When the division 
 was over he gave notice that next Monday he would move for 
 a vote of supplies to meet the present wants of the country, 
 but said nothing about the Corn Laws, resignation, or dissolution. 
 The news from China is favourable. Bogue Fort was taken on 
 February 25, and Canton in March. The Chinese fought better 
 than could be expected in defence of the town, which was taken 
 by storm, with 400 Chinese killed or wounded. 
 
 June Qth.'Weiit to hear the school children of Mr. Compton 
 catechised. Some of the answers were very amusing. ' Who was 
 Adam ? ' ' The eldest son of Abraham/ ' What countries are 
 there in Europe besides England ? ' ' America and Asia/ ' What 
 difference is there between town and country 1 ' ' None.' ( What 
 is an island ? ' ' Plenty of water.' ' Of what religion was St. 
 Paul before he became a Christian 1 ' ' A Roman Catholic.' 
 
 June Sfh. Lord John Russell announced the day before 
 yesterday that the Government intended to dissolve Parliament 
 immediately, proposing merely to take such estimates as were 
 essential for the public service. Sir Robert Peel then rose and 
 said he would oppose the granting of the supplies demanded unless 
 Lord John Russell would declare that Ministers intended to 
 advise the convocation of the new Parliament at once. Lord John 
 I ussell replied that the intention of Ministers was to advise tlio 
 immediate summoning of the new Parliament, with which Sir 
 Robert expressed himself satisfied. 
 
 Junt IQth. I received a letter from Sidney Herbert desiring 
 mo to start immediately as a candidate for the borough of Wilton. 
 He says that he has consulted precedents, but cannot find that in 
 the memory of man anybody has ever put out en address for 
 
jS-il ELECTION PROCEEDINGS. 99 
 
 borough, but that I must canvass it as exactly as if it were 
 Birmingham, and I had Lord John Russell standing against me. 
 Accordingly I shall start for Wilton to-morrow. 
 
 June l$th. I completed a most tiresome and uninteresting 
 canvass, there being no opposition to me ; but it is an extensive 
 borough, entirely agricultural, and necessitated long drives from 
 one point to another. 
 
 June 22nd. Parliament is to be prorogued to-day by the 
 Queen. 
 
 June 2 3 re?. I received alarming accounts of my father's 
 health. 
 
 June 25th. The Proclamation dissolving Parliament appeared 
 in the ' Gazette.' 
 
 June 2Qth. I must attend Christchurch election in support 
 of Sir George Rose ; having previously declined the request of the 
 electors to offer myself as a candidate. 
 
 June 29th. I went straight to Christchurch, and arrived in 
 time for the election proceedings. Sir George Rose was elected 
 by a large majority. The City of London has returned two Con- 
 servatives and two Whigs. 
 
 - Lord Sydenham to Lord Fitzharris. 
 
 Government House, Kingston : 
 
 July 13, 1841. 
 
 My dear Fitzharris, I am in your debt for a letter, but it is so long 
 ago that I cannot pretend to pay it. If I remember right, it was 
 written shortly after your friends had made so unwise a move last 
 year by the opening of the session, and by the rejection of their want 
 of confidence vote fixed mine in the saddle for another year. This time 
 the tables seem to be turned, though I rejoice at the course which the 
 Government have pursued, even if it end, as I hear it will, in their 
 discomfiture. Free Trade and Corn Laws are in my opinion worth 
 fighting for, although I did not think Irish questions and Church 
 reforms were. So though the result may be to place a Tory Govern- 
 ment where a Whig one sits, I think it the dignus vindice nodus and 
 the ring well established. Of course you will get all the counties, we 
 all the great towns, and the small boroughs will be anybody's money. 
 Neither party will, I daresay, get BO good a. Parliament as mine, nor be 
 able to manage them as easily, for my assembly, though comp^oL'ed of 
 
100 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1841 
 
 elements of as little affinity as oil anil vinegar, unite a good deal on 
 one point to do what I wish. So I am not sorry to be out of the tur- 
 moil at home. I shall have enough of it, I have no doubt, when your 
 great battle is decided in August or September, and I find upon my 
 return a renewal of it under the business session of 1841 and 1842. 
 
 I am delighted, however, to hear that, let what will happen, you are 
 to be returned for Wilton, where the seat is sure and money need not 
 Le spent. I have always regretted that you are not in Parliament, 
 where I am sure you will distinguish yourself, and where there is cer- 
 tainly a good opening for your doing so. You must have had enough, 
 too, by this time of shooting and hunting, and want more interesting 
 occupation. If the Tories come in I conclude that you will have sonic 
 post offered to you. If so, and I may volunteer the advice of an old 
 stager to you, I would strongly advise you to take only such a one as 
 will give you business to do in the House, for your department at least 
 such as Under Secretary, or India Board, if the President be a Peer. 
 Otherwise, I should, in your situation, feel my way independently in 
 the House, which no man who takes a Lordship of the Treasury or 
 Admiralty can do : his hands and his tongue are both tied. 
 
 I am sorry to say I am almost done up, and very like an old foun- 
 dered horse. The gout has played the deuce with my hands and feet, 
 and I have no strength to walk, or move, or pull a trigger, so I shall 
 dwindle down into a respectable old gouty proser, of which I am giving 
 you a specimen beforehand by offering advice unasked. 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 SYDENHAM. 1 
 
 ,//!/>/ \llh. The news of iny lather's health is worse, and I 
 fear there is little hope of his recovery. He has taken Lord de 
 C4rey's villa at Putney. 
 
 July 25th. -Lord Seymour moved the Address in the House 
 of Lords yesterday. ,An amendment to the Address was moved 
 by Lord Ripon, 2 representing dissatisfaction at the financial state 
 of the country. The Duke of Wellington, Lord Melbourne, the 
 Duke of Richmond, and Lord Landsdowne spoke. After which 
 the House divided, and there appeared for the Address 96, for 
 
 1 Poulelt Thomson, Lord Sydeuham, had just been made a Peer, and soon after 
 the date of this letter died in Canada from a fall in riding. He was a remarkably 
 agreeable man. 
 
 2 Lord Ripon had been Prime Minister as Lord Goderich in 1827. 
 
1811 SIR R. PEEL PRIME MINISTER. 101 
 
 the amendment 168 majority 72. In i^Le House of Commons 
 the Address was moved by Mr. M. Phillips, and seconded by Mr. 
 J. Dunclas. The amendment, which was exactly the same as 
 that proposed in the House of Lords, was moved by Mr. James 
 Wortley, and seconded by Lord Bruce. A debate followed, which 
 was adjourned until the following day, and again adjourned on 
 the 26th and 27th. The division took place on the 28th, and the 
 Ministers were beaten by 91 votes ; the members who voted for 
 the Address were 269, against it 360. Mr. Sharmaii Crawford 
 gave notice that he would move an amendment to the Address, 
 and the Conservatives were desired to attend again at twelve. 
 None of the Ministers were present, and Mr. Crawford's amend- 
 ment was negatived. 
 
 July '2$th. The Government have resigned and Peel is 
 Premier. 
 
 September llth. My father, Lord Malmesbury, died yesterday 
 at Lord de Grey's villa at Putney, aged 6;$. 
 
 October 7th. Canton has been stormed. The Chinese capitu- 
 lated after losing about three thousand men, and agreed to pay 
 six millions of dollars. But it appears that Admiral Elliot has 
 agreed to take a much smaller sum than he ought to have asked 
 for : which sum he immediately gave to the opium merchants 
 without thinking of demanding money for the expenses of the 
 war. This will cause additional expense, for the person who is 
 sent to supersede him has instructions to insist upon the payment 
 of sixteen million dollars, besides the whole of the cost incurred 
 by England and the East India Company. 
 
 October ].Qth. Prince Nicholas Esterhazy, who is engaged to 
 Lady Sarah Villiers, has not yet returned, so the marriage is 
 postponed. 
 
 October 18th. There is such a tremendous flood in London 
 that passengers were carried up the steps at Vauxhall on men's 
 shoulders. From the accounts in the papers it seems that the 
 insurrection at Madrid is suppressed. The attack upon the Palace 
 for the purpose of carrying off the young Queen and her sister 
 was defeated, most fearful fighting being carried on in the 
 apartments of the Palace itself. The insurgents got so far into 
 the building that the balls penetrated into the Queen's room, who 
 
102 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1841 
 
 was only saved by the gallant defence of a small body of men. 
 After some time of hard fighting, Generals Concha and Leon 
 deserted their men, who immediately dispersed and tranquillity 
 was restored. The citadel of Pampeluna is still in possession of 
 the rebels. 
 
 October 23rd. The Carlist insurrection seems to be going 
 badly for the Christines. Don Diego Leon has been taken prisoner 
 and shot. : 
 
 October SQtJi' In Spain the excitement is subsiding, so I hope 
 there will be no war. The Spanish insurrection seems to be at an 
 end, most of the troops who had joined the insurgents having 
 returned to Espartero. 
 
 November 3rd. A great fire has taken place at the Tower. 
 The armoury has been destroyed, as well as a number of our 
 trophies, nothing apparently having been saved but the Duke of 
 York's sword and sash. 
 
 November th. We drove from Tottenham Park to Littlecote, 
 the scene of a very horrid story which Sir Walter Scott relates in 
 his notes to * Kokeby. J The boards in the room where the child 
 was burned have been taken up and oilcloth nailed down over the 
 floor. A large cabinet has been placed to conceal the fireplace, 
 and all the curtains, out of which it is said a piece was cut, are 
 destroyed. General Popham, a descendant of Judge Popham, 
 who acquitted the murderer Darrell contrary to all evidence, and 
 to whom the property was left, it is supposed, in consequence of 
 an agreement to that effect between them, does not like any 
 allusion to this story. He has done all in his power to obliterate 
 the traces of the transaction. The house is a very fine old 
 building in the Elizabethan style of architecture. The hall is 
 large, with very handsome painted windows, the walls of carved 
 oak hung with armour, buff jackets, and arms. It is, however, a 
 very gloomy -looking residence, and few people would like to live 
 in it. Prince Nicholas Esterhazy has arrived at Micldleton Park, 
 Lord Jersey's place, bringing letters from his family to Lady 
 Sarah, so the marriage will take place soon. 
 
 November 16th. The Queen Dowager is said to be dying. 
 Lord Saltoun is appointed to the command of the force sent to 
 China, so that negotiations will give way to force. 
 
1842 DEBATES ON THE CORN LAWS. 103 
 
 1842 
 
 January 1st. The town of Amoy, in China, has been taken 
 by our fleet, with only the loss of one man. The fortifications 
 were so strong that our ships' guns made no impression on them, 
 and after four hours' continual firing the town was taken by -esca- 
 lade. If the Chinese had had good artillery, or understood 
 gunnery, we should probably have been defeated, as they would 
 have sunk our ships long before we could have made any breach 
 in their walls, which were of solid granite fifteen feet thick,' and 
 covered with a coat of mud and cement, which nothing could pene- 
 trate, of the thickness of two feet. Very little money was found 
 in the town, the Chinese having carried it off in split logs of wood. 
 
 February 1th. Sir Robert Peel has brought in his bill upon 
 the Corn Laws, which is no less than taking off more than half 
 the present duty. Nobody expected such a sweeping measure, 
 and there is great consternation amongst the Conservatives. It 
 is clear that he has thrown over the landed interest, as my father 
 always said he would. 
 
 February 26th. Mr. Villiers's motion for the total repeal of 
 the Corn Laws has been thrown out by an immense majority 393 
 to 90. Mr. Christopher is to propose an amendment to Peel's 
 bill to increase the duty upon foreign corn, and Lord Worsley 
 intends to propose another for a still further increase of duty. 
 My steward says that the landed proprietors will lose at least 1 5 
 per cent, of their rents by Peel's bill. 1 
 
 February 2,7th. Mr. Christopher's amendment to Sir Robert 
 Peel's bill has been rejected by a majority of 306 to 104. Alarm- 
 ing news has been received from India. It is officially announced 
 that our envoy, Lieutenant-General Macnaghten, and two officers 
 who accompanied him, have been murdered by the son of Dost 
 Mahomed during a conference to which they had been invited by 
 the latter to arrange terms for the evacuation of Cabul. This 
 treacherous act of course puts an end to the treaty ; but since then 
 it is reported that our troops, being nearly famished, without the 
 
 1 Experience has shown that this is far under the mark ; wheat is now (1881) 
 thirty-two shillings a quarter ! 
 
104 MEMOIRS OF Att EX-MINISTER. 1842 
 
 chance of obtaining supplies or relief, all the passes around Cabul 
 being stopped up with snow, and the town surrounded by a 
 greatly superior force, attempted to cut their way through the 
 Khoord Cabul Pass towards Jellalabad, to effect a junction with 
 Sir Robert Sale ; the whole, numbering five or six thousand men, 
 was destroyed, the 44th Regiment to a man. Sixteen ladies, 
 wives of the officers, were taken prisoners by the Afghans. 
 General Elphinstone is said to be dead. Lady Canning called to 
 confirm the news. 
 
 February 10th. Letters have arrived from India to-day, and 
 state that all the troops except about five hundred men, who. were 
 taken prisoners with General Elphinstone, were cut to pieces. 
 The ladies, it was thought, would come off tolerably well, as Dost 
 Mahomed's son's wife and children are in the hands of the English, 
 and for their sake he will not injure them. 
 
 April 1st. It appears that General Elphinstone, trusting 
 Akbar Khan's promise of a safe-conduct to Jellalabad, and think- 
 ing he could no longer hold Cabul against the Afghans, left it on 
 January 6. His troops were attacked almost immediately. Gene- 
 ral Elphinstone seems to have relied upon Akbar Khan's fidelity 
 and honesty, and, not suspecting him of treachery or want of 
 power to control his own people, allowed him to settle everything 
 about the march and encampment of our troops. If he had 
 pushed on as fast as he could, he might have reached Jellalabad 
 as Sir Robert Sale did some short time before with an inferior 
 force, but he seems to have been incapacitated by illness or age, 
 and quite unequal to the circumstances, which required a man of 
 unusual energy. He had been unfortunate in his career, as he 
 was almost the only English officer taken prisoner at Waterloo. 
 "When he was summoned by Napoleon during the battle to give 
 information as to our forces and resources, which he very honour- 
 ably refused to do, the Emperor grew furious, and abused him 
 before all his staff. Sale behaved like a hero, and when the sum- 
 mons to evacuate Jellalabad was brought to him he answered that, 
 though he had more at stake than any man, having a wife and 
 daughter (Mrs. Sturt) in the power of the Afghans, he would hold 
 Jellalabad to the last, and that nothing but an order from the 
 Council would induce him to give it up. Ghuznee and Kandahar 
 
J842 THE QUEEN'S BALL. 105 
 
 are saved. Went with Lady Ailesbury to the Duchess of Cam- 
 bridge's to settle about the quadrille for the Queen's ball. 
 
 April 12th. Started at eight for the Palace. The quadrilles 
 wore admitted by a private door and taken to separate rooms. 
 The Duchess of Cambridge's set assembled in a large room below 
 stairs. We were marshalled by our respective heralds, and pro- 
 ceeded, with the Duchess of Cambridge at our head, through the 
 hall into the Throne Room, where the Queen received us, sitting 
 on the throne, and surrounded by all her Court, in the dress of 
 the time of Edward III. Most of the costumes were beautiful, 
 and the whole arrangements very well managed. There were a 
 great many people already arrived, but none were allowed to enter 
 the Throne Room, which was perfectly empty with the exception of 
 the Queen and her Court. When the whole of our quadrilles had 
 passed her, they went through the gallery into one of the drawing- 
 rooms, where we had to wait until the other quadrilles and the 
 general company had arrived, after which we returned into the 
 drawing-room, a few couples were selected out of each set, and 
 dancing began. My partner was Lady Craven. 
 
 April \4:th. Dined at Lord and Lady Stanley's. A very 
 pleasant party. The Clanwilliams, Mahons, St. Aulaires, 1 the 
 Cannings, the American Minister, Mr. Everett, Brumiow, Lord 
 Aberdeen, &c. Mr. Everett, without waiting to be introduced, 
 asked me how much beer-money I gave my servants, and seemed 
 to think it was too much. He was dressed in a green coat, not a 
 common colour for a dinner in London. 
 
 April 2<-itJi. Went to a bal costume at Stafford House, where 
 almost everybody wore the dresses they had at the Queen's. 
 
 April 30/t. The Queen was shot at this morning on Consti- 
 tution Hill, as she was returning to the Palace, by a man called 
 Francis. 
 
 June Qth. The news from India is that Ghuznee has fallen, the 
 garrison having been foreed to capitulate for want of water. The 
 Afghans promised to take them in safety to Cabul, but, as they 
 have not been heard of since, it is feared that they met with the 
 same fate as the Cabul army, and have been massacred. This bad 
 news is somewhat counterbalanced by the success of Colonel Pollock 
 1 M. de St. Aulaire was French Ambassador. 
 
106 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1842 
 
 in forcing the Khyber Pass, which ho did most gallantly, though 
 opposed by a superior force. Sale, hearing that he was marching 
 to relieve Jellalabacl, made a sortie with his whole force against 
 the army that was besieging him, and after a brilliant action, that 
 lasted the whole day, totally defeated the Afghans. There is, 
 therefore, but little doubt that Colonel Pollock has succeeded iu 
 joining Sir Robert Sale. The conduct of Colonel Palmer in giving 
 up Ghuznee is very much censured, and Lord Ellenborough, the 
 Governor-General, is going to bring him and General Elphinstone 
 before a court-martial. 
 
 June IQth. -"The Duke of Orleans is dead. His horses being 
 restive, he jumped out of his carriage, fell, and was killed on the 
 spot. What will be the result of this sad event ? Probably 
 another rebellion as soon as the King dies, and the restoration of 
 the Due de Bordeaux. The French never will bear a regency 
 quietly, and certainly not a long one, as this would necessarily 
 be. The present King is sixty-nine, and the Comte de Paris only 
 four years old. It will give the Republicans a chance. The 
 Duke was carried into a shop close by, where the King, Queen, 
 and royal family soon arrived, but he never recovered his senses 
 for a single moment, and died in their arms. His body was 
 carried to Neuilly and placed in the chapel, the whole royal family 
 following the procession on foot. He was only thirty-two years of 
 age, very handsome, clever and amiable, and liked by all who knew 
 him. The army bitterly laments his loss. The poor Duchess of 
 Orleans arrived at Neuilly after the Duke's death. She had 
 heard of it at Plombieres by telegraph, and set off for Paris in the 
 middle of the night. At a few posts from Plombieres she met 
 the Duke's aide-de-camp, and then guessed the truth. She is re- 
 ported to have said, ' I was too proud of him, and God has taken 
 him away from me as a punishment.' He was certainly the flower 
 of the flock. A post-mortem examination showed that he gave 
 promise of living to a great age. The funeral is to take place at 
 Notre-Dame. 
 
 June 28th. Louis Philippe opened the session of the Chambers 
 on the 26th, and after alluding to his calamity, he made a very 
 peaceful speech on foreign affairs, but he broke down several times 
 during his address. 
 
1842 TEMPLE OF SUMNAUTH. 107 
 
 August 25th. There have been great disturbances at Man- 
 chester and throughout the whole of the manufacturing districts. 
 The pretence was a strike for an advance of wages, but the real 
 cause is political, and the whole insurrection excited by the 
 Chartists and the Anti-Corn Law people. The troops were called 
 out ; some were brought from India, and a regiment from Ireland. 
 
 November 6th. Peace is proclaimed with China. The capture 
 and destruction of Ghuznee, in India, by General ISTott took place 
 on September 6 the defeat of Akbar Khan, at the head of 
 sixteen thousand men, at Tezeen on the 1 3th by General Pollock ; 
 and the occupation of Cabul by that General on the IGth. The 
 prisoners left at Cabul have joined the Indian army, and it is 
 expected that the remainder who were taken away by Akbar 
 Khan will be recovered in a fews days. So the campaign in 
 Afghanistan is quite concluded, and the army has returned in 
 safety to India. Lord Ellenborough has issued a proclamation 
 which is much abused by the saints. It is certainly an injudicious 
 one, but I cannot agree as to its being irreligious or un- Christian- 
 like. The gates of the temple of Sumnauth are given to the 
 Hindoos ; they are merely a military trophy taken from one 
 Pagan nation and given to another, and none but those who are 
 determined to cavil and find fault can view it in any other light. 
 The Duke of Wellington, speaking in the House of Lords on the 
 subject, said be looked upon it 'only as a song of triumph.' 
 
 1843 
 
 June 6th. There was a report that Lord Stanley and Sir 
 James Graham had resigned on account of Sir Robert Peel 
 having given up some clauses in the Irish Arms Bill, but no one 
 seemed to believe there was any truth in the rumour ; though 
 there certainly has been a disagreement between some members 
 of the Cabinet and Peel on the subject. Many Conservatives 
 think that Peel truckles to the Radicals and throws over his 
 friends. Carmarthenshire is in a very disturbed state, and has 
 been so for some time. A gang of four or five hundred men, led 
 by a man in woman's clothes, under the name of ' Rebecca and 
 
108 " MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1843 
 
 her daughters/ have been pulling clown turnpike gates and doing 
 a great amount of mischief. No one can identify them, as they 
 are all disguised and their faces blackened, most of them being 
 armed. Most of the farmers and even some of the gentry, arc 
 said to be in league with them. They burned the workhouse 
 and committed other ravages. 
 
 July 2nd. News from Spain states that Espartero has raised 
 the siege of Seville, having bombarded and destroyed the greater 
 part of the suburbs and commenced a retreat to Cadiz, where the 
 'Malabar' is placed at his disposal, and that the English and 
 French are ordered to unite in assisting him to escape, as there is 
 no doubt if he fell into the hands of his opponents Republicans, 
 Christinos, or Carlists he would be put to death without mercy. 
 
 July 24:th. Espartero and his wife and daughter have arrived 
 at Woolwich. He was very well received by the authorities, and 
 expressed himself very grateful for the kindness and attention 
 with which he was treated on board the ' Malabar.' 
 
 August 2nd. Marshal Sebastiani has left London and gone 
 to Eu to meet the Queen, so there is no longer any doubt about 
 her intention of visiting Louis Philippe. I believe it will be the 
 first time since Henry VIII. that an English sovereign visits 
 France except as an exile. 
 
 October 1.2th. I drove to Highcliffe and saw Lady Canning, 
 who gave me an account of the expedition to Eu and Brussels 
 with the Queen, with which she was very much pleased. The 
 Queen did not go to the field of Waterloo. 
 
 October 17th. I hear that O'Connell and six others have 
 been arrested for sedition. This is a good move of the Govern- 
 ment, and will strengthen them, as for some time they have 
 suffered the reproach of want of energy. 
 
 November 6th. I arrived at Knowsley from Hooton, and 
 found Lord Derby's keeper had been shot by poachers. Two men 
 have been arrested on suspicion, and the poor man's case is almost 
 hopeless. 
 
 November 17 tli. The Due de Bordeaux's visit to this country 
 is beginning to assume a political aspect. He acknowledges that 
 he came to see those friends who are still attached to him and his 
 fortunes, and says that, though he will not disturb France, still if 
 
1813 THE DUG DE BORDEAUX. 109 
 
 a change should take place, and lie should be wanted, they will 
 always find him ready. He said in talking of his visit to England, 
 1 1 went to Rome to see the south of France, and I come to 
 England to see the north.' 
 
 November IQt/i. The Due de Guiche 1 called. He said that 
 the Due de Bordeaux is coming to London on the 25th, and he 
 has taken a house for him in Belgrave Square. He has sent for 
 his cook, and means to give dinners and receive two or three 
 times a week. Lord Shrewsbury gave him a grand reception at 
 Alton Towers, and had a party of eighty people in the house to 
 meet him. It was continually changing, each person only -staying 
 two days. The Due de Guiche, being a personal friend of the 
 Due de Bordeaux, was invited for the whole time of his visit. It 
 must have been very tedious, for each time the Due de Bordeaux 2 
 went out of the house or returned to it camion were fired. 
 
 December 12th. The Government at Madrid has again been 
 thrown into confusion, the young Queen having made a declara- 
 tion that her Prime Minister, Olozaga, had forced her to sign a 
 proclamation for the dissolution of the Cortes. She said that he 
 first attempted to persuade her, but when she refused, saying 
 that she would not do such an ungracious thing as dissolve an 
 assembly that had just paid her the compliment of declaring her 
 of age, he used menaces and very violent language to terrify her 
 into compliance. She then got up and tried to escape by a private 
 door that led into her apartment, but he anticipated her, locked 
 the door, forced her back to her seat, and made her sign the paper 
 1 >y force, holding her hand the whole time. After his departure 
 si ir made this statement, which was communicated to the Cortes. 
 Olozaga denies every word, says it is a falsehood of the Queen's, 
 and that there is not the slightest foundation for any part of the 
 story ; and adds, with great appearance of probability, that had 
 he been guilty of such conduct, it is not likely he could have 
 quietly walked out of the Palace through an ante-room filled with 
 attendants and guards, who would have come to the Queen's 
 assistance had she called out, and would have arrested him at the 
 
 1 Twenty-seven years after this date ho was Foreign Minister to the Emperor 
 Napoleon III., as Due de Gramont, at the de oh ration of the German war of 1870. 
 
 2 He died in 1882, 
 
110 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER.. 1843 
 
 least word or sign from her. In the meantime lie is deprived of 
 his office and seat in the Cortes. 
 
 1844 
 
 February 28th. I went to Christchurch election, and hope 
 that my brother will come in. He is opposed by a Mr. Harvey, 
 who has been sent down with a large sum of money, and I hear 
 that all the Dissenters, many of whom had promised to vote for 
 my brother, and some to remain neutral, are going against him. 
 
 February 22th. My brother is elected for Christchurch by a 
 majority of a hundred. 
 
 April 25th. I dined with Sir Robert Peel, who gave a great 
 dinner for the celebration of the Queen's birthday. None but 
 Peers were present. 
 
 May 23rd. By Lord and Lady Canning's advice I have hired 
 Cameron of Lochiel's place, Achnacarry, for the ensuing shooting 
 season. I hear it is a beautiful place, with an excellent house. 
 It was hired last year by Lord Douro. 
 
 June 2nd. The Emperor Nicholas of Russia arrived yester- 
 day unexpectedly, and went to Count Briinnow's, his Ambassador. 
 The King of Saxony arrived at Buckingham Palace on the same 
 day. 
 
 June Sth. We went to a breakfast at Chiswick given by the 
 Duke of Devonshire. The day was beautiful, and nothing could 
 be prettier than the whole sight. The Emperor of Russia was 
 there, with his circle around him. He is a magnificent looking 
 man, and remarkably handsome as to features, but appears older 
 than his age, as he is stout and bald. His hair and moustache 
 are fair, and he has rather a cast in his eye, but with a perfect 
 profile. His manners are courteous and dignified, and rather like 
 those of George IV., but with more dignity, and with nothing of 
 the fine gentleman about him. He is supposed to have come 
 over through some important political motive. Sir Robert Peel 
 and Lord Stanley were both there, as well as Lord Palrnerston and 
 all the diplomatic corps. The Emperor spoke chiefly to the D'uke 
 of Wellington during the breakfast. 
 
1841 . AX ABSURD INCIDENT. Ill 
 
 Ju.ne loth. Went to a party at Lady Palmerslon's, where it 
 was said that Peel lias tendered his resignation. He is furious 
 with those of his party who voted against him or stayed away. 
 He persuaded the Conservatives to rescind their vote on Mr. 
 Miles's amendment to the sugar duties, and the Ministerial pro- 
 posal was carried by a majority of 22. 
 
 June 22nd. At another party at Lady Palmerston's. There 
 was a new lion, an Indian, called the Nizam of some place I for- 
 get. He is immensely tall and fat, and all the ladies were staring 
 at him and pressing round him witho.ut the slightest regard to 
 decorum, and I could not help thinking that he could not but have 
 formed a very strange opinion of our English women. With his 
 strict notions of propriety with regard to the conduct of the sex 
 which all Asiatics possess, the manners of ours must appear to 
 him the height of effrontery. 
 
 July 28th. Left Chillingham Castle for the Highlands by 
 Edinburgh and Glasgow, and embarked on board the steamer at 
 Greenock. Stayed on deck the whole time, as, in spite of the 
 heavy rain and wind, the heat in the cabin was intense, all the 
 passengers agreeing in keeping the ports shut. We reached the 
 Crinan Canal at midday, where, leaving the track-boat, we walked 
 to the other end of it, about seven miles. The boat was crammed. 
 This gave rise to a very absurd incident, for, as there was not 
 room for each passenger to be seated in this barge, a number of 
 women were obliged to stand between the benches, and the rope 
 by which the boat was being towed having suddenly broken as we 
 were entering a lock, the barge struck the side with great vio- 
 lence, and the whole row of women, a dozen at least, fell as if 
 they had been shot one upon the other, amidst the roars of 
 laughter of the rest. We were two hours passing through the 
 canal, which has nine locks. We then embarked on board another 
 steamer, the sea being quite smooth, and at five o'clock sat down 
 to dinner in the cabin. We reached Oban that evening. 
 
 August 1st. We were very glad this morning that we didn't 
 go to Staffa yesterday, as the party who went there in the 
 steamer could not land owing to the heavy sea, and were veiy ill. 
 We loft Oban in the morning, and reached Corpach, a small 
 village on Lochiel; where we llnded and took a conveyance to 
 
112 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-M1XLSTEK. 
 
 Achnacarry, ten miles, which we reached at 5 P.M. The house 
 
 is excellent, and the country around quite magnificent. Loch 
 
 Lochy is about a mile from the house, and Loch Arkaig less. 
 
 The latter is fifteen miles long and about two miles wide in its 
 
 broadest part. It is surrounded by mountains, the lower range 
 
 nearly covered with the most picturesque woods of pine, birch, 
 
 ifec., of all sizes and ages. The trees not growing very close 
 
 allow one to see the heather, fern, and rocks that cover the face 
 
 of the mountain, which add extremely to the beauty of the 
 
 scenery. Beyond these hills rise some much higher and more 
 
 rugged, covered with rocks and heather and broken granite and 
 
 haunted by ptarmigan. Achnacarry is situated in a deep glen 
 
 between these two lakes, and with a beautiful clear river rushing 
 
 over rocks, forming cascades close under the windows. There 
 
 are a great many woods round the house, and the hills on both 
 
 sides of the valley are so thickly clad that there is splendid 
 
 shelter, and I think the storms which later in the year sweep 
 
 down from the mountains would not be much to be feared in the 
 
 glen. Lord Ossulston and Mr. Parker went out deer-stalking. 
 
 The ladies in a boat kept up with them, as they were on the 
 
 opposite face of the mountain. At about a mile from the end of 
 
 Loch Arkaig, but now almost covered with trees, is an island 
 
 which was once the burial-place of the MacFies. A little 
 
 farther on the river Maly runs into the lake, and a mile beyond 
 
 that are the primeval forests of Gusach and Gerraran, where the 
 
 heather is so strong that a walking-stick can be cut out of it, am 
 
 the jungle so impenetrable that I have known a dead stag losi 
 
 there as one might a partridge in a turnip-field. At the f art-he -si 
 
 end of the lake Scournahat rises in the shape of a volcano. The 
 
 whole scenery is in^such admirable proportion in reference to th< 
 
 mountains, forests, and water that it is certainly one of th< 
 
 loveliest combinations that can anywhere be seen. On the baul 
 
 of the river adjoining the two lakes there is a beautiful gloi 
 
 called ' the Dark Mile,' and a magnificent waterfall. An ex 
 
 eellent road runs through it and joins that to Fort William 
 
 There is a cave in the rocks in this valley, in which Charle 
 
 . Edward Stuart concealed himself after his defeat at Cullodcn ii 
 
 1 746, We found the traditions respecting his hair-breadth escapei 
 
1844 A PRIMEVAL FOREST, 113 
 
 still fresh in the memories of the Highlanders, it being just a 
 century since the rebellion took place. We got excellent ponies 
 and very intelligent gillies ready to be engaged at five shillings 
 a week and food, but no doubt if the fashion of going to the 
 Highlands increases, they will not be found for that price. The 
 pines in this primeval forest are some of them twenty feet round, 
 and stand like white skeletons that have died in their old age. 
 The natural growth of these forests at one time must have been 
 of oak, as some very large trunks are lying buried in the more 
 recent growth of pine. One I found was sixty feet long, and 
 completely embedded in the stratum of bog. It is what is called 
 a ' hind forest,' stags not coming in till late in the year. We 
 seldom went out without seeing eagles, and Lord Edward 
 Thynne killed one as it was soaring above him with a rifle and 
 a single ball. , 
 
 August 31 st. Some of my party went up Ben Nevis, which 
 
 took them exactly twelve hours, it being fourteen miles oft'. The 
 
 greatest drawback to this beautiful country is the climate, which 
 
 s so wet on this coast that it is said to rain 220 days in the year, 
 
 and we found this unfortunately true. 
 
 September 2nd. The French having occupied Mogador, Lord 
 Aberdeen insisted on their immediate evacuation of it. Prepara - 
 tions for war are going on in all the dockyards. Lord Canning, 
 Under- Secretary at the Foreign Office, writes to me after the 
 bombardment of Tangier and says that for some days there had 
 .been every probability of war with France, but noAv he thinks 
 the danger passed. The occupation of Mogador is since Lord 
 Canning's letter, and will greatly complicate the business, as it is 
 much worse to retain possession of a place than to knock it down. 
 
 September \2tJi. Letters say that all danger of war is at an 
 end. Prince de Joinville is ordered back to Neuilly, and the 
 King, Louis Philippe, is coming over next month on a visit to the 
 Queen. The latter is to embark for Scotland, and to live at 
 Blair Athol, quite retired, whilst her castle at Balmoral is 
 building. 
 
 September 22nd. We accompanied the gentlemon and Lady 
 Seymour to see the woods of Moicli driven for deer. We went 
 there in a boat, and then ascended the hill where we were posted. 
 
 I 
 
114 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1844 
 
 There we drew a blank. We then descended to the 'shore and 
 mounted our ponies, when another wood was driven two miles 
 farther on, in which two stags were seen, and in a third a stag 
 was killed. The sun set before we descended the last hill, and I 
 never saw such a glorious sight. The mountains on one side were 
 of the richest purple, while on the opposite shore of the lake the 
 woods were as black as ink. The rays of the sun were reflected 
 in the most dazzling manner on Glen Maly and on the peaks of 
 the mountains, which contrasted exquisitely with the intense 
 darkness of the corries and the woods of Gusach and Gerraran. 
 The scene was so wonderfully beautiful that everything else was 
 forgotten, and during the short time that the vision for I can 
 call it by no other name lasted not a word was spoken. We 
 could only gaze in wonderment and admiration. I never saw 
 anything so surprisingly lovely before, and never expect to do 
 so again. We then returned home in the four-oar. The papers 
 have been full of Louis Philippe's visit to Windsor. His recep- 
 tion has been most cordial wherever he went, not only by the 
 Queen but by the people. The officers of the French fleet have 
 met with a most enthusiastic reception at Portsmouth. The 
 English officers gave them a ball and a dinner ; healths were 
 drunk and speeches made, and an immense quantity of humbug 
 exchanged ; but the French like that, so I hope it will put them 
 in a good humour. The Queen has given Louis Philippe the 
 Garter. 
 
 September 16th. Left Achnacarry by Glencoe and Loch Lo- 
 mond. 
 
 November 7th. Dined with the Cannings and met Mr. Glad- 
 stone and Mr. Phillimore. We were curious to see the former, as 
 he is a man who is much spoken of as one who will come to the 
 front. We were disappointed at his appearance, which is that 
 of a Roman Catholic ecclesiastic, but he is very agreeable. 
 
 November 3Qth. Mrs. Portman and her sister, Lady Sale, and 
 Mrs. Sturt, 1 the widow of an officer killed at Cabul, came to 
 luncheon. The latter is pretty and very interesting-looking. I 
 never saw a countenance that bore such evident traces of past 
 
 1 This lady married again and returned to India, and was one of the first 
 peopls murdered on the outbreak of the Mutiny, 
 
isii sm ROBERT AND LADY SALK. 115 
 
 sorrow. She does all she can to appear cheerful, but her gaiety 
 seems forced, and I saw once or twice an expression of agony 
 come over her face. She has a pleasant manner, and is wholly 
 free from affectation ; has a very graceful figure and a fascinating 
 expression of countenance when she talks and smiles, and does 
 not look above eighteen. But suffering of mind and body have 
 deprived her of the freshness of youth, and she is deadly pale. I 
 was agreeably surprised in Lady Sale, whom I imagined to myself 
 to be a tall, masculine, overbearing sort of woman. Far from 
 this, she is not above middle height, with quiet, ladylike manners, 
 very proud of her husband and of the number of enemies he has 
 killed in battle with his own hand. She is very fond of India and 
 delighted to return there, which Mrs. Sturt is not. We made Sir 
 Robert Sale's acquaintance the same day at dinner, who, being ill 
 with an attack of ague, could not come to Heron Court. He did 
 not talk much about events in India, as his daughter was just 
 opposite and would have heard what he said. He is a little man, 
 with blue eyes and very white teeth, ''which a gentleman at table 
 who was suffering from toothache said he envied him more than 
 his victories. 
 
 1845 
 
 January l$tk. Heron Court. Edward Stanley, Lord Derby's 
 grandson, arrived, and a good conversation about politics took 
 place in the evening. He argued with great acuteness and good 
 temper, possessing a remarkable fund of information, seeing that 
 he is only nineteen. I am greatly mistaken if he does not dis- 
 tinguish himself much some day. He is of rather advanced 
 opinions. Some important and ominous changes ha ye taken place 
 in the Government within this week. The first was occasioned by 
 the death of Lord St. Germans, which removes Lord Eliot to the 
 House of Lords and obliges him to resign the Irish Secretaryship. 
 Sir Thomas Fremantle is appointed in his place ; Mr. Sidney 
 Herbert to be Secretary of War with a seat in the Cabinet ; Mr. 
 Corry to take his place at the Admiralty. Mr. Gladstone has 
 resigned office altogether, nobody knows why, but it is supposed 
 to be either upon the Church Act- not being inclined to go as far 
 
 i 2 
 
116 MEMOIRS OF Att EX-MlNlSTEH, 184o 
 
 as Peel intends going upon that subject or on some question 
 connected with trade and the sugar duties. 
 
 March list. Good Friday. I went to Paris with Lord 
 Ossulston. 
 
 April IQth. The Queen has lost her keys, which she dropped 
 out of her pocket as she was riding. As they were those of the 
 Government boxes, the offices were in consternation at the idea 
 of having all the locks altered. The day they were missed I was 
 passing up King's Road when I saw Colonel Arbuthnot walking 
 slowly in the middle of it with his eyes fixed on the ground. 
 Behind him was a strong body of police and park-rangers drawn 
 in a line across the road and looking down also. The effect 
 w^as very absurd, and of course people amused themselves by 
 giving false intelligence about the keys and sending them in all 
 directions after supposed finders of the lost treasure. 
 
 April Ilth. Dined with Briinnow and the Due de Broglie. 
 
 April, London. I am just returned from the Castle of Ham, 
 on the Somme, where I have been to see Prince Louis Napoleon 
 in the prison, in which he has been confined since 1840. Early 
 last January he sent M. Ornaiio to London to ask me to come 
 and see him on a matter of vital importance to himself, bringing 
 a small almanack for the year, with a vignette of the fortress of 
 Ham painted in miniature 011 the cover. I was unable to go till 
 now, and having obtained with some difficulty a permission from 
 M. Guizot to see the Prince, I went to Ham 011 April 20. I 
 found him little changed, although he had been imprisoned five 
 years, and very much pleased to see an old friend fresh from the 
 outer world and that world London. As I had only half a day 
 allowed me for the interview, he confessed that, although his con- 
 fidence and courage remained unabated, he was weary of his prison, 
 from which he saw 110 chance of escaping, as he knew that the 
 French Government gave him opportunities of doing so that they 
 might shoot him in the act. He stated that a deputation had 
 arrived from Ecuador offering him the Presidency of that Republic 
 if Louis Philippe would release him, and in that case he would 
 give the King his parole never to return to Europe. He had, 
 therefore, sent for me as a supporter and friend of Sir R. Peel, at 
 that time our Prime Minister, to urge Sir Robert to intercede 
 
1845 PKINCE LOUIS NAPOLEON AT HAM. 117 
 
 with Louis Philippe to comply with his wishes, promising every 
 possible guarantee for his good faith. The Prince was full of a 
 plan for a new canal in Nicaragua, that promised every kind of 
 advantage to British commerce. As a precedent for English 
 official interference I was to quote Earl Grey's in favour of Prince 
 Polignac's release in 1830. I assured the Prince that I wdiikl 
 do my best ; but added that Lord Aberdeen was our Foreig*> 
 Secretary, and that there was nothing of romance in his character. 
 At this time Prince Louis was deeply engaged in writing the 
 history of Artillery, and he took an hour in making me explain 
 the meaning of several technical words in English, which he 
 wished translated. He gave me a full account of his failure at 
 Boulogne, which he declared was entirely owing to the sudden 
 illness of the officer of the day whom he had secured, and who 
 was to have given up the barracks at once. The soldiers had 
 mostly been gained, and the prestige of his name in the French 
 army was universal. To prove this he assured me that the cavalry 
 escort of lancers who accompanied him to Ham made him constant 
 gestures of sympathy on the road. He then said, * You see the 
 sentry under my window ? I do not know whether he is one of 
 mine or not ; if he is he will cross his arms, if not, he will do 
 nothing when I make a sign/ He went to the window and 
 stroked his moustache, but there was no response until three were 
 relieved, when the soldier answered by crossing his arms over his 
 musket. The Prince then said, * You see that my partisans are 
 unknown to me, and so am I to them. My power is in an im- 
 mortal name, and in that only ; but I have waited long enough, 
 and cannot endure imprisonment any longer.' I understood that 
 Count Montholon and Dr. Conneau, with his valet, Thelin, were 
 his fellow-prisoners at Ham. After a stay of three hours I left 
 the prison, and returned to London deeply impressed with the 
 calm resolution, or rather philosophy, of this man, but putting 
 little faith as to his ever renouncing the throne of France. Very 
 few in a miserable prison like this, isolated and quasi-forgotten, 
 would have kept their intellect braced by constant day studies 
 and original compositions, as Louis Bonaparte did during the last 
 five years in the fortress of Ham. 
 
 The day after I arrived in London I saw Sir liobert Peel, and 
 
118 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1845 
 
 related my interview and message to him. He seemed to be 
 greatly interested, and certainly not averse to apply to the French 
 Government in the Prince's favour on his conditions, but said lie 
 must consult Lord Aberdeen, which of course was inevitable. 
 That evening he wrote to me to say that Lord Aberdeen ' would 
 not hear of it.' Who can tell how this decision of the noble lord 
 may influence future history ? 
 
 May \\th. Dined with the Haniiltons ; nobody was there 
 but the family. The Grand Duchess of Baden cross, as she wished 
 to be godmother to Lady Douglas's child, but, being a Roman 
 Catholic, the Bishop of London objected, and Lady Douglas was 
 so annoyed that she would not attend the ceremony. 
 
 June Qth. Started for the powder ball at the Palace. My 
 costume, dark blue velvet coat, gilt lace ; gold tissue waistcoat, 
 pink satin shorts, and powdered wig. There was an immense 
 crowd all through St. James's to the Palace. They were in high 
 good -humour and pleased at our letting down the glasses and 
 showing ourselves. The minuet was danced very fairly, no mis- 
 takes being made, the Queen being decidedly the best performer. 
 After the minuet a quadrille was danced, after which we passed 
 the Queen. 
 
 August Sth. Lord and Lady Seymour went with us to 
 Aclmacarry. Lady Seymour used to go out stalking, and killed 
 one of the best stags. 
 
 Achnacarry, August 19th. The newspapers are full of accounts 
 of the failure of the potato crop all over England and Ireland. 
 It will be a sad thing for the poor this winter. Corn is also 
 very high, another misfortune, which will probably be taken 
 advantage of by the enemies of the Corn Laws to urge a further 
 reduction of tariff. The French have sustained two defeats in 
 Algeria. In the first a body of -150 men were cut to pieces by 
 the Arabs under Abd-el-Kadcr, only ten escaping. In the last 
 200 men and five officers laid down their arms and surrendered 
 prisoners of war. 
 
 August 2th. We have had the most awful storm. The 
 wind was so violent that nobody in the house could sleep, and 
 the servants actually got up at three in the morning and came 
 downstairs, fearing the roof would be blown off. This storm 
 
1643 HESIGNATION OF PEEL. 110 
 
 continued the whole of the next day, with heavy rain. I went 
 down to the loch and was well repaid for it. It was impossible 
 to see anything finer in its way. It was like a sea immense 
 waves of deep green tipped with foam breaking against the shore, 
 and dashing the spray to an immense height. 
 
 October 25th. We left Aclmacarry with the Seymours on a 
 fine bright morning. 
 
 October 30th. Parted with the Seymours at York and went 
 to Knowsley. Found that Lord Stanley had been called to 
 London for a Cabinet meeting. 
 
 November 3rd. Left Knowsley for Grimsthorpe, Lord 
 Willoughby d'Eresby's place. Nothing is talked of in London 
 to-day but the elopement of Lady Adela Villiers with Captain 
 Ibbotson. Poor Lady Jersey is much distressed. Lord Stuart 
 de Rothesay is dead. lie was the Duke of Wellington's right- 
 hand man in the Peninsular War, as Commissioner managing 
 the Spaniards and Portuguese Juntas, which he did with great 
 ability. Afterwards Ambassador at Paris. 
 
 December \\th. Heron Court. My brother came down, 
 bringing news of Sir Robert Peel's resignation. It is not yet 
 known what occasioned this extraordinary and unexpected 
 event, but it is supposed to be connected with the Corn Laws. 
 
 December 13th. Sir Robert Peel has advised the Queen to 
 send for Lord John Russell, which her Majesty has done. He 
 came in four years ago, professing to be a friend of the 
 agricultural interest, and having six months ago declared 
 positively that he would not vote for the abolition of the Corn 
 Laws, as he thought the advantage which might be gained by 
 the manufacturer would be more than counterbalanced by the 
 mischief it would do to the agriculturist. He has now not only 
 proposed the total abolition of those laws, and resigns office 
 because the majority of the Cabinet is against him, but advises 
 the Queen to entrust the formation of a new Ministry to Lord 
 John Russell, thereby throwing the country into the hands of 
 the Radicals, for no moderate Government under Russell, Grey, 
 and Morpeth is possible. 
 
 December 15th. Lord John Russell has been sent for by the 
 Queen, but it is not yet known whether he accepts office ; he is 
 
120 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. ISio 
 
 to give a definite answer to-morrow. It is said Peel proposed 
 a total abolition of the Corn Laws, and was opposed by all the 
 Cabinet except Lord Aberdeen, Sir James Graham, and Mr. 
 Sidney Herbert. The Duke of Wellington came over next day, 
 and with him all the rest except Lord Stanley, but the Duke 
 afterwards repented and Peel resigned. He expected that the 
 Queen would have made more difficulty about accepting his 
 resignation than she appears to have done, for when he went 
 down to Osborne House with his colleagues he told Mr. Gunnell, 
 the inspector of the railroad, to keep a special train for him next 
 day, as he did not think he would return with the other 
 Ministers. But he came back with them, and his opinion was 
 not asked as to who should be his successor. 
 
 December 19th. Lord Canning writes that Lord John 
 Russell is believed to have formed a Government, and that the 
 ports are to be opened directly, wheat being only at 57s. 
 
 December 20th. Nothing decided as yet. Lords Aberdeen 
 and Lincoln, Sir James Graham, and Mr. Sidney Herbert met on 
 Friday at Sir Robert Peel's house. 
 
 December 2lst. Lord John Russell has given up the attempt 
 to form a Cabinet, because Lord Palinerston. insists on being 
 Foreign Secretary, to which Lord Grey objects. There is great 
 diversity of opinion amongst the Whigs on the subject of the 
 Corn Laws, many being against total repeal, and others for a 
 fixed duty. In short, this dissension has ended in the Queen 
 sending again for Sir Robert Peel. 
 
 December 25th. Sir Robert Peel has resumed office with the 
 same Cabinet except Lord Stanley, who remains out. 
 
 December 3Qth. I went to a meeting at Christchurch called 
 by the Anti-Corn Law party. There was a good deal of 
 speaking, and the Radical party were defeated by three to one 
 on a resolution which they proposed, 
 
1846 DEBATES ON THE CORN LAWS, 121 
 
 1846 
 
 January I2tk. Heron Court. The Cannings arrived to-day. 
 He evidently expects that Peel's Government will not stand, 
 and, being Under- Secretary for Foreign Affairs, he should know. 
 
 January 22nd. The Queen opened Parliament to-day in 
 person. Sir Robert Peel gave his explanation of the events 
 which led to the dissolution of the Ministry and its re-formation 
 in a long speech, half threatening and half apologetic. It was 
 eloquent, but his cause is very weak and his position very 
 pitiful. The statement was listened to in solemn silence by his 
 own party, while it was occasionally cheered by the Opposition, 
 which must have been very mortifying. Disraeli then got up 
 and made a very clever and bitter attack, full of personalities 
 and sarcasms directed against Peel, every one of which was 
 received with laughter and cheers from both sides of the House. 
 The Address was carried in both Houses without opposition. 
 The Duke of Richmond and I spoke in favour of Protection, and 
 were both cheered ; rather an event in the House of Lords. 
 
 January 27th. Saw Lady Stanley, who says her husband 
 resigned for no other reason than his objection to Sir Robert 
 Peel's policy on the Corn Laws. Sir Robert Peel has brought 
 in his bill for the repeal of the Corn Laws. He proposes to 
 keep a sliding scale, though reducing the amount of protection 
 for three years, at the end of which time there is to be a total 
 repeal of all duty on corn. He proposes at the same time to 
 diminish the duties upon manufactures, one-half directly ; but 
 whatever amount of protection he leaves them now they are to 
 keep at the end of three years, while the agriculturists are to 
 lose theirs entirely. The compensation he promises them is .a 
 mere mockery, and will do more harm than good. 
 
 February th. The debate 011 Peel's Corn Bill begins to-day. 
 Mr. Miles made a good speech on our side. 
 
 February I4tth. The debate 011 the Corn Bill still continues, 
 and no decision has yet taken place. Almost all the speaking 
 has been on the agricultural side, Lord John Russell, Lord Mor- 
 peth, and Mr. Roebuck being the only Whigs of note who have 
 spoken on the other. 
 
122 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1846 
 
 February \5th. I heard yesterday that Lady Powerscourt's 
 marriage with Lord Castlereagh is settled. I am going up to 
 London this morning at the Duke of Richmond's request to speak 
 upon his motion for an inquiry into the burthen on land. Lord 
 Beaumont also brings forward a motion to the same effect. 
 
 February 17 tk. News from Algeria gives bad accounts of the 
 state of the French army. Abd-el-Kader harasses them on all 
 sides in a most indefatigable manner, and in a way which makes 
 all their bravery and knowledge -of war perfectly useless, for he 
 never waits for their troops. His system is one of alternate 
 attack and retreat, and as all the inhabitants are for him the 
 French are never warned of any intended attack, but he falls 
 upon them unexpectedly when they are least prepared, and then 
 disappears as suddenly as he came, without their having time to 
 do him any injury. In addition to this harassing mode there is a 
 great deal of sickness in their army. It is said that the Due 
 d'Aumale is going out to take command, and that more troops 
 are to be sent. l 
 
 February 18th. Lord Stanley declares himself against Peel's 
 Bill, and for a dissolution. Peel is said to be very unwell, and 
 has been cupped three times. He can think and talk of nothing 
 but famine. Lords De la Warr and Forester have resigned their 
 Court places. 
 
 February \$th. Returned to Heron Court from London, and 
 saw Lord Stanley there, who is decidedly against Peel's measure, 
 and though disinclined at present to take the lead of the Agri- 
 cultural party, will certainly do so at some future period. He 
 thinks that any attempt to form a Government at present from 
 amongst our party would be premature, from the want of an 
 experienced leader in the House of Commons, and the only way to 
 rally and unite the party is in opposition. Therefore, the Whigs 
 must first come in. The Duke of Wellington, though he supports 
 the measure, is against it, and told Lord Stanley that his only 
 reason for staying in and supporting Peel was for the sake of the 
 Queen and the peace of the country. He deeply lamented that 
 Peel had brought the measure forward, thought he was quite 
 
 1 The Due d'Aurnale defeated Abd-el-Kader, and took his camp. Abd-cl-Kader 
 Avns a prisoner in France until Louis Napoleon released him iu ISdiJ, 
 
1846 DESPERATE BATTLES WITH SIKHS. 123 
 
 wrong, that lie had broken up a noble party, and that it was for 
 him (Lord Stanley) to rally it again, his own career was nearly 
 ended, and that Stanley must be leader of the party. Lord 
 Beaumont went to the Duke and asked him to grant him a com- 
 mittee for an inquiry into the burthen on land, and he first tried 
 to persuade him to give it up, but finding him firm, he said, ' Well, 
 my good fellow, you must have it. I will not oppose it ; I am 
 
 quite of your opinion on the subject ; it is a d d mess, but I 
 
 must look to the peace of the country and the Queen.' It is evi- 
 dent from his whole conduct lately this is his sincere opinion, for 
 though he retains office he has never said a word in defence of 
 Peel or his measure. He sits 011 the Government bench with his 
 hat drawn over his face, apparently indifferent to all the attacks 
 made on the Government, never saying a word in answer. 
 
 February 2'2nd. Heron Court. The Cannings arrived. He 
 supports Peel, so of course politics were not talked. 
 
 February 24th. News has arrived from India of our having 
 gained a great victory over the Sikhs, who were the aggressors, 
 crossing the Sutlej and invading our possessions. ' Sir Henry 
 Hardinge, Sir H. Gough, and General McCaskell advanced to 
 meet them, and a battle was fought at Moodkee on the 18th, 
 which was decisive, it having continued till the 2 2nd, when we 
 stormed and took their camp with a hundred pieces of cannon. 
 Our loss was dreadful. Sir Robert Sale was killed, also General 
 McCaskell, Major Broadfoot, and Major Somerset, Lord Fitzroy 
 Somerset's son. In all about 1 50 officers and about three thousand 
 men were killed and wounded, a thousand of them being English. 
 Many were killed in the enemy's camp, which was mined, and 
 blew up when we had taken possession of it, and many others 
 whilst engaged in burying the dead, through want of cavalry. 
 Wo \vcre only twenty thousand against sixty thousand, and had 
 only fifty guns. Our troops behaved with the most desperate 
 i;ulluntry. The battle of the 22nd was fought at Fcrozeshah. 
 Sir Henry Hardinge, who is Viceroy, was present at both that 
 and the engagement at Moodkee, having volunteered to serve 
 under Sir Hugh Gough, to whom he afterwards addressed a de- 
 spatch describing the battle. This at first sight seems absurd, 
 but it was due in accordance with the etiquette observed on these 
 
124 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1816 
 
 occasions, this kind of despatch being intended as a public docu- 
 ment. The army under the command of Sir H. Gough had 
 marched 150 miles in six days previous to the battle of Moodkee, 
 and on the same day had marched thirty miles. The men were 
 exhausted with fatigue, and dying of thirst, without time to 
 refresh themselves, when they were hurried into battle against 
 fresh troops. These they repulsed, but with severe loss. They 
 then bivouacked on the field of battle, and the next day entrenched 
 themselves, expecting a fresh attack, but being recruited by two 
 other regiments they advanced to the relief of Sir John Littler, 
 who was supposed to be beleaguered in Ferozeshah by the Sikhs. 
 Having effected a junction with him, they attacked the camp of 
 the Sikhs, and the fighting continued the greatest part of the 
 night. Next day the attack was again renewed and the enemy 
 driven out. 
 
 February 24th. After this the Sikhs advanced again with 
 30,000 fresh troops and numerous artillery, and though we had 
 not a single gun to oppose them, and had made up our minds to 
 be destroyed, they most unaccountably retreated, and since the 
 date of the last despatch on December 25 they had not been 
 heard of. Sir Robert Peel has sent a good report of his health 
 to ' The Times,' saying that he has not been cupped and was never 
 better in his life. 
 
 March 9th. There was a meeting of Peers at the Duke of 
 Richmond's, at which Lord Eglinton read a letter from Lord 
 Stanley advising as to the course to be pursued in opposition to 
 Peel's bill, and promising his support to the Protection party. In 
 consequence of this it was decided to look upon Stanley as the 
 leader of the party, and to do nothing without consulting him. 
 Lord Eglmtoii and I, who have been chosen Whips on this 
 occasion, informed Lord Stanley of what had passed at the meet- 
 ing that same afternoon in the House of Lords, and he was 
 evidently very much pleased and flattered at the confidence re- 
 posed in him. 
 
 March 15th. We took a box at the opera with Lady Seymour, 
 and went afterwards to Lady Palmerstoii's. Mr. Sidney Herbert 
 was there, and came up to me in a great state of excitement, 
 saying that my conduct in leaving Peel was unworthy a gentlo 
 
1846 BATTLES OF ALIWAL AND SOBRAON. 125 
 
 man, that the whole Protectionist party were a set of fools, and 
 Lord Stanley the greatest fool among us, and that Peel was 
 delighted at having got rid of us, &c. In, short, he said every- 
 that was most obnoxious. If he had not been in such a frantic 
 passion I should probably not have been able to keep my temper, 
 but there was something so absurd in his unprovoked attack that 
 I retained perfect command over myself. It was certainly very 
 extraordinary, as I had not spoken to him that evening, or seen 
 him since he came to London, and had given him 110 provocation 
 whatever. He is generally careful of what he says ; in fact, he 
 carries caution to that degree that he is famous for it. We met 
 again at the tea-table that evening, when Mrs. Norton joined us, 
 and by that time Mr. Herbert had recovered his good humour. 
 He called on me this morning, partly to make up for his extra 
 vagant conduct last night, and partly to find out whether Lord 
 Stanley meant to accept the leadership of our party. This shows 
 the violence of party feeling at present, as Sidney Herbert and I 
 have always been like brothers. 
 
 March 2lst. Lord Stanley is now established in the direction 
 of the Protectionist party. He presented some petitions yester- 
 day in favour of Protection, and took the opportunity of declaring 
 himself against Peel's bill for repealing the Corn Laws. This 
 will fix many waverers who have been inclined to vote with Peel 
 though disliking his measure. 
 
 March 2Qtk. News has arrived of another great victory ovor 
 the Sikhs. The battle took place at Aliwal, and the troops en- 
 gaged were commanded by Sir Harry Smith. The Sikhs were 
 much stronger in numbers and well provided with artillery, but 
 we took their batteries at the point of the bayonet. 
 
 April 1st. Another great victory over the Sikhs at Sobraon 
 on February 10. The whole army, including Sir Harry Smith's 
 division, which had joined Sir Hugh Gough and Sir Henry 
 Hardinge on the 8th, was engaged. They stormed the entrench- 
 ments of the Sikhs, taking about sixty cannon, and drove them 
 ' over the river with great slaughter. There is now every proba- 
 bility that the war is ended, this last battle having been a very 
 decisive one. 
 
 April ISf.h. Louis Philippe has again been shot at when 
 
I2(j MEMOIRS 0$ AN EX-MINISTER. 1846 
 
 driving* in the forest of Fontainebleau. No one was hurt. The 
 English army entered Lahore on February 20 and occupied the 
 citadel. 
 
 May \3th. A great dinner at Lord Stanley's, who observed 
 that it was a curious state of parties when a Liberal like Lord 
 Bessborough whipped up the bishops to support the Duke of 
 Wellington on a Free Trade question. 
 
 May llth. The third reading of the Corn Bill took place, 
 and the numbers were for the bill, 327; against, 229; majority 
 for the Ministers, 98, being one more than for the second reading 
 Peel's position, however, has not improved, and the general im- 
 pression is that he must resign before long. The treatment he 
 received is truly humiliating, and I cannot conceive his submitting 
 to it. The Whigs are in high spirits. The plan now seems to be 
 to propose a fixed duty in committee, which, if supported by the 
 Protectionists and Whigs, must be carried. Peel, who goes for 
 the total abolition, will then be obliged to go out or dissolve 
 Parliament, but it is probable that he will not attempt to prolong 
 the struggle and will resign at once. 
 
 Lord George Bcniind: to Lord M. 
 
 Harcourt House: Ma}- 1G, 1846. 
 
 My dear Malniesbury, I have set an engine to work to get Lord 
 Hawke if possible. Lord Galway must be niy instrument. 
 
 Disraeli made a wonderful speech last night ; even O'Connell says 
 it was the greatest speech he ever heard within the walls of Parliament. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 G. BENTINCK. 
 
 May 18<7i-. Colonel Bowles called, and told me he saw Peel 
 yesterday, who said he could no longer bear the treatment he 
 received and had determined to resign. In the last night's debate 
 on the Corn Bill Disraeli made a most violent attack upon him, 
 which was cheered, not only by the Protectionists but by his own 
 friends, who, though they voted for him, are very angry with him 
 for getting himself and them into such a scrape. They now see 
 they have gained nothing by following him. Nothing could be 
 more violent than party feeling at this moment, especially be- 
 
1816 LOUIS NAPOLEON ESCAPES FROM HAM. 127 
 
 tween the Peelites and Protectionists, who seem to have lost all 
 power of commanding their language. 
 
 May 22nd. I have refused all pairs in the Protection party 
 until after the second reading of the Corn Bill in the House of 
 Lords. 
 
 May 23rc?. A great meeting of Whig Peers at Lansdowne 
 House, at which they pledged themselves to support the bill. We 
 shall therefore be completely beaten if they do not vote for the 
 fixed duty. We expected after Lord Normanby had made over- 
 tures to us, through me, which were agreed to by Lord Stan- 
 ley, that they would support our amendment. It is said the 
 majority of the meeting at Lansdowne House were for voting 
 with us, but they were overruled by Lords Clarendon, Minto, and 
 John Russell, and are now pledged to vote for the total repeal. 
 Many of the Whigs are much annoyed at this decision, and ex- 
 pressed themselves so to me. 
 
 May 25th. The debate on the second reading of the Corn 
 Bill began to-day, when Lord Stanley made a most splendid 
 speech on the subject extraordinarily argumentative and elo- 
 quent, and free from all personality. It had an immense effect, 
 and was praised by all parties. 
 
 May 27th. On returning home from White's Club, a man 
 ran over the street and stopped my horse, and at first I did not 
 recognise him, but to my great surprise I saw Prince Louis ISTapo 
 leon, whom I had left a year before as a prisoner in the fortress of 
 Ham. He had just landed in England after his escape, and was 
 going into the Brunswick Hotel in Jermyn Street. On the same 
 clay we dined with the Duke of Beaufort at Hamilton House, 
 and as the party was sitting down to dinner I saw opposite me 
 Louis de Noailles, who was one of the Attaches at the French 
 Embassy, and said across the table to him, * Have you seen him V 
 * Who ? ' he asked. * Louis Napoleon,' I replied ; ' he is in 
 London, having just escaped.' De Noailles dropped the lady who 
 was on his arm and made but one jump out of the room, for it 
 seems that the news had not yet reached the French Embassy. 
 I never saw a man look more frightened. 
 
 June 4:th. The Government has been defeated in the House 
 of Lords on a bill respecting Lord Hardinge's and Lord Gough's 
 
128 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER^ isift 
 
 pensions; The Duke of Richmond moved that the pension 
 proposed to be paid to their two next heirs should be paid to the 
 present holders of the titles in addition to that given by the 
 East India Company. The Government opposed this, and were 
 beaten by 12. 
 
 June 15th. The Duke of Buckingham moved an amend- 
 ment to continue the protection to agriculture after a lapse of 
 three years had taken place, but the Government had a majority 
 of 33, and it was rejected. 
 
 June IQth. Lord Winchilsea's amendment for a fixed duty 
 was rejected by the same majority. 
 
 June 25th. The Corn Law Bill passed to-day without a 
 division. Lord Stanley entered his protest against it, which 
 will probably be signed by all the Protectionist Peers. The 
 second reading of the Coercion Bill came on in the Commons, 
 and the Government were beaten by a majority of 73 ; 106 
 Protectionists voted with Peel, and 70 against him, and all the 
 "Whigs and Radicals. The defeat of the Government was 
 reckoned so complete that neither Whigs nor Protectionists 
 cheered. 
 
 June 2Qth. There was a Cabinet this morning, after which 
 Sir Robert Peel went down to Osborne to acquaint the Queen 
 with the decision of the Cabinet, and, it is supposed, to tender 
 liis resignation. 
 
 June 27 Ih. Dined with Lord and Lady Lansdowne. Mot 
 the Beauforts, the Clarendons, Lord de Grey, and the Duke of 
 Richmond. It was a dull dinner, everybody occupied with 
 politics, and the party so mixed that the subject could not be 
 mentioned. Sir Robert Peel went down again to Osborne to-day. 
 
 June 29tk. I hear the dinner at Lansdowne House has 
 made a great sensation from its mixture, and is called the 
 ' Coalition ' dinner, which is absurd. Sir Robert Peel declared 
 in the House of Commons this afternoon that he had resigned 
 office, and would give his support to Lord John Russell in all 
 Free Trade measures. This will bring back to the Protection- 
 ists a great many of the Peelite party, and is a good move for 
 them. Various rumours, as usual, as to the posts given to the 
 members of the new Government. Peel flattered Cobtlen 
 
1846 THE SPANISH MAKKIAGES. 129 
 
 immensely, saying that there was one name which would go 
 down to posterity, which was neither his nor Lord John's, but 
 that of Richard Cobden. Peel was escorted to his house by about 
 a hundred people, who cheered as loudly as their limited numbers 
 would permit. 
 
 August 2lst. News from Spain has been very interesting 
 of late. The marriage of the Queen with the Duke of Cadiz is 
 settled, in spite of her abhorrence of him ; and that of her sister 
 with the Due de Montpensier is announced to take place at the 
 same time. This is a masterpiece of Louis Philippe's cunning, 
 because it is known that the Queen would not have children, 
 even if her own bad health made it possible. Her sister will 
 then be heir to the throne. The English Government, especially 
 Lord Palmerston, are much displeased, and Mr. Bulwer and M. de 
 Bresson, their respective Ministers at Madrid, are on the coolest 
 terms since the announcement has been made, it having taken 
 Lord Palmerston completely by surprise. Mr. Bulwer did not 
 attend the public announcement of the Queen's marriage ; and, 
 to complicate the question, Don Carlos's son, Count Montemolin, 
 Cabrera, and other Carlist generals, have made their escape, and 
 the whole country is in a ferment in consequence of this French 
 alliance, which is generally detested. If I know Lord Palmerston, 
 he will never forgive Louis Philippe this trick which he has 
 played upon him, and will pay him off some day. 
 
 October 7th. We left London for Dover with my brother-in- 
 law, Lord Ossulstoii ; sailed for Ostend, thence to Liege, where 
 the engine was taken off and we went down the steepest-inclined 
 plane I ever saw on any railway. If the rope had given way we 
 must all have been smashed. Thence by Verviers to Cologne, 
 and up the Rhine by steamboat. The King of Prussia is em- 
 ploying four hundred workmen in finishing the Cathedral at 
 Cologne, which will consume seventeen years before it is 
 completed, if the money and stone do not fail. The latter is 
 procured from a quarry near Drachenfels. 
 
 October 12th. Have reached Godesberg. We walked up the 
 hill to the castle of Drachenfels. The ruin, which is very pic- 
 turesque, is disfigured by hundreds of English' names scrawled 
 upon the battlements, a habit that seems peculiar to our nation. 
 
 K 
 
130 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1846 
 
 October l'3ik. Left Godesberg and reached Coblenz. We 
 walked to the fortress of Ehrenbreitstein, which contains a 
 garrison of twelve hundred men. The magazines are victualled 
 for seven years, but are always renewed every three years. 
 
 October 14th. We arrived at Mayence and went on to 
 Mannheim. 
 
 October 15th. Beached Heidelberg. The road runs along 
 the banks of the ISTeckar and is very beautiful. This magnificent 
 castle was destroyed by fire, but the exterior is uninjured, ex- 
 cepting some parts which were blown up by the French in the 
 Thirty Years' War. 
 
 October IQth. Left Heidelberg by the railway, with the 
 Cannings, whom we met here, and reached Fribourg. Walked 
 to the cathedral, said to be the finest in Europe after that of 
 Burgos. In size it is not larger than that of Salisbury or even 
 Christchurch, but in the richness of its architecture and decora- 
 tions it immeasurably surpasses both. The windows of painted 
 glass exceed any. 
 
 October 17th. Left Fribourg by the road through the Hol- 
 lenthal, which is very wild. The approach to Stuhlingen is mag- 
 nificent along the brow of a very steep hill, the declivity of which 
 is so abrupt that you see nothing over the parapet wall from your 
 carriage but the valley at an immense depth under your feet. 
 The sun was just setting as we were descending the hill, and 
 tirew the most glorious light over the valley and the woods and 
 mountains in the distance. It was quite dark before we left 
 Stuhlingen, and we, therefore, lost the scenery to Schaffhausen. 
 We went to Wiebur's hotel, which is just opposite the falls of the 
 Rhine. 
 
 October 18th. Reached Constance, close to the lake, which 
 at this point expands into an immense sheet of water. Lord 
 Ossulston left us to-day for Zurich, on his way to Milan, and will 
 join us at Venice. 
 
 October 19th. Left Constance for Italy over the Brenner 
 Pass, by Bludenz, Landeck, and the Tyrol. 
 
 October 21st. Reached Innspruck. I never saw anything so 
 frightful as the women of this country. They all look old, more like 
 old men than women, and as they wear men's hats the resemblance 
 
1846 THE TYKOL. 131 
 
 is still more striking. I suppose it is hard labour and bad living 
 which makes them so uncomely. All have the same ugly features, 
 high cheek bones, large mouths, small eyes, with enormous feet 
 and legs. The museum is entirely supported by the contributions 
 of the inhabitants, each paying ten florins per annum. The 
 guardian showed us a miniature of Hofer, the famous patriot, who 
 opposed the French in '96, the only likeness taken of him ; also 
 his sword and accoutrements, all of which are held in great 
 veneration by the Tyrolese. As we were going away he took us 
 into a private room and produced a letter which was written by 
 Lord Bathurst, our Minister, to the Tyrolese during the great 
 war, sending them a subsidy of 30,000. from the English Govern- 
 ment to assist them in opposing the French invasion. In reading 
 the letter I found to my surprise that, though it was signed 
 ' Bathurst,' it was written by my father, who at that time was 
 Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office. We carried away a copy 
 of it, and the superintendent said that most of the English who 
 came here wanted one, so he always kept some ready written. 
 This letter is apparently much valued here as a relic, together 
 with a German copy of it. 
 
 October '23rd. We met the funeral of an officer of the Tyrolese 
 corps, an immense number of people following the procession. 
 Those nearest the coffin carried lighted tapers, after them the 
 priests in full canonicals, then the coffin, with a yellow pall and 
 black borders, and two pictures painted or worked upon it. Four 
 men walked beside the coffin carrying lanterns on the top of long 
 poles ; behind, the military band playing the gayest opera music, 
 and afterwards an immense crowd of men, women, and children. 
 The effect was strange, for during the time the band played their 
 opera airs, the great bell of the church, the most tuneful and 
 melodious one I ever heard, every stroke resembling a full chord 
 of the finest wind instrument, tolled slowly ; so the whole was a 
 great mixture of solemnity and frivolity, but still certainly strik- 
 ing to one who, like me, witnessed it for the first time. The 
 ascent of Brenner is very easy, and only took an hour and a 
 half. 1 
 
 1 There is now a splendid railway over this pass down to Venice. 
 
 K 2 
 
132 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MJNISTER. 1846 
 
 October 26th. After leaving Mittenwald reached Niedern- 
 dorf. It snowed a little when we started, and by the time we 
 reached the first post to Landau it lay so thick upon the ground 
 that we thought we should not be able to proceed. It was above 
 the axletrees of the front wheels, and the track was nearly ob- 
 literated. The atmosphere looked nearly as white as the ground, 
 and the snow increased rapidly till it reached the top of the front 
 wheels. At this anxious moment we met a party of men with a 
 snow-plough, dragged by twenty horses, who had got through the 
 drift, and this enabled us to pass and reach Landau. The next 
 stage to Cortina was nearly as bad, the snow reaching over the 
 parapet, which it hid, making the road very unsafe going down 
 the sharp turns in the descent. The horses, however, were so 
 good and well-trained that they go along the worst roads perfectly 
 safely and never jib. We breakfasted at Cortina, which is the 
 first Italian town. There we fell in with Mr. Waghorn's Indian 
 courier. He was making experiments to find the shortest road 
 from India through Italy and France. 
 
 October 27 tk. Arrived at Mestre, and embarked in a large 
 gondola for Venice. The town has been lighted by gas since we 
 were here fifteen years ago, and the railway and bridge are no 
 disfigurement to it. 
 
 October 3lst. I went with the Websters to hear mass at Saint 
 Mark's, the Patriarch of Venice officiating. The greatest part of 
 the ceremony appeared to consist in dressing and undressing him. 
 The music good, but nothing remarkable. 
 
 November 2nd. I went to the Manfrini Palace to admire 
 again Ariosto's portrait by Titian. 1 
 
 November 3rd. Went to the Academia, where I was con- 
 firmed in my opinion, that ' The Assumption ' and ' The Presenta- 
 tion of the Virgin as a Child ' are the two finest pictures by Titian 
 in Europe. The latter is the superior one. Titian's last work is 
 also in this collection, painted when he was ninety-nine years old, 
 but shows the effect of years even upon him. 
 
 November 16th. I have been seriously ill with a quinsy, and 
 till now unable to go out. Left Venice to-day and reached Padua, 
 
 1 This collection was sold, and this picture is now in our National Gallery. 
 
1840 POWER'S STUDIO, 133 
 
 thence to Ferrara. Detained an hour and a half crossing the 
 Adige and the Po, being delayed 'by a carriage that was before us 
 embedded in the mud. 
 
 November ISth. We reached Bologna, where Lord Ossulston 
 rejoined us. 
 
 November 20th. Reached Florence. 
 
 November 25th. Went to Bartolini's and Power's studios. 
 The latter is making a duplicate of his ' Greek Slave ' for Lord 
 Ward. His statue of ' Eve ' is also beautiful in the shape of the 
 head, which is quite lovely both in feature and expression, but the 
 figure is much less modest and graceful than that of his ' Greek 
 Slave,' probably from its being rather larger than life. But the 
 statue which pleased me most was one of a girl of fourteen by 
 Dupre, and which he calls ' Innocenza ; ' the figure being that of 
 a girl just on the verge of womanhood. The papers mention the 
 occupation of Cracow by the Austrians, who, in concert with 
 Russia and Prussia, have declared that the Republic of Cracow 
 no longer exists, and have annexed it to the Austrian Empire, 
 Russia declaring that if Austria did not take it she would. This 
 has been done without the knowledge of either England or France, 
 and is said to be a consequence of the coolness existing between 
 those Powers, for if the entente cordiale was still in force they 
 would not have dared to do such a thing. 
 
 November 27th. Left Florence at ten, and arrived at Arezzo 
 at seven. The roads were very heavy and covered with loose 
 stones. 
 
 November 2Sth. The towns we passed through bore marks of 
 great antiquity, and are very curious old places. The whole 
 aspect of the country and the people is so different from what we 
 have lately seen, and they are apparently so far behind in civilisa- 
 tion, that one could easily fancy oneself a thousand miles from 
 Florence. We were shown in the church at Arezzo the skeleton 
 of a man who had been immured. It was still covered with skin- 
 like parchment, and the features were quite preserved. The 
 wretched creature had been walled-up evidently alive, and seems 
 to have struggled either to escape from his prison or died from 
 suffocation. 
 
 November 29th, Reached Civita Castellana in ten hours. 
 
134 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1846 
 
 November 30$7t. We reached Rome at 3 P.M., having received 
 a very bad impression of the climate, as it had poured with rain 
 during the whole journey from Florence. 
 
 December 10th. The rains have been so heavy that the 
 greatest part of Rome is under water, which is deepest on the 
 Corso, the Piazza del Popolo, and some parts of the Yia Babuino. 
 In the Corso the depth is as much as four or five feet ; in fact, a 
 man was nearly drowned there, but was saved by the Prince Bor- 
 ghese, who was going about in a boat carrying bread to the poor 
 people who were prisoners in their houses. In the Via di Ripetta 
 the depth is seventeen feet. This is the highest flood since 1805 ; 
 and as during the last three or four days it had been predicted, 
 the people who inhabit those parts of the town liable to inunda- 
 tion have had time to remove their property, but they have not 
 done so, and do not care, as the Government always indemnifies 
 them for their losses. 
 
 December I2tk. The most violent storm of thunder and hail 
 occurred to-day ; our windows were blown in. 
 
 December 21st. Went to Cardinal Marini's ricevimento. He 
 is extremely unpopular, and it was said those who went to his 
 house would have been pelted, but we went there safely. Lady 
 Lichfield and her daughter, the Cannings, Shelburnes, and a 
 quantity of English and Americans, were there. We were pre- 
 sented to the Princess Lancellotti, who received for the Cardinal. 
 It was not worth seeing, as the Roman ladies were frightened at 
 the rumour I have mentioned, and but few came. Those who did 
 were covered with the most magnificent diamonds, but were not 
 handsome. 
 
 December 22nd. Lord Ossulston and I went to Cisterna to 
 shoot, but found the Pontine Marshes flooded, and could not 
 approach the wild geese or any sort of wild fowl, so w r e had to 
 beat some woods for woodcock. One of these was called the 
 ' Wood of the Dead Woman,' why we could not find out. But 
 as the marshes were under water the woodcock could not get 
 their food, and we found very few, so returned on the 25th to 
 Rome. 
 
1847 CAMPANA'S ETRUSCAN VASES. 135 
 
 1847 
 
 January 1st. We called on Signora Gagiotti, surnamed the 
 * Corinne ' of Rome. She is very handsome, twenty- three years 
 of age, speaks English and three other languages perfectly, has a 
 very fine voice, is a good musician, playing both harp and piano, 
 and writes poetry, for which she was crowned last year at the 
 Capitol. She paints portraits better than a great many artists. 
 
 January kth. We went with Lord Walpole, who under- 
 stands Etruscan vases very well, to see the great collection of 
 Mr. Campana. Lord Walpole told us there were rules by which 
 to distinguish the different sorts, and the epochs at which they 
 were made. The latter are divided into four. The first is 
 recognised by the rudeness of the drawings, which represent 
 unnatural and fictitious animals painted upon a light-coloured 
 ground. The oldest of all are quite black without any figures. 
 The second period represents figures resembling the style of the 
 Egyptians, very stiff, with few lines, generally black or black and 
 white upon a red ground. At the third period, when the art was 
 brought to its greatest perfection, the figures were beautifully 
 drawn in the Grecian style, representing historical subjects, many 
 taken from the * Iliad, 7 and called ' Homeric.' These are 
 generally red on a black ground. The fourth period marked the 
 decadence of the art, and its products were very inferior to the 
 third. I went to see the famous statue of Pompey at the 
 Palazzo Spada, at the foot of which Csesar fell. I consider this 
 the most interesting association to be found in all Rome. 
 
 January llth. Left Rome for Naples. Slept at Cisterna. 
 All the people looked wretched, as the infection from the 
 Poiitine Marshes extends to this place. The greatest part of 
 the population have the fever, and chiefly men who work in the 
 fields and are exposed to the malaria. My courier says that the 
 points of the shoots of walnut trees steeped in water and put out 
 all night is the usual and most certain remedy, and more effectual 
 than quinine. 
 
 January \3th. We slept at Mola, and we reached Naples 
 in the evening following. 
 
136 MEtfOIfcS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 184? 
 
 January 14/A, Went to the Museum, where the pictures are 
 not first-rate, but there are curious paintings from Pompeii. We 
 stayed at Naples till the 18th. Vesuvius was nearly silent 
 during that time. From Naples we went to Salerno, seeing 
 Pompeii on our way. 
 
 January 19^. We started with Lord Ossulston at 7 A.M., 
 and reached Psestum at 10.50 ; remained there until 2 P.M., and 
 got back to Naples at 6 P.M. We had our luncheon in the 
 Temple of Neptune, a magnificent structure, and most interesting, 
 but the swarm of beggars greatly spoiled one's pleasure, and it is 
 impossible to get rid of them. 
 
 January 20th. We returned to Naples, and went in the 
 evening to Princess Torella's ball. Pretty and not crowded. All 
 the handsome women were English. 
 
 January 22nd. The Duke of Devonshire, who is staying 
 here, hired a steamer, and invited us, the Kenmares, and three 
 painters to make an expedition to Capri. The Duke had pre- 
 pared luncheon when we reached the island, but just as we were 
 starting, his butler, who was very active in regulating matters, 
 unfortunately fell back from the pier into the sea, creating great 
 alarm and confusion, and delaying us over half-an-hour while he 
 changed his dress. Half way to Capri it began to rain, which 
 forced us to go below, and finally there was too much swell for 
 us to enter the cave safely, and we had to return to Naples, 
 having failed in our projects. 
 
 January 23rd. We went to the opera at San Carlo in Mr. 
 Temple's (our Minister's) box. It is the largest theatre in 
 Europe. 
 
 January 24:th. An eruption of Mount Vesuvius has begun, 
 and has been very fine for the last two nights. Went to the 
 Princess Dentici. 
 
 January 26th. We all three left Naples, slept at Castella- 
 mare, where we met Wrottesley and Bridgman, and proceeded 
 to Sorrento. We walked all over the town, saw the fortifications 
 which baffled the French the first time they laid siege to it, 
 though they took it two years afterwards. There is a manu- 
 factory of inlaid wood here. 
 
 January 27th. I went to Ravello, where I visited the 
 
1847 THE CARNIVAL AT ROME. 137 
 
 cathedral, which has some fine old mosaics. A curious discovery 
 has just been made of a manuscript which mentions the exact 
 spot in the church where the bones of St. Andrew the Apostle 
 were buried. Searches were accordingly made, and they have 
 been exhumed, and the skull placed in a gold box, and the 
 ceremony of canonisation takes place to-morrow. A service in 
 honour of the saint was going on in a crypt where we descended. 
 I afterwards walked up the Valley of the Mills, which is very 
 beautiful. Had some excellent maccaroiii for luncheon. It is 
 reckoned the best in Italy and very cheap, two hundredweight 
 costing only forty francs. 
 
 January 29th. Returned to Castellamare and caught the 
 train for Naples. 
 
 February 3rd. We all went this evening to the King's baU ; 
 it was worth seeing, the apartment being fine and beautifully 
 lighted. In the ball-room there were five enormous chandeliers of 
 crystal, but they were hung too low, the room being immensely high. 
 
 February 5th. Left Naples, and reached Rome on the 7th. 
 Our party consisted of the Shelburnes, the Cannings, the Herberts 
 of Muckross, the Comtesse and Mdlle. de Flahault, M. Latour- 
 Maubourg, and Ossulston. We hired a balcony on the Corso to 
 see the humours of the Carnival. We had a large box full of 
 confetti. I believe about 1,200 Ibs. 
 
 February 9th. The pelting was slacker to-day. There were 
 numbers of pretty contadine in very rich costumes ; they were 
 spared, but everybody else who passed under the balcony we over- 
 whelmed. 
 
 February llth. This was the great day of the Carnival, and 
 we all started at two o'clock for the Corso. We hired a large 
 carriage with two boxes, and high enough to be out of the reach of 
 the pickpockets, who comprise almost the whole Roman population. 
 The day was fine, though very cold, and all the contadine ap- 
 peared in costume ; many were very lovely and their dresses un- 
 commonly rich. We threw and received quantities of bonbons 
 and nosegays, but with the exception of those on the balconies and 
 a few from the carriages, English and Americans, nobody pelted 
 us. We returned to the balcony for the race of the barberi, as 
 they call their horses. 
 
138 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 184? 
 
 February 12th. The Cannings gave a supper, and some of the 
 party before mentioned went to the masquerade at the Apollo 
 Theatre, which was extremely amusing. We went in and out of 
 the boxes in different disguises, changing our dominoes frequently. 
 A great many people, men and women, came into our box, but 
 all were very civil, and nothing disagreeable was said. We came 
 home at half-past four, very tired. 
 
 February 15th. Yery wet to-day. There were some carriages 
 with Roman women in costume, but all looking very wretched, 
 their rich dresses soaked and dripping with water. Most of them 
 wore nothing on their heads, and their dresses being all made low 
 with short sleeves, they must have suffered dreadfully from the 
 weather, which was extremely cold, besides the rain, which came 
 down in torrents. 
 
 February \Qth. No confetti were thrown in our faces to-day, 
 but the usual quantity of nosegays and sweetmeats. We went 
 to the balcony, after which we lit our moccoletti, and had a great 
 battle for about half an hour. The crowd, almost all of whom had 
 lighted candles, was immense, and the noise so deafening that we 
 were glad to get away and rest a little before the festino which 
 was to take place that evening. This consists of a masquerade at 
 the theatre, to which we repaired at eight o'clock. 
 
 February 24th. The last few days have been spent at dinners 
 given by several of our party. We have been very fortunate in 
 finding this season at Rome almost all the most agreeable and 
 clever people of our acquaintance. The Shelburnes and the 
 Cannings are remarkable for both qualities, and it is a real 
 pleasure to see the wonders of Rome in such company. 
 
 March 1st. Went with Lord and Lady Canning to Baron 
 Kessner's, who has a good collection of pictures ; some curious 
 ones by Giotto, and a beautiful portrait by Raphael, supposed to 
 be that of the lady he was engaged to marry a short time before his 
 death. Mr. Augustus "Villiers ] is lying dangerously ill, having 
 broken a blood-vessel in the chest. 
 
 March 2nd. We left Rome, covered with snow, and reached 
 Civita Castellana that afternoon. It snowed all the way from 
 there to Terni and also to Foligno. I never suffered so much 
 1 Lord Jersey's son, who died soon afterwards. 
 
1847 SPELLO AND ASSIST. 139 
 
 from cold during the severest weather in England as in both those 
 places. 
 
 March fall. Left .Foligno and stopped at Spello, where we 
 saw the cathedral of ^the Franciscan church of San Lorenzo. Here 
 we got into the country of Raphael, Perugino, Pinturicchio, and 
 Spagna ; and some of the finest specimens of those artists' paint- 
 ings are to be seen here. At the church of San Lorenzo there is 
 a splendid picture by Pinturicchio over the altar, and at the other 
 end of the church is one by Spagna. But the monks discouraged 
 our going to see it, and I found out afterwards the reason they 
 had done so was because there was a dead body in the church, 
 which we must pass, and they thought must be disagreeable to us 
 to see, as it was uncovered. From Spello we went to Assisi, where 
 we saw the church of St. Francis, containing some fine Giottos. 
 The upper church is in the Gothic style, with painted glass 
 windows, and the walls in fresco by Cimabue and his pupils. In 
 the lower church there is a beautiful picture by Spagna of the 
 Virgin and Child ; also a curious portrait of St. Francis painted 
 in A.D. 1230, supposed to be by Giunta di Pisa, who was his friend. 
 From Assisi we went to Perugia. It stands very high, and it was 
 so bitterly cold that we could not leave the house to see it. 
 
 March 5th. The weather having improved, we went to Casa 
 Domini, where there are a few good pictures of the Umbrian 
 School. Went to Casa Penna, but could not gain admittance. We 
 heard to-day that the Cavaliere Penna, who is the guardian of the 
 young man to whom the pictures in the house belong, sold one for 
 750 scudi to a foreigner about three years ago. It was a very 
 beautiful portrait of a woman by Raphael, and on hearing this it 
 struck me from various circumstances that it was the identical 
 picture we had seen at Baron Ressner's the day before we left 
 Rome, and which he told us he bought at Bologna three years 
 ago. The face, he said, was painted over, but judging from the 
 extreme beauty of the rest of the picture, he had the courage to 
 have the paint taken off, and the face of the present lovely picture 
 was discovered. The snow came on again at night, and the cold 
 was so intense that I fear the country must suffer. The principal 
 source of wealth of its inhabitants is the olive, which is very 
 delicate. I saw quantities on the higher ground nearly stripped of 
 
140 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1847 
 
 their leaves, which were strewed over the fields and roads from 
 the severity of the frosts, looking as if they were burnt. 
 
 March 7th. We reached Florence, where we stayed till the 
 12th, when we went to Lucca. There is a very nice collection of 
 pictures at the Palazzo Manzi ; among them a beautiful Madonna 
 and Child by Francia, one of the most lovely pictures I ever saw ; 
 also a good collection of Dutch pictures, with the names to them 
 most igiiorantly misapplied. 
 
 March I3th. We reached La Spezzia. Found the torrents that 
 cross the roads quite dry ; the one between Sorzana and Spezzia 
 is a very bad one. Found the prices of the work at Carrara 
 very much increased to what they were sixteen years ago, when I 
 could buy a very handsome chimney-piece for 201. they now ask 
 601. 
 
 March 15th. W"e reached Genoa, where I bought from the 
 Marquis de Brignole a very fine circular portrait of Titian by 
 Sebastiano del Piombo, painted on a solid block of cypress wood, 
 and an inscription burned by a hot iron at the back, with the 
 names of those two great men, and the date ' 1548.' It is now at 
 Heron Court. 
 
 March 22nd. After having paraded all the galleries and 
 palaces of Genoa, we left it, returning by the Corniche, stopping 
 at Savona and San Remo. 
 
 March 25th. Left San Remo, which is a detestable village, 
 and reached Nice ; the journey from thence to Nice is trying to 
 the nervous traveller, the roads being very narrow and in most 
 places without parapets. The postboys descend the hills at such 
 a pace that any accident happening to the harness must send them 
 down the precipice. 
 
 March 26th. In t passing Cannes we saw Lord Brougham's 
 villa building. It is a Cockney whitewashed house, close to the 
 high road, which passes between it and the sea, with an apology 
 for a garden round it. 
 
 March 27th. We found the little inn, ' La Poste,' at Cannes 
 very comfortable and clean ; fifteen years ago it was scarcely 
 habitable. 
 
 March 29th. We reached Avignon and travelled the road to 
 
1817 STATK OF SPAIN. 141 
 
 Lyons, passing an immense quantity of grain carts, there being a 
 famine in the North of France, where bread costs twenty pence 
 English a pound. 
 
 April 4:tk. We reached Paris, where we heard of the death 
 of my wife's uncle, Jules de Polignac. There are quantities of 
 English here. 
 
 April 6th. Went to see Marshal Soult's pictures which he 
 looted in Spain. There are many Murillos, all beautiful, but one 
 of them representing the Assumption finer than any I ever saw. 
 Also some very good ones by Zurbaran. M. de Portalis has also 
 a very valuable gallery, including a good Giorgione, Titian, and 
 Sebastiano del Piombo. . In his private apartment there are two 
 pictures by DelarocheVepresenting the death of Cardinal Richelieu, 
 and a lovely Greuze. 
 
 April Stk. Left Paris, and went as far as Abbeville. 
 
 April $th. Arrived at Boulogne, but the storm too heavy to 
 cross. A very angry sea was running, and it was really alarming 
 to see the steamer pitch as she crossed the bar, the waves washing 
 clean over her. The passengers must have been wet through 
 before they got a quarter of a mile out. The storm increased, and 
 we remained at the Hotel des Bains. 
 
 April 18th. Reached London on the llth. The Queen of 
 Spain has dismissed her Government and household, and has 
 ceased to quarrel with her husband. She has quite thrown 
 over the French party for the English, which has pleased her 
 subjects, who receive her everywhere with acclamation. She 
 drives out every day without guards and always accompanied 
 by her husband. The French say that her conduct is very 
 bad and that General Serrano is her lover. But all this does 
 not at present prevent her from being very popular, which enrages 
 the French more, as they cannot be blind to the fact that her 
 popularity has been chiefly occasioned by the dismissal of the party 
 that had favoured the French alliance. The Due de Broglie is 
 appointed to succeed M. de St. Aulaire as Ambassador in London. 
 
 April 24:th. A great political dinner at Lord Stanley's. They 
 say Lady Normanby, our Ambassadress at Paris, speaks French 
 very imperfectly, and at the time of our quarrel with M. Guizot, 
 
142 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1847 
 
 intending to explain that it had arisen through a mistake, she said, 
 ' c'etoit par mepris ! ' 
 
 May 8th. Dined with the Egliutons. General Sir Harry 
 Smith was the great lion of the evening. He is a little old inai;, 
 very clever looking. She is a Spanish woman, and has been very 
 handsome. 
 
 May 13th. The Queen's ball. A debate in the Lords on the 
 Irish Poor Law Bill, the Government being anxious to get the 
 Peers to rescind their votes on the clause making the measure 
 temporary. They had a majority of twelve, eighteen bishops 
 voting with them. 
 
 May \5th. We went to the amateur play for the Irish. Ernani 
 was acted. Mrs. Butler, nee Kemble, has grown very old and 
 affected, but acted well in the last scene, the first part being all 
 whining and snorting. The Queen was present, and a very 
 fashionable audience. 
 
 May 19th. Lady Malmesbury left London for the German 
 waters, and went to Ems. 
 
 June \8th. Lord Stanley's motion condemning the Govern- 
 ment for their intervention in Portugal ended very unfortunately, 
 owing to Lords Ellenborough and Brougham not choosing to speak 
 in support of it ; the consequence being that the division took 
 place much earlier than was expected, and most of our men were 
 at dinner, Stanley amongst them, so we were beaten by twenty. 
 In the House of Commons the debate came on the same night, 
 but the House was counted out. In the meantime the English 
 fleet has taken the Portuguese ships and made 2,000 prisoners, 
 whom they have conveyed to Lisbon and shut up in the fortress. 
 This coup de main appears to have been done without warning, 
 for the Admiral's letter to the Junta cautioning them that if their 
 vessels sailed they would be captured was not delivered till after 
 the capture had actually been made, and nine days after the date 
 of the letter. This will probably put an end to the civil war, but 
 it is very tricky and unworthy of England. 
 
 August 4th. We left London for Achnacarry, where the 
 Cannings joined us on the 16th, as well as Mr. Cholmondeley and 
 Mr. Temple, Lord Palmerston's brother. 
 
 An ynst '2'3rd. We were very much shocked to-day by reading 
 
1847 MURDER OF MADAME DE PRASLIN. 143 
 
 an account in the papers of the murder of the Duchesse de 
 Praslin. It appears her maid was awakened between four and 
 five o'clock in the morning 011 the 1st by the ringing of the 
 Duchess's bell. She went to her room, and found it was locked 
 on the inside ; but on listening she. heard a feeble groan, upon 
 which she alarmed the other servants, who broke open the door, 
 and the Duchess was found lying in a pool of blood on the floor 
 with several deep wounds in her throat and breast. She was un- 
 able to speak, and died in a short time without recovering her 
 consciousness. The police were immediately sent for, and it was 
 ascertained that no robbery had been committed, and it is supposed 
 the act was one of vengeance. It is suspected that a governess 
 whom she lately dismissed, and said to be the Duke's mistress, 
 was the instigator of the crime. They had only arrived the night 
 before the murder from the country. Everybody in the house has 
 been arrested, and a telegraphic despatch sent to recall Marshal 
 Sebastiani, father of the Duchess, from Corsica, where he has gone. 
 August 24:th. We received a letter from Lady Taiikerville. 
 The Due de Praslin has been arrested 011 suspicion of having 
 committed the murder. The police went to the governess's lodg- 
 ings, but she was absent ; they, however, seized all her papers. The 
 investigation is continued with great activity, and though very 
 little is known, there must have been very strong evidence against 
 the Duke for such a step being taken as that of arresting him, as he 
 would naturally be the last person suspected. But it appears when 
 on the first alarm the doctors were sent for, the servants expressed 
 a suspicion of him, so there must have been circumstances which 
 have not been made public and which warrant those suspicions. 
 The poor woman seems to have struggled hard with her murderer, 
 for her hand was full of his hair, and there was a good deal of hair, 
 some of which was hers, scattered about the carpet. The furniture 
 in the room was very much disturbed, the tables knocked over ; but 
 on the closest examination 110 traces could be discovered of anyone 
 having broken in or out of the house, and if, as it is said, the room 
 was locked on the inside, the murderer could not have escaped that 
 way. If, therefore, any private communication existed between 
 her room and that of the Duke, suspicion naturally fell upon him. 
 A pistol, it is said, stained with blood was found in his room. 
 
144 . MEMO1KS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1847 
 
 August 25th. There is now no doubt as to the Duke's guilt, 
 which seems to have been suspected almost from the first ; for, on 
 the alarm being given, one of the servants, finding the door locked, 
 ran screaming round the house to the garden, either to try and 
 gain an entrance that way or to stop any person who might 
 attempt to escape. The same servant saw a man whom he thought 
 was the Duke opening the window of the Duchess's apartment, 
 but who retreated precipitately on seeing him. In addition to 
 this, when the servants went to call the Duke they found him 
 dressed, which, as he had been in bed, was a very extraordinary 
 fact, at that early hour. There are also stains of blood on his 
 dressing-gown, and water tinged with blood was found in. the basin 
 in his room. The magistrates, observing that he wore gloves, 
 made him take them off, when several slight wounds were dis- 
 covered, like scratches or bites ; also a bruise and a large wound 
 on one of his legs. The magistrates then decided on having him 
 kept in sight, not having power to arrest a Peer without an order 
 from the Chamber. The police have also arrested Mdlle. Luzy, 
 the governess, and she has been transferred to prison, where she 
 is kept au secret. She loudly asserts her innocence, not only of 
 the murder, but of having been the Duke's mistress. The circum- 
 stance most against her is, the Duke having gone to see her, with 
 two of his daughters, the moment he arrived at Paris, and that 
 the Duchess in consequence was very angry, and a quarrel took 
 place between them on his return. They both afterwards retired 
 to their separate apartments, and no disturbance took place till the 
 ringing of the bell alarmed the maid. The struggles of the poor 
 Duchess must have been dreadful, the smallest number of wounds 
 mentioned as being inflicted 011 her being seven. A pistol was 
 found in the room covered with blood, which the Duke admitted 
 belonged to him, but said he took it in for the purpose of defend- 
 ing the Duchess, hearing her cries. This, however, does not 
 agree with the surprise he affected on being told of the murder. 
 
 August 29tk. The papers contain full details about the 
 Duchesse de Praslin's murder, and every circumstance confirms 
 the Duke's guilt. He has attempted to poison himself by taking 
 laudanum, and has been removed to the Luxembourg. The 
 Chamber of Peers has been summoned to try him, 
 
DEATH OF THE DUKE. 145 
 
 August 31s. The Due de Praslin died on the 24th from the 
 effects of the poison, which turns out to have been arsenic. He 
 was attended by three of the cleverest doctors in Paris, who 
 treated him for poisoning by laudanum, which has naturally given 
 rise to some suspicion that they did not wish to save him, and 
 perhaps had orders not to do, so as to avoid the scandal of an 
 execution, the evidence against him being so strong as not to 
 leave a doubt of his guilt. He is said to have confessed to a 
 priest, but to no one else, and has never apparently expressed 
 either remorse or sorrow for the murder. The messengers sent to 
 Marshal Sebastiani, father of the Duchess, found him at Yevey, 
 and communicated the news, which had not yet reached him, but 
 without telling him who the murderer was. That was to be told 
 him by his physician, who had set out to meet him. He was 
 much afflicted, but no fear is entertained for his health. 
 
 September 6th. Two men were found this morning on the 
 moor near Fort William quite dead, having apparently perished 
 from cold. One was a fine young man above six feet high and 
 not more than twenty-two years old ; the other about thirty-five, 
 and equally strong. Their money and watches were found upon 
 them, so that no robbery has been committed. There were no 
 marks of violence, and they looked as if they were asleep. They 
 were tradesmen from London, and were on a pedestrian tour for 
 their pleasure. It appears from the evidence relating to the 
 murder of the Duchesse de Praslin that she might have been 
 saved if the maid and valet had shown any quickness or courage. 
 They heard her screaming for a long time before they got up to 
 see who it was, and even when they found that her door was not 
 locked they did not dare to go in, as the room was dark and they 
 smelt blood. The Duke had time to return to his room, where 
 he burned some papers and linen, washed his dressing-gown, hid 
 the dagger, and went back to her room, of which he himself 
 unlocked the door leading into the hall at the moment the 
 servants tried it, and pretended he had come to her assistance on 
 hearing her screams. He also at once desired that the doctor 
 should be sent for. The servants at first suspected Mdlle. Luzy 
 of the crime, but very soon after the arrival of the magistrates 
 suspicion was excited against the Duke, and he, perceiving these 
 
 L 
 
146 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINJSTEK. IS 17 
 
 suspicions, took an opportunity when the arrival of another 
 magistrate diverted attention for a moment from him to retire to 
 his room and swallow poison. The evidence of the doctors i.s 
 published, and proves either gross ignorance, unpardonable care- 
 lessness, or wilful blindness. The first doctor pretends to think 
 the symptoms are occasioned by distress of mind, then he suspects 
 poison, but neither gives an antidote nor communicates his sus- 
 picion to his colleague, who pronounces the case at once to be 
 cholera, and leaves him a whole night without any assistance at 
 all, whilst they go comfortably to bed. No doubt they wished 
 him to die. 
 
 September \th. Lord Ossulston has killed 'the great stag of 
 Gusach,' after a very long and difficult stalk. This fine animal, 
 which weighed twenty stone when clean, had baffled us for several 
 years. There is very little news, but what we have is very 
 unsatisfactory. Several people in society are ruined, amongst 
 others Massey Stanley, who has gone abroad owing 280,000^., and 
 Hooton is for sale. The commercial smashes are also very many, 
 and are due to over- speculation in railways. Peel went a few 
 days ago to Liverpool, dined with the mayor and made a speech, 
 but avoided giving any opinion as to the causes of our commercial 
 failures. 
 
 Lord Canning to Lord Malinesbury. 
 
 Madrid : Oct. 21, 1847. 
 
 My dear M., I promised you a letter, but it has been a long time 
 coming. The fact is that this is a despairing place to write from. It 
 is difficult enough to believe, and much more so to understand one half 
 of what one sees and hears passing about one, but to convey it to one 
 who is fresh from the, simplicities of Inverness-shire is impossible. 
 
 I arrived in the nick of time for sport on the very day on which 
 Salamanca was turned out and Narvaez came in, just in time, too, for 
 the birthday drawing-room, the ball at Court, the bull fight, &c. (why 
 didn't you come ?) The journey, too, was nothing. I left Grosvenor 
 Square on a Monday, spent a day at Paris (such a bisque at the ' Trois 
 Freres ! ') and a day at Bayonne, and got here on the Monday followii 
 
 The hotels are infamous, but Bulwer is very hospitable and wantc 
 to lodge me. But he is only in temporary lodgings himself just no's 
 BO I only feed with him. This is very convenient, for he asks two 
 
KSI7 SPANISH LNTKIGUKS. 147 
 
 three notabilities of all colours every day, and one hears what they say 
 of themselves and of each other. 
 
 Of all the sudden convulsions and changes that the country has 
 gone through, I believe there never was any more sudden and unex- 
 pected than this last one, nevertheless it all passed off quietly enough. 
 The rationale of it is shortly this : Salamanca as a politician was a 
 Liberal, but a stock-jobber from the beginning, and chiefly bent upon 
 making a fortune. He is supposed to be already of enormous wealth, 
 but how much of it is real no one here seems to know. All that I can 
 speak to is that he is at this moment building two immense houses 
 one, almost as grand as Stafford House, for himself and his wife, the 
 other, about the size of Montagu House, for his mistress. Narvaez, a 
 bold, unscrupulous soldier, of immense energy (the rarest of all qualities 
 and therefore the most telling here), eaten up with ambition, but also 
 anxious for a fortune at the country's expense (this any Minister can 
 make in more or less time according to his scruples). He is just like 
 Lord Combermere in face, figure, and get up, but a little bigger. 
 
 Serrano, or the ' Influence ' as he was modestly called, was supposed 
 to be honest, but weak, and under the dominion of an avaricious old 
 mother and a homoeopathic doctor (Nunez), who is an apostate priest 
 and Carlist. Serrano is very like Cradock, but darker. These were 
 the principal actors. Serrano had felt for some little time that his 
 power over the Queen w r as on the wane. His mother and the doctor, 
 bribed by Narvaez and others, persuaded him to use a last effort to get 
 the Queen to remove Salamanca and send for Narvaez, and that then, 
 after placing the Queen in the hands of a Minister who has a majority 
 in the Cortes (for the Cortes was elected under N.'s former Government, 
 and packed to a man), he might retire with dignity upon some command 
 or governorship at a distance, and avoid being thrown over in the face 
 of the Court for some more lucky successor. He did as he was bid, and 
 succeeded. Narvaez was sent for, and immediately telegraphed for 
 Queen Christina, who has since arrived. Serrano has received an 
 estate in Estremadura, bought with the Queen's money, and has been 
 named Captain-General of Granada. (Here, however, there is some 
 hitch, for within a day or two there is news of his having stopped half- 
 way and sent in his resignation. The motive probably is that he has 
 heard of differences in Narvaez's Cabinet, which may break it up as 
 suddenly as it was formed, and that he thinks he may as well be on the 
 spot.) Salamanca is supposed to have got 150,OOOZ. by a gigantic job 
 in the funds. And the homoeopathic doctor is rewarded with the Grand 
 Cordon of Charles III. 
 
 There are all sorts of under -currents which have been going on 
 
 i. 2 
 
148 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1847 
 
 while this has been worked out, but it would be endless to give them, 
 and impossible to make them intelligible. 
 
 As matters stand now, Serrano is without any apparent successor. 
 Narvaez is not on good terms with two or three of his necessary col- 
 leagues, nor with the Queen-Mother. The Queen is displeased and 
 frightened at her mother's return, and bored by Narvaez, and, as she 
 has not the smallest sense of responsibility, may at any moment, if 
 things are not made smooth to her, send him about his business and 
 appoint some new man. And this, I am convinced, will be the state 
 of things with every Government that may come into existence here 
 until the ' Minister ' and the ' Influence ' are united in the same in- 
 dividual (as was the case with Catherine and Elizabeth). And if 
 Serrano had had any head or heart he would have done this, and made 
 himself Minister in name and appearance, even if he did not feel equal 
 to the reality. 
 
 I said there was no apparent successor to Serrano as yet, but we 
 shall not have to wait long. The day before yesterday a singer at the 
 Opera came home to his lodgings at six o'clock in the morning and 
 found them occupied by the police, who had a carriage ready to take 
 him off to Valencia, the reason being that his night had been passed at 
 the Palace. To say the truth, this appears to me rather hard, for 
 nothing is deducible from the hour at which he left the Palace, inas- 
 much as the Queen turns night into day, sees her Ministers after the 
 Opera, sups at four or five, and does not go to bed till morning. How- 
 ever, as this man is not her singing-master, I suppose Narvaez considers 
 that he had no business there. At all events, it is certain that he is 
 packed off. What a fortune Bunn might make of him ! 
 
 The Queen is infinitely better to look at than I expected, rather tall 
 than short, not too fat, built pretty much upon Lady Walpole's lines, 
 and a face rather like Lady Londonderry. Her manners when she is 
 still, and speaking, are extremely dignified, but her movements, every 
 now and then, hoydenish. The King, I have not seen, although Nar- 
 vaez has just brought him back to the Palace, for which the French 
 papers, and I daresay the English too, will puff him as a paragon of 
 morality. But it is one thing to take a horse to the water, and another 
 to make him drink, especially if he should happen to have the hydro- 
 phobia. Don't believe a word in a reconciliation on either side. 
 
 The Court is very royal, the Palace magnificent, finer than any I 
 know, and larger, and the ceremony and attendance is very grand. The 
 Halberdiers of the Palace, who defended it so manfully in 1841, are j 
 almost as picturesque as the Pope's Guard long black gaiters half-way jf 
 up the thigh, broad skirted blue coats with the red flaps buttoned back, 
 
1847 THE MUSEO. 140 
 
 long waistcoats, and three-cornered hats exactly the French Mous- 
 quetaires of the last century. As to the pictures, are they not written 
 in the book of Ford ? By-the-bye, I am a little out of conceit with 
 Ford. It is a charming book to be read at leisure in one's room, but 
 his quotations and illustrations (sometimes rather far-fetched) get in 
 the way and provoke one when one is in a hurry for a fact. However, 
 he is very good, generally upon the pictures, which are gloriously 
 magnificent. Seriously, I do not think that Rome and Florence and 
 Heron Court together could make up a gallery that I would take in 
 preference to the Museo. And you would think so too, for, after the 
 Spanish, the great force of the collection is in the Venetian school 
 Titians, P. Veroneses, Tintorets, Giorgiones, all in their perfection. 
 There are also two or three good private collections, and one (belonging 
 to the President of the Museo) where any of the pictures may be 
 bought ; but I saw nothing very covetable except a beautiful Vandyke 
 of a man in armour, for which he asks 1,OOOZ., and a Rubens, which is 
 too large for any space in my gallery. I forgot to say that in the 
 Museo is a portrait of Titian by himself, taken at exactly the same age 
 as yours, with the same dress, gold chain, &c., but in profile. There is 
 110 difference in the faces and expression. 
 
 I went all over the town in search of curiosities, but could find 
 nothing, except some very fine old crystal chandeliers, which were too 
 large. 
 
 The bull fight was not equal to those I have seen in the South. The 
 bulls were not so good, and the matador of the day is not equal to the 
 great Montes, who has retired into private life, while life is left him. 
 However, I did not sit out more than five or six bulls, and I was told 
 afterwards that the last was a really good animal, and had eight horses 
 dead in the ring at once, which certainly is out of the common way. 
 
 I have only made one country expedition as yet, to Segovia, about 
 fifty miles off, over the Guadarania mountains, seeing the Escurial and 
 La Granja by the way. There are no post-horses or any other means 
 of moving to be found on the road, so I was obliged to hire a carriage 
 (a small English brougham and a team of four enormous black mules, 
 covered with red and yellow harness and tassels rather an imposing 
 equipage). All these places are worth seeing (La Granja least so), and 
 part of the road, that over the mountains, is very beautiful; old 
 weather-beaten firs (almost equal to Glen Mealy) growing from 
 amongst large boulders of granite, with high fern at their feet. You 
 would not know it from a bit of Achnacarry. But this is, a brilliant 
 exception to the general appearance of the country within many dreary 
 miles of Madrid. For the most part it is a treeless, fenceless, houseless 
 
150 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18 J7 
 
 undulating waste, without a blade of grass, of one interminable brown 
 where it is ploughed, and, where it is not, covered with great slabs of 
 granite which give it the appearance of a huge ptarmigan hill rolled 
 Hat. Where the people who scratch the ground come from it is impos- 
 sible to guess, for the Campagna is not more desolate. Nevertheless 
 Spanish farmers pay their rents to the day invariably, bringing the 
 money to Madrid themselves, and are always clamouring for leases. 
 This description of the country, however, applies only to the Castilles. 
 North of Burgos the valleys are as grassy and the hills as well wooded 
 as in England ; indeed, the Basque Provinces are very like South 
 Wales, and the streams look very troutish. 
 
 I daresay you will want to know something of the morals of the 
 place, and they are soon told. Whenever one asks at the Opera, or at 
 Court, or indeed anywhere who such and such a lady is, the answer is 
 
 always in the same form : she is the wife of D , the daughter of 
 
 C , and Mr. So-and-so is her lover. It is really no exaggeration to 
 
 say that this is invariable. I have met with only one exception, and 
 that is the wife of Sotomayor, who was in London, and who has Anglo- 
 Saxon blood in him, and may therefore be considered as not in point, 
 but nobody believes that even in his case such a state of things can 
 last. I am convinced that if a Peerage were published in Madrid, as 
 in London, the name of the happy individual would be put down as 
 much as a matter of course as if it were the motto or country seat of 
 the family. Some few ladies have made themselves notorious for 
 inconstancy and versatility in this branch of their establishment, and 
 then they begin to be a little talked about ; but I believe this to be 
 rather the exception than the rule, and certainly the instances in which 
 fidelity continues to be affiched, long after the ladies have got fat and 
 pursy and the Caballeros grey-headed, are numerous. 
 
 I have written a much longer yarn than I, or probably you, in- 
 tended, but it's your own fault. And now I am not quite sure how it 
 will go, for I have just heard that Bulwer's messenger is not likely to 
 start for some days. Probably I shall be in England myself soon after 
 you get it, for unless the weather (which has been raining for the past 
 week) tempts me to Toledo and Aranjuez, I shall not stay here after 
 Sunday next. Adios ! Remember me to Lady M., &c. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 CANNING. 
 
 /September 26th. We left Achnacarry, embarked at Corpach, 
 and arrived at Greenock that evening. Had a very bad passage. 
 The scene in the cabin was disgusting, as no preparation had been 
 
1847 LOKD G. BENTINCK RESIGNS. 151 
 
 made on board for people who were ill, and no conveniences what- 
 ever provided. Yet nobody could go on deck without being 
 drenched. We reached Chillingham Castle on the 27th. 
 
 November 5th. Arrived at Knowsley, and reached London on 
 the 10th. 
 
 November 19th. I went to London for the meeting of Par- 
 liament. I hear Ministers intend to propose an increase in the 
 income tax. Affairs in the City are very bad. There is to be a 
 meeting at Lord Stanley's on the 23rd of Peers and Commons, 
 when he is to give them an outline of the policy he intends to 
 follow this session. 
 
 December 23rd. The papers have been full of the dispute in 
 the Church respecting Doctor Hampden's appointment to the 
 bishopric of Hereford. The opposition evidently comes from the 
 Puseyite party, and would therefore be of little value in the esti- 
 mation of the true Protestant, had not Hampden laid himself 
 open to censure by some expressions in his writings, which he 
 may perhaps be able to explain. The Bishop of Oxford threatens 
 to put him on his trial for heterodoxy, from which I hope he may 
 be able to clear himself, though if he is tried by a Court composed 
 of Puseyites he will certainly be condemned. 
 
 Christmas Day. Heron Court. The rivers here are all 
 flooded. 
 
 1848 
 
 February 9th. I got a letter to-day from my brother, who 
 has attended the meeting held by Lord Stanley, and he gives an 
 account of the proceedings relative to Lord George Bentinck's 
 resignation of the leadership of the Protectionist party in the 
 House of Commons. Lord Stanley made a very eloquent speech 
 praising Lord George Bentinck's abilities and devotion to the 
 party, &c., &c., and expressed great regret at the misunder- 
 standing which led to his resignation, and wished to induce him 
 to recal his determination. Mr. Banks then read to the meeting 
 a letter from Lord George announcing his intention to resign, 
 saying that he would serve the party with as much zeal and devo- 
 tion as he had hitherto done. Mr. Beresford then got up to ex- 
 
152 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MJMSTEK. 1848 
 
 plain, and proved himself by his own account to have acted most 
 injudiciously, for he confessed to having written to Lord George 
 stating that his party were dissatisfied with him, but added that 
 he did so without authority. This, however, was enough for 
 Lord George, who is a very proud man, to give up the leadership 
 at once, and he immediately wrote to Mr. Banks announcing his 
 intention to do so. After these explanations Lord Granby's l 
 name was mentioned as being a fit person to succeed Lord 
 George, but Lord Stanley said they must settle among themselves 
 whom they would elect, and dismissed the party. An arrange- 
 ment was made to meet next day at Mr. Banks's to elect a leader. 
 February Wth. Lord Granby has been chosen leader of the 
 Protectionist party without opposition. A deputation has been 
 sent to Lord George, thanking him for his services, and express- 
 ing regret at his retirement. My brother adds that there is no 
 doubt Peel has lately declared to his party that he never means 
 to take office again. If this is really the case, we may expect 
 some of them to come over to us. It appears strange that in 
 these proceedings Disraeli's name was not put forward, but who- 
 ever may in future take the lead in the House of Commons by 
 election he must virtually and practically hold that office. There 
 can be no doubt that there is a very strong feeling among Con- 
 servatives in the House of Commons against him. They are 
 puzzled and alarmed by his mysterious manner, which has much 
 of the foreigner about it, and are incapable of understanding 
 and appreciating the great abilities which certainly underlie, and, 
 as it were, are concealed by this mask. In the insurrection in 
 Sicily the King's troops have been beaten. The insurgents want 
 the Constitution of 1812, which was guaranteed by England, but 
 since revoked by the King, and apparently without opposition 
 from this country. ' The King still resists, but has granted the 
 Constitution to Naples, which has been received with acclama- 
 tion. There are two English ships of war at Palermo and Messina 
 for the protection of the English residing there, but with the ex- 
 ception of the bombardment having been delayed twenty-four 
 hours through the remonstrances of the Consuls in those towns, 
 there has been no interference on either side. 
 J Afterwards Duke of Rutland. 
 
1848 STATE OF SICILY. 153 
 
 February \3tk. The second reading of the Jewish Disabilities 
 Bill was passed by a majority of 73 in the Commons. Lord 
 Granby has refused the leadership, and the whole Protectionist 
 party is in confusion. A rescript from the Pope has appeared, 
 counselling the Roman Catholic clergy to adopt a more moderate 
 course, not to meddle in politics, and condemning denunciations 
 from the altar and all violence. This has produced a great 
 sensation. Of course the Irish priests say the Pope has been 
 deceived, but the English Roman Catholics are inclined to obey. 
 
 February IQth. The King of Naples has granted the Con- 
 stitution of 1812 to his Sicilian subjects, which, however, they 
 have only accepted on condition that they are to have a Parliament 
 at Palermo. He has not yet agreed to this, but he has published 
 an amnesty for political offences, has withdrawn his troops from 
 Sicily, and they have arrived at Naples in a wretched state. The 
 cavalry killed all their horses, eight hundred in number, before 
 they left Palermo. The King of Sardinia has also promised a 
 Constitution to his subjects on the model of the French one ; and 
 the Pope and the Duke of Tuscany also promise something of the 
 same sort to their people. Austria, Russia, and Prussia have pro- 
 tested through their Ministers at the Court of Naples against the 
 Constitution granted by the King, as being at variance with the 
 secret article in their treaties with Naples. 
 
 February YltU. Paris is in a great state of excitement, in 
 consequence of the Government having forbidden the Reform 
 banquet taking place. There was a violent scene in the Chamber of 
 Deputies, and the Opposition persevered in their determination to 
 attend the banquet, which is fixed for the 20th. There has also 
 been a great disturbance at Munich, the people insisting upon Lola 
 Montes being sent away. The King, however, is so infatuated 
 with her, that he actually dismissed his Prime Minister, Prince 
 Wallenstein, who had advised him to expel her, and appointed in 
 his place M. de Mauren, who had signed the decree conferring upon 
 her the title of Countess Landsfeldt. 1 
 
 1 This was a most remarkable woman, and may be said by her conduct at 
 Munich to have set tire to the magazine of revolution which was ready to burst 
 forth all over Europe, and which made the year 1848 memorable. I made her 
 acquaintance by accident as I was going up to London from Heron Court in the 
 
154 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1818 
 
 February 18th. I went to London to vote on Lord Eglin- 
 ton's amendment to the Diplomatic Relations with Rome Bill, in 
 which he moved that no ecclesiastic should be sent as Ambas- 
 sador or Minister to this country, although a layman might be 
 received. It appears that the King of Naples has played false 
 with the Sicilians, having given them, not the Constitution of 
 1812, but the French one, which they will not accept. The 
 Emperor of Russia supports Austria in her Italian policy, and 
 the latter has forbidden the Grand Duke of Tuscany to grant a 
 Constitution to his subjects, threatening that if the people are 
 clamorous, Austria would march an army into Tuscany at once. 
 Mr. Gladstone has supported the Jewish Disabilities Bill, and 
 Peel has changed his mind and vote upon that subject. 
 
 February 19th, Lola Montes has been driven out of Munich, 
 the King having at last perceived that further resistance to the 
 will of the people would endanger his crown, as the troops 
 refused to act against the populace. When she left the city the 
 mob broke into her house, which they plundered, and destroyed 
 all her property, including some very fine pictures. The next 
 morning she re-entered Munich, but fortunately for her she was 
 arrested and sent away by force, for if sh& had been recognised 
 by the people her life would have been sacrificed, their rage 
 
 railway. The Consul at Southampton asked me to take charge of a Spanish lady, 
 who had been recommended to his care, and who had just landed. I consented to 
 do this, and was introduced by him to a remarkably handsome person, who was iu 
 deep mourning, and who appeared to be in great distress. As we were alone in 
 the carriage, she of her own accord informed me in bad English that she was the 
 widow of Don Diego Leon, who had lately been shot by the Carlists after he was 
 taken prisoner, and that she was going to London to sell some Spanish property 
 that she possessed, and give lessons in singing, as she was very poor. On arriving 
 in London she took some lodgings, and came to my house to a little concert which 
 I gave, and sang some Spanish ballads. Her accent was foreign, and she had all 
 the appearance of being what she pretended to be. She sold different things, such 
 as veils, &c., to the party present, and received a good deal of patronage. Eventu- 
 ally she took an engagement for the ballet at the Opera House, but her dancing 
 was very inferior. At last she was recognised as an impostor, her real name being 
 Mrs. James ; she was Irish by extraction, and had married an officer in India. Her 
 engagement at the Opera was cancelled, she left the country, and retired to Munich. 
 She was a very violent woman, and actually struck one of the Bavarian generals 
 with her riding whip as he was reviewing the troops. The King became perfectly 
 infatuated with her beauty and cleverness, and gave her large sums of money, 
 with a title which she afterwards bore when she returned to England. 
 
1848 LOLA MOXTES. 155 
 
 against her being unbounded. It appears she has long indis- 
 posed the whole kingdom against her by the unlimited influence 
 she exercised over the King, who was completely governed by her 
 and did nothing without her sanction. She made him change his 
 Ministers three times in one year, because they had in some way 
 offended her, and, in short, she ruled the kingdom despotically. 
 The last event which led to her disgrace was an order given to 
 the King to close the University on account of the offence given 
 her by a majority of the students, who made a practice of insult- 
 ing a class amongst them protected by her, called ' Alemanen,' 
 and who wore her colours. The remainder of the students 
 slighted them on every occasion and refused them any satisfac- 
 tion, declaring them unworthy of being treated as men of honour. 
 This led to a disturbance. Lola was insulted, it is said even 
 roughly treated, by the people, and the University was closed. 
 When the students were marching peaceably in procession they 
 were attacked by the troops, a fight ensued, and two or three 
 men were killed and several wounded. The mob then sur- 
 rounded the Palace, insisted upon Lola Montes being dismissed 
 and the University re- opened, which the King was forced to 
 grant. 
 
 February 22nd. Lord John Russell has made his financial 
 statement and announced his intention of increasing the income 
 tax to five per cent., to be levied in the same. manner as it is at 
 present. He gives no hope of ever taking off the three per cent., 
 and though he only asked for this increase for two years, it is 
 probable, if granted, it will never be taken off again. 
 
 February 23rd. Lord Stanley means to oppose any increase 
 of the income tax, and limit the present one to three years 
 instead of five. 
 
 February 24th. Accounts from Paris are very alarming. 
 The King, on the 21st, prohibited the banquet of the Reformers, 
 and issued an order that none of the National Guard were to 
 appear in the streets in uniform except by order of their officers. 
 The Opposition Deputies then countermanded the banquet and 
 begged the people to make no disturbance, declaring that they 
 would impeach the Ministers, and if beaten would all resign their 
 seats. It was feared the people would not submit quietly, and 
 
156 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1848 
 
 that there would be bloodshed, as thousands were collected in the 
 Champs Ely sees. The troops of the line in Paris amount to a 
 hundred thousand men, and are well provided with artillery, as 
 are also the forts, the Government having foreseen the disturb- 
 ance and taken every precaution to suppress it, but the National 
 Guards are not to be trusted. 
 
 February 25th. The disturbances in Paris have assumed a 
 very formidable character. Everything now depends upon the 
 energy of the Government, for the people are determined not to 
 give in. The troops of the line, with the exception of one 
 regiment, the 5th the same that joined the people in 1830 -have 
 remained faithful, but the National Guards have gone over to the 
 rebels. On Tuesday night, the 22nd, the mob obtained some 
 arms and threw up barricades, from behind which they attacked 
 the Municipal Guards, but were beaten and several prisoners 
 taken. The troops bivouacked in the Boulevards, the markets, 
 and other public places, and the mob burned the depot of 
 omnibuses and the guardhouse in the Champs Elysees. The 
 Place du Carrousel, the Place de la Concorde, the bridges and 
 other places in the neighbourhood of the Tuileries were crowded 
 with troops, and there were forty pieces of cannon 011 the 
 Esplanade of the Invalides. The rappel was sounded early on 
 Wednesday morning, but not one-tenth of the National Guard 
 answered the summons. The Municipal Guard seems, on the 
 contrary, to have behaved gallantly, though some fraternised with 
 the National Guard, and though they did not actually join the 
 people, they refused to fire upon them ; but the majority did their 
 duty. There is a great want of energy on the part of the 
 Government ; all the Ministers have resigned, and M. Odilon 
 Barrot has impeached M. Guizot. 
 
 February 2Qth. The insurrection gains ground in Paris. 
 There has been a great deal of fighting and many lives lost. The 
 mob have broken up the railroad and stopped all communication 
 with Paris. If Louis Philippe is driven from the throne, nothing 
 remains but a Republic. 
 
 February 27th. Louis Philippe abdicated on the 24th in 
 favour of his grandson, the Comte de Paris, and left Paris imme- 
 diately afterwards, with an escort of dragoons for Neuilly. The 
 
1848 LOUIS PHIL1PI J ABDICATES. 157 
 
 Duchess of Orleans went to the Chamber of Deputies with her 
 sons and the Due de Nemours to ask for protection, which was 
 granted, but they refused to recognise the right of the Comte de 
 Paris or the Regency of the Due de Nemours. Directly after the 
 royal family had left the Tuileries the rnob broke in, gutted the 
 palace, and destroyed everything except the throne, which they 
 paraded about the streets in derision. A Provisional Government 
 has been formed in Paris, of which M. Lamartine is at the head. 
 The Municipal Guard behaved with great courage and fidelity, 
 but were not supported, and have been almost all massacred. 
 
 February '28th. Left Heron Court for London. The Due de 
 Nemours, with one of his children, and the Duke and Duchess of 
 Saxe-Coburg (Princess Clementina), arrived last night at the 
 French Embassy. The Duchesse de Nemours with her children 
 are still in France, and nothing is known of them or of the Queen, 
 except that they reached Dreux in safety, and there agreed to 
 separate. The King had only five francs in his possession, but 
 the Queen had fortunately carried off about fifteen hundred francs, 
 which they divided. None of the fugitives had been able to carry 
 away any of their property. The Due de Nemours appeared 
 very much dejected, overcome with fatigue and anxiety. From 
 what is at present known of the events of last Thursday, it 
 appears that MM. Thiers and Odilon Barrot are the cause of 
 Louis Philippe's dethronement, for they had pledged themselves, 
 if he would make them Ministers and order the troops to cease 
 firing, quiet would be restored immediately. Till this the majority 
 of the troops had remained faithful, but they were so disgusted at 
 the cowardice which apparently dictated these orders that they 
 joined the insurgents. The nomination of M. Thiers did not in 
 the slightest affect the insurrection. The mob attacked and took 
 the Palais Royal after great sacrifice of life, and the King being 
 informed that they were coming to attack the Tuileries, signed 
 his abdication in favour of his grandson, and left the palace with 
 the Queen and the Duchesse de Nemours. The Duchess of 
 Orleans, with her two sons and the Due de Nemours, went to the 
 Chamber of Deputies, where they ran the greatest danger, the 
 mob having broken in and pointed their muskets at the Royal 
 Family. The Deputies, however, surrounded them, and they got 
 
158 MEMUIK8 OF AN KX-MLMSTKR. IS IS 
 
 out in safety ; but the rush was so tremendous that the two 
 children were separated from the Duchess and recovered afterwards 
 with great difficulty. In the House of Commons the Government 
 have declared their intention not to interfere with the fall of the 
 King and not to intermeddle in any way with the internal affairs 
 of France. They then announced the abandonment by the 
 Government of the increased income tax. The Duchesse de 
 Montpensier arrived at the French Embassy yesterday. She was 
 recognised at Abbeville and ran great danger of her life, being 
 saved by having taken refuge in a private house and escaping 
 through the back door. Nothing is known of the rest of the 
 Royal Family. The French Provisional Government have pro- 
 claimed a Republic. A steamer arrived yesterday morning at 
 Southampton crowded with passengers from Havre, who say the 
 town is full of English waiting to embark. The Government 
 have, therefore, despatched several steamers to the different ports 
 on the French coast to take them off. 
 
 March 1st. No news of Louis Philippe or the rest of the 
 Royal Family. A steamer under the command of Captain Smithett 
 has been sent to cruise off Dieppe and Treport in hopes of finding 
 them, but returned yesterday and telegraphed ' No passengers.' 
 It is reported to-day that the Duchess of Orleans and her two 
 children, accompanied by General Lefevre and M. Guizot, have 
 landed at Jersey from a cutter. Order is now restored in Paris, 
 though not, indeed, in the provincial towns, and travelling 
 is attended with danger. Neuilly has been burned, and one 
 hundred and twenty of the mob who were lying dead drunk in 
 the cellars were roasted alive unknown to their companions. There 
 is a detailed account in to-day's papers of the departure of the 
 King from Paris. He left the Tuileries on foot, leaning 011 the 
 arm of the Queen, preceded and followed by a party of the 
 National Guard on horseback, who escorted him to the Place Louis 
 Quinze, where he and the Queen got into a small carriage with 
 one horse which was waiting for them, and drove away at full 
 gallop. It is said they arrived at Dreux the same night, slept 
 there, and started next morning for Vernon in a hired carriage. 
 
 March 2nd. It is said that the Count de Flahault, who is 
 Ambassador at Vienna, will lose his Embass in consequence of 
 
IS 18 NARROW ESCAPE OF THE DUG DE MONTEBELLO. 159 
 
 a letter to M. Guizot, which has been found since the formation 
 of the rebel Government, in which he begs him to unite with M. 
 de Metternich to persuade the Pope to allow an Austrian army 
 to pass through his dominions and assist the King of Naples. 
 The French Government have offered the Embassy of London to 
 M. de Jarnac, who is at present Secretary to the Embassy, if he 
 will serve them with sincerity. He has very nobly refused, say- 
 ing that he could not engage to do so, and therefore begged they 
 would replace him directly. The Duchesse de Nemours and 
 the Due de Montpensier arrived yesterday morning at South- 
 ampton, and sent a messenger to London to announce the fact. 
 The Due de Nemours was too lazy to go down to meet them, 
 and made the excuse that he could not leave the Duchesse de 
 Montpensier, though in reality she was under the care of Madame 
 Van de Weyer at the Belgian Embassy. It is now known where 
 Louis Philippe and the Queen are. Lady Carrington called this 
 morning and told us she met Captain Smithett in the street, arid 
 he told her he had been at Dieppe, having a most awful passage, 
 starting in the very height of the storm, and in fact spoke as if 
 he had run very great danger. He had been summoned before 
 the authorities at Dieppe, who seemed to suspect what he had 
 come for, and cross- questioned him very closely. In the meantime 
 he sent a boat to Treport for information, and having received 
 a despatch from some one unknown who said he was going to 
 Belgium, and supposing it to be from the King, he rejoined his 
 ship and returned to England. The Due de Montebello had a 
 narrow escape at Havre, being saved by the courage of the captain 
 of the steamer, who refused to allow the French police to search 
 his ship, and told them that he would not do so unless they killed 
 him first. They began to bluster, when he added, ' I'll tell you 
 what it is, if you don't leave my ship by the time I say " Jack 
 Robinson," I'll take you all over to England ! ' and called upon 
 his men to get up steam and set sail, upon which they tumbled 
 into their boat as quickly as they could. When the Due de 
 Nemours was crossing to Dover the Duke and Duchess of Saxe- 
 Coburg were in the same ship, but remained below in utter 
 ignorance of his being on board. The Duchess had just been 
 saying that if she knew he was safe she would be happy, for it 
 
 
1GO MEMOIfiS OF AN flX-MlXISTEJi. 1848 
 
 appears he was the one she loved best of all her family, when 
 some one who had recognised him informed her that he was on 
 deck. She immediately rushed up to him, but he was so disguised 
 that she made a mistake, and threw herself into the arms of the 
 gentleman who accompanied him, who, not knowing her and 
 being taken by surprise, pushed her away. This must have 
 annoyed the Due, who, knowing her to be on board, had kept 
 out of the way to avoid a scene. It will always be a question 
 whether the Due de Nemours and the Due de Montpensier ought 
 to have fought for the Crown in defiance of the old King's orders 
 to the contrary. The troops had been kept inert from Tuesday 
 morning to Wednesday night in the streets, and without food, 
 and the mob finding this supplied them with all they wanted, 
 and of course fraternised with them. 
 
 March 3rd. Prince Louis Bonaparte is already returned 
 from Paris. I met him to-day, and he said that M. Lamartine, 
 who is at the head of the Government of the Republic at Paris, 
 had received him very civilly, said that his great name might at 
 this moment produce a commotion which it was desirable to avcid, 
 and therefore, if he wished well to France, begged him to leave 
 it directly. This Prince Louis did, and seems rather flattered 
 than otherwise at being sent away. It is rumoured that Louis 
 Philippe has arrived in England, but no one knows where the 
 Duchess of Orleans is, and it is still a matter of doubt whether 
 the Duchesse de ISTemours has yet come. 
 
 March Wi. Louis Philippe arrived yesterday at Newhaven, 
 but, owing to .the state of the tide, could not land before twelve 
 at night, when he and the Queen drove to the Bridge Inn, which 
 is little better than a public-house. The landlady did her best to 
 give them a reception befitting their rank, and it appears the 
 King and Queen were so pleased with her hospitality and the kind 
 way in which they were treated, that they refused all offers, of 
 which many were made, to remove to a more comfortable house, 
 and determined to remain there until they received an answer to 
 the letter written by them to our Queen, which was sent off by 
 express. The account given of the King's departure from Paris 
 was quite correct, except that it was only the Queen who accom- 
 panied him on Thursday night to Dreux, where they stayed the 
 
1848 Louis PHILIPPE'S ARRIVAL, 161 
 
 night at a farmer's 011 whose fidelity they could rely, and who 
 procured them disguises. The King shaved off his whiskers and 
 discarded his wig, wearing a cap and cloak, which disguised him 
 completely. They arrived at Dreux before daylight on Friday, 
 and reached Honfleur at five on Saturday morning. There they 
 remained a short time at the house of a gentleman the King 
 knew, then crossed to Trouville, intending to embark there, but, 
 owing to the boisterous state of the weather, they were obliged to 
 remain there two days, when, finding they could not get away, 
 they returned to Honfleur with the intention of embarking from 
 that place, but, the weather still continuing rough, they remained 
 there till Thursday. In the meantime information was secretly 
 conveyed to the ' Express,' the Southampton steamer, that it would 
 be required to take a party from Havre to England, so it and 
 some other vessels cruised off the French coast. On Thursday 
 afternoon the King and Queen, with Generals Dumas and Ru- 
 migny, embarked in a fishing-boat, found the ' Express ' waiting 
 at Havre with her steam up, and at nine they set sail for England, 
 where they arrived the next morning. The moment the King 
 set his foot on shore he exclaimed, ' Thank God, I am on 
 British ground ! ' They arrived in London on the 4th, and went 
 immediately to Claremont. Great respect was shown to them, 
 everybody taking off their hats as they passed. 
 
 March Qth. There was a great mob in Trafalgar Square, 
 called together by Mr. Cochrane to petition against the income 
 tax ; they plundered a baker's shop and broke the lamps at 
 Buckingham Palace. They also attempted to win over the sen- 
 tries there, saying, 'Shake hands, my fine fellows, and let us 
 fraternise as the French have done ; ' to which they replied in 
 the English shibboleth and turned out the guard. The crowd 
 then scampered off. 
 
 March 15th. M. Ledru Rollin has addressed a revolutionary 
 circular to the Departments. He tells them that their power both 
 over the civil and over the military force is unlimited, and that they 
 must exercise it in getting the most violent Republicans elected. 
 M. Carnot has also addressed a circular to the schoolmasters, de- 
 siring them to tell their pupils that education and property were 
 
 M 
 
162 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1848 
 
 not the least requisite for Deputies, who made better statesmen 
 when least learned and experienced. 
 
 March I6th. Madame de Bonneval, who has just arrived from 
 Paris, called. She says it is completely ruined, and that the dis- 
 tress is dreadful ; no enthusiasm is felt with the Republic, and in 
 the Departments the feeling is strong against it. 
 
 March 17 th. The Bank of France has suspended cash pay- 
 ments. This measure has been recommended by M. Emile de 
 Girardin in the 'Presse.' However deplorable, it could not be 
 avoided, as the rush upon the Bank during the whole of the 15th 
 was tremendous. The applicants were so numerous that they were 
 obliged to place themselves en queue, as at the entrances of 
 theatres. We gave a dinner, and Prince Louis Bonaparte was one 
 of the guests. 
 
 March ISth. Lady Malmesbury got a letter from her uncle, 
 the Due de Gramont, expressing great apprehension for their lives, 
 fearing that the brigands who filled the streets might at any 
 moment attack and plunder their house. Their only defence was 
 the National Guard, the Government not having the power, even 
 if they had the will, to protect anybody. M. Lamartine, the only 
 one in whom the Moderate party could feel confidence, was in a 
 minority and could do nothing. The workpeople had got up "a 
 counter demonstration to that of the National Guard, and from 
 thirty to fifty thousand men had marched to the Hdtel de Ville. 
 It is said that two hundred thousand men of the Paris mob are 
 provided with arms, and, except for the want of cannon, perfectly 
 able to resist the National Guard and very likely defeat them. 
 The troops of the line have been sent out of Paris by the Govern- 
 ment, who thus show that they mean to rely upon the support of 
 the rabble. There was a great dispute between the members of 
 the Government on' the subject of a decree proposed by Ledru 
 Rollin and not approved by the rest. Finding himself overruled, 
 he threatened to call in the mob, as he did on February 24, when 
 the Duchess of Orleans and the Due de . Nemours went to the 
 Chamber of Deputies. At this infamous threat Gamier Pages got 
 up, pulled a pistol from his pocket, and told him if he moved a 
 step towards the door he would blow his brains out. Up to this 
 time, however, there is no disposition among the people to shed 
 
1818 RIOTS AT BERLIN. 163 
 
 blood, and the man who exhibited a model of a new sort of 
 guillotine which he had invented, and which he said could cut off 
 a thousand heads in half an hour, was nearly stoned to death. 
 Lady Alice Peel came to see my wife, her object being to sound 
 her on the subject of a reconciliation between the Protectionists 
 and the Peelites, who said that Lord Stanley would be glad to 
 unite the party again, but could say nothing about Sir Robert 
 Peel. Lady Alice said that her husband the General was quite 
 on our side and anxious for a Protectionist Government with Lord 
 Stanley at the head, but that we must throw over Lord George 
 Bentinck and Disraeli. This Lady Malmesbury told her was out 
 of the question, adding that at this moment we had no wish to 
 turn out the Whigs. 
 
 March 20th. There have been great disturbances at Berlin. 
 The troops fired on the people, who were led by the students, 
 killing ten and wounding about a hundred of them. They then 
 dispersed, but the town remains in a very unquiet state. Princess 
 Esterhazy writes that there has been a very alarming insurrection 
 at Vienna, and the town was in the hands of the mob, who pil- 
 laged and got the better of the troops, who only amounted to 
 eight thousand men. Prince Metternich had fled, which had in 
 some degree pacified the people. They have burned his villa and 
 destroyed his beautiful collection of pictures and statues. Hun- 
 gary has declared itself an independent kingdom, and chosen one 
 of the Archdukes for its King. 
 
 March 21 at. Accounts from Germany are very alarming. 
 Fresh disturbances at Berlin ; the troops charged the mob and 
 vere repulsed, and the King had fled to Potsdam. It is said that 
 i Republic is proclaimed at Vienna, but the rumour is doubted. 
 
 March 22nd. There has been a second outbreak at Berlin. 
 The troops charged the people, and it is said ten cannon shots 
 e fired, but the tumult soon subsided. At Vienna things are 
 [uiet since the first insurrection, and the people seem satisfied 
 vith the Emperor's concessions. At Berlin the King grants 
 mtire liberty of the press, and convokes the Diet for April 2, and 
 ic also publishes a manifesto declaring his intention to put himself 
 it the head of the national movement in Germany. The King of 
 Naples has also agreed to all the demands of the Sicilians through 
 
 M 2 
 
104 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MLMSTKK. 1848 
 
 Lord Miiito. He gives them a separate Parliament, to be elected 
 by universal suffrage, everybody to be eligible as a Deputy who 
 possesses ten pounds a year. Paris continues quiet, but the panic 
 increases. All the rich people have turned off their servants, and 
 nobody buys anything but strict necessaries. Imprisonment for 
 debt is abolished, so debts are not paid, and there is hardly any 
 silver in circulation. The Marquis of Hertford, who is anxious 
 to come back to England, has not been able to do so from the im- 
 possibility of getting any money to pay his journey, and has sent 
 to England for some. The Government have laid an embargo 
 upon his plate and furniture, and have forbidden him and every- 
 body to carry off any heavy luggage from Paris. The same has 
 happened to Lord Pembroke. The mob burned the carts in which 
 he was carrying off his property, and destroyed everything in 
 them. M. Guizot says he expects a famine in Paris, as the 
 country people are beginning to be afraid of bringing their corn 
 or cattle into the city, thinking they are not likely to be paid for 
 them. 
 
 March 28th. Paris is quiet, but the scarcity of money in- 
 creases ; the dividends are paid in paper, with the exception of a 
 very small proportion of silver, and tradesmen prefer giving 
 credit to taking paper in payment of their bills. Sebastiani has 
 had a thousand pounds of silver plate melted down into five-franc 
 pieces. 
 
 March 29th. Went to a party at Devonshire House. The 
 Prince of Prussia 1 was there. He is a very soldierlike-looking 
 man, with a determined but very harsh countenance. He is 
 middle aged. The Comte de Montemolin was also there, a little 
 insignificant-looking man. 
 
 March 30th. TJie King of Sardinia has issued a proclamation 
 to the people of Lombardy and Venice, promising to assist them ; 
 in regaining their liberties. It was dated 23rd, and on the same j 
 day the Austrians evacuated the town of Milan and retreated 
 upon Mantua. Masrhal Radetsky held out for three or four days 
 to give time to the Emperor of Austria's troops to arrive from I 
 the frontier, and then formed a junction with them behind the} I 
 Mincio, guarding Mantua. The Piedmontese troops then entered ' 
 * After -wards Emperor of Germany in 1871. 
 
1848 THE CHARTISTS. 165 
 
 the Milanais. Parma and Modena have revolted, and also the 
 district of Como. The Austrian garrisons have been taken 
 prisoners and disarmed. An insurrection at Venice, Trieste, and 
 throughout the whole Austrian dominions in Italy. Paris is quiet, 
 the population passing their time in processions. There was one 
 of wet-nurses, and another of laundresses, to whom Lamartine 
 said, ' Repassez, mesdames ! ' 
 
 March 31st. Venice has proclaimed a Republic, and all the 
 towns in the Austrian dominions in Italy are in open revolt. 
 The Sicilians have refused the Constitution offered them by the 
 King of Naples and guaranteed by England, and want a Re- 
 public. 
 
 April 5th. The alarm about the Chartists increases. Every- 
 body expects that the attack will be serious. Every precaution 
 is taken, and all the troops within reach have been ordered to 
 London, even those at Windsor, whose duty is to be performed 
 by the Buckinghamshire Yeomanry. The bridges in London are 
 to be defended with cannon, and all, therefore, depends upon the 
 fidelity of the troops. Doubts are expressed as to some amongst 
 them, and also about the police, but I cannot believe a word 
 against either. General Lord De Ros says the troops are to be 
 concealed as early as four o'clock on the morning of the 10th, in 
 the neighbourhood of Kennington Common. Their officers are 
 to be present at the meeting in plain clothes. The whole force, 
 with its artillery, is to march out and fire upon the mob. The 
 soldiers are all perfectly loyal, and furious with this mischievous 
 attempt to disturb the peace. 
 
 April 8th. Lady Jersey says that the Duke of Wellington 
 has told her there is not the slightest danger to be apprehended, 
 and he advised the ladies to drive about as usual. 
 
 April 9th. The alarm to-day is very general all over the 
 town. The Government have made great preparations, though 
 the extreme precautions that are known to have been taken have, 
 of course, increased the people's fears. The Duke of Wellington 
 is to command the troops, and the orders he has given are that 
 the police are to go first to disperse the meeting ; if resistance is 
 offered and they are likely to be beaten, then the troops are in- 
 stantly to appear, and the cannon to open with shell and grenades, 
 
166 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1848 
 
 infantry and cavalry are to charge in short, they are to be 
 made an example of. The Admiralty is strongly garrisoned and 
 filled with arms, as also are the Horse Guards and the Treasury. 
 There are eight hundred men in Buckingham Palace with cannon ; 
 and steamers and gunboats on the river. The Ministers are to 
 assemble in Downing Street to be ready for any emergency, but 
 both Houses of Parliament will sit as usual. 
 
 April 10th. My five keepers have arrived at my house this 
 morning, each armed with a double-barrelled gun, and determined 
 to use it if necessary. A great many have done the same, and 
 filled their houses with trusty men. A battalion of Grenadier 
 Guards is at the Horse Guards, besides the usual force of Life 
 Guards. The mob was not very considerable, and the best 
 behaved I ever saw, and though there were very few police or 
 special constables to keep order, there seemed to be no excite- 
 ment nothing but curiosity. Everybody walked about as safely 
 and as quietly as on any other day. We went to Lord Carring- 
 ton's house to see what would happen. I was much amused 
 by seeing an old gentleman, who rode up in front of the Horse 
 Guards, stop his horse, let the reins fall on his neck, and quietly 
 wind up and set his watch by the clock, an operation which 
 lasted fully three or four minutes. The mob took 110 notice 
 whatever of him, although I expected they would have laughed 
 at him. Among the special constables stationed round Trafalgar 
 Square, Prince Louis Napoleon was on duty. The way the 
 Chartist meeting ended was certainly very absurd and his 
 covered them with ridicule. A little before one o'clock, Mr. 
 Mayne, the chief officer of police, rode up to Kemiington 
 Common, where there were from fifteen to twenty thousand 
 Chartists assembled, accompanied by Lord Duncan. Not a 
 soldier was to be seen, and only two policemen. Mr. Mayne 
 sent to beg Feargus O'Connor to come and speak to him. He 
 did so, as pale as ashes, trembling from head to foot, and said to 
 Mr. Mayne, * What do you wish me to do 1 I am ready to dc 
 anything you advise me.' Mr. Mayne answered, ' What do you 
 intend to do 1 Do you intend to persevere in your plan d 
 marching in procession ? for if you do we must prevent you 
 though at the same time we have orders to facilitate the presen- 
 
1848 THE CHARTIST PETITION. 167 
 
 tatioii of your petition, if it is presented in a proper manner.' 
 This seemed greatly to relieve Feargus O'Connor, who apparently 
 expected to have been arrested, for he exclaimed in a delighted 
 tone, ' Thank you, Mr. Mayne ; you are my best friend. Shake 
 hands, I'll do anything you like.' He then turned to the people 
 and said, ' Fools ! I always said you were fools ; this is not the 
 way you ought to act. You are a parcel of fools. Mr. Mayne is 
 the best friend I have in the world. Disperse directly and go 
 home.' Thus ended this ridiculous exhibition, which had created 
 universal alarm, and from which, but for the extraordinary 
 precautions taken by the Duke and the Government, and the 
 loyalty and courage shown by all classes in uniting for the preser- 
 vation of order, serious consequences would have ensued. Mr. 
 Smith O'Brien made his appearance in the House and denied 
 having gone to Paris to ask for assistance, saying he only went 
 to sympathise with the French ; but Sir George Grey read his 
 own letter to Duffy, in which he said the French were ready to 
 send fifty thousand men to Ireland. O'Brien had not a word to 
 answer. I hear everybody means to cut him, and when he said, 
 in his speech in the House, ' I have been called a traitor,' the 
 yells and shouts were terrific, and lasted so long that the news- 
 papers say it was dreadful even for an indifferent spectator to 
 witness such a scene. 
 
 April \'2th. The news from Lombardy is better. General 
 Radetsky has concentrated his forces and entered Yerona, and 
 General Walmoden, Mantua. The Chartist petition, which 
 Feargus O'Connor had stated to be signed by six million persons, 
 had less than, two million signatures, or what purported to be 
 signatures, appended to it. Whole pages were written by one 
 hand, and many of the names gross forgeries, such as ' Victoria 
 Rex,' 'Duke of Wellington,' and a great many such words as 
 ' Pugnose,' ' Flatnose,' &c. 
 
 April 15th. Lady Tankerville, Lady Malmesbury, and I 
 went to Claremont to pay our respects to the exiled sovereigns. 
 On our arrival we were ushered into the drawing-room by a 
 person out of livery ; it was difficult to say whether he was a 
 servant or a general. Madame de Montjoie came in immediately 
 and said the King and Queen were busy writing. However, in 
 
 
168 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1848 
 
 a few minutes the King entered the room, and was soon after 
 followed by the Queen. They were both looking well in health, 
 but in wretchedly low spirits ; the King in particular could 
 hardly hold up his head. He appeared anxious about the 
 elections, from which he evidently anticipated favourable results, 
 and it was clear he still entertains some faint hopes, which are 
 probably kept up by his friends in their desire to please him 
 rather than tell him the honest truth. He told us that Lord 
 Brougham had not been naturalised in France, as all acts of 
 naturalisation were signed by him, and were not valid without 
 his signature. M. Guizot then came in, and told the King that 
 he had heard that morning from Count Dietrichstein that Prince 
 Metternich was not coming to England. Mr. Monckton-Milnes 1 
 then arrived and sat by the King, while Lady Tankerville and I 
 were talking to the Queen. We saw the King suddenly start up 
 and exclaim, ' Ah ! c'est le dernier coup ! ' The Queen jumped 
 up and inquired, ' Qu'est-ce que c'est, mon ami ? Calmez-vous !' to 
 which he replied by repeating, ' C'est le dernier coup ! ' It then 
 appeared that Mr. Monckton-Milnes had informed him public 
 opinion thought his son the Due de Nemours had not shown the 
 courage the occasion required. Why he did so I cannot under 
 stand. In the evening I told Lord Palmerston of our visit to 
 Claremont, which seemed to interest him. He hoped it was true 
 that Prince Metternich was not coming to England, as this 
 reunion of foreign statesmen would look too much like a congress. 
 He suspected the King of Sardinia's illness was feigned ; that all 
 countries wanted us to take their part, and thought it very ill- 
 natured our refusing to do so, but that our best policy was to 
 keep aloof and let them settle their own quarrels. 
 
 April 17 tli. The^ report of the defeat of the Austrians is true. 
 The Piedmontese attacked them at the bridge of Goritz on the 
 8th. The Austrians retreated after blowing up the bridge, but, 
 not having done it effectually, the Piedmontese crossed over, took 
 four pieces of cannon and two thousand prisoners, driving the 
 Austrians upon Mantua. But this is the Sardinian account, and 
 certainly exaggerated. 
 
 April 30#A. Heron Court. Mr. Stanley left us. Lords 
 * Now Lord Houghton, 
 
1848 INSURRECTION AT ROME. 169 
 
 Canning, Castlereagh, and Salisbury have been fishing here, but 
 with 110 luck. Yesterday Lords Canning, Granville, Douglas, 
 and Rivers came from Highcliffe, where they had been staying 
 for the hunting in the New Forest. They were all so disgusted 
 with the danger of the ground that they declared they never 
 would hunt there again. One man, a groom, was killed, three 
 gentlemen very much hurt, and Lord Granville had his face cut 
 by the boughs of a tree against which his horse carried him. In 
 Paris everything is quiet, and the elections have gone off peace- 
 ably. Lamartine is at the head of every list, and Ledru Rollin 
 and Louis Blanc at the bottom. There is, therefore, every reason 
 to hope that the Moderates will have a majority in the Assembly. 
 Yet the language at the clubs is of the most violent description. 
 There is no doubt if these men get the upper hand the horrors of 
 1793 will be repeated. 
 
 May 8th. It is feared if the Austrians continue to be 
 successful the French will interfere, as a large sum has been 
 decreed for the expenses of the army. M. Dietrichstein l appears 
 to expect this, and is very much out of spirits at the state and 
 prospects of his country. The Danes and Prussians have 
 accepted our mediation. The former had blockaded Hamburg, 
 Liibeck, and Bremen. 
 
 May 12th. There have been serious disturbances at Rome to 
 force the Pope to declare war against Austria, which he was 
 unwilling to do, as Austria threatens in that case to withdraw 
 her spiritual allegiance to Rome. The whole National Guard 
 joined the people, surrounded the houses of the cardinals to 
 prevent their leaving, took possession of the gates of the town, 
 and threatened to depose the Pope if he persisted in refusing to 
 accede to their desire. He at once gave the promise and declared 
 war against Austria, whose Ambassador immediately left Rome, 
 and he consented also to form a new Government, of which no 
 one in Holy Orders would be a member. Count Nugent has not 
 yet effected a junction with Radetsky. 
 
 May \5th. The telegraph from Dover announces that the 
 National Assembly at Paris was again taken possession of by the 
 mob yesterday. After a scene of great confusion, one of the 
 1 Austrian Ambassador in London. 
 
170 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1848 
 
 leaders, a man named Hubert, proclaimed the dissolution of 
 the Assembly. Afterwards Barbes, Raspail, and others, followed 
 by an- immense mob, went to the Hotel cle Ville, where they 
 established a Terrorist Provisional Government ; but a strong 
 body of the National Guard having assembled by this time, 
 arrested them, cleared the National Assembly of the mob, and 
 order was once more restored. The attack upon the National 
 Assembly was not a coup de main, as was at first supposed, but 
 the result of a deep-laid conspiracy, in which General Courtois, 
 the Commandant of the National Guard, was chief. He has 
 been superseded. 
 
 May 24tk. 'La Presse' announces the defeat of Generals 
 Zucchi and Durando, who have been annihilated by Count 
 Nugent, who has taken Palmanova and Treviso. Sir Henry 
 Bulwer has been ordered to leave Madrid by the Spanish 
 Government. The Emperor and Empress of Austria have left 
 Vienna in consequence of a fresh disturbance, and have gone to 
 Innspriick for refuge. Barbes nearly made his escape from 
 Vincennes, having corrupted two of his gaolers, but a third 
 recognised and stopped him. The intention of the conspirators 
 was to set fire to the theatres and murder all the Deputies they 
 met with. Madame Lamartine l gives herself such ridiculous 
 airs that she actually refused to receive Lady Louisa Teiinison 
 unless she was presented by Lady Normanby, the Ambassadress. 
 
 May 25th. The Jew Bill was thrown out in the Lords by 
 a majority of 35. Mr. Lionel de Rothschild and his brother 
 Anthony were present. I never saw the House so full. The 
 Rothschilds stood like elder sons of Peers on the steps of the 
 throne, and would not even retire when the division took place. 
 
 June 3rd. There has been another insurrection at Vienna. 
 On the 26th the Government attempted a reactionary coup d'etat 
 by ordering the Academical Legion, which was guaranteed by the 
 Constitution, to disband. This they refused to do, and the whole 
 population joined them, barricades were erected, and at last the 
 troops were forced to retire. The people then demanded the 
 .continuance of the Academical Legion, and that the Emperor 
 should return in eight days, or appoint one of the Princes to 
 1 The temporary President's wife, 
 
1843 FIGHTING IN PARIS. 171 
 
 represent him. Both demands were granted. Lord Palmerston 
 has refused to receive Count Miresol, saying that he will only 
 transact business with an accredited agent of the Spanish 
 Government, so that any explanation they have to give must 
 come from the Spanish Ministry. 
 
 June 26tk. Fighting in Paris for the last two days. Loss of 
 life dreadful greater than in most battles. Ten thousand are 
 said to be killed or wounded on the two sides. Lamoriciere had 
 two horses killed under him. Horrible cruelties were committed 
 on the wounded soldiers. To prevent them from firing at the 
 windows the mob placed their women and children before them, 
 and fired from behind, thinking themselves safe. But after some 
 time the soldiers returned the fire, killing several women and 
 children, whose bodies were thrown into the streets by their own 
 friends, and perhaps their own relations. 
 
 June 30th. London has been very gay for the last fortnight. 
 We have had the Spitalfields ball, which was exceedingly bril- 
 liant, and realised 1,0001. for the charity, after 1,SOO. had been 
 deducted for expenses. Lady Londonderry had a quadrille of 
 forty kings and queens, very splendid ; but they were received 
 with shouts of laughter mingled with applause as they entered. 
 
 July 25th. Radetsky totally defeated the Piedmontese after 
 four or five days' hard fighting, in which he retook all the posi- 
 tions which it had cost Charles Albert two months to gain. He 
 retired towards Cremona, and the Austrians bombarded Pes- 
 chiera. The King, being completely beaten, has appealed to the 
 French Republic to send sixty thousand men to his assistance, 
 which they have refused to do, proposing to settle the question 
 by negotiations in concert with us. The long-talked-of rebellion 
 in Ireland has at last broken out and been suppressed by fifty 
 policemen ! W. S. O'Brien headed the attack upon the police 
 or rather sent three thousand men to attack them whilst he 
 concealed himself in a garden close by. O'Brien is proclaimed a 
 traitor, and a reward of five hundred pounds offered for his 
 apprehension, and all who harbour or assist him are proclaimed 
 guilty of high treason. Our army in Ireland is now about forty 
 thousand men, and Lord Hardinge has gone over to take the 
 command. O'Brien has been arrested. Radetsky has driven the 
 
172 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1848 
 
 Pieclmontese out of Cremona, and they are now in full retreat 
 upon Pa via or Milan. The Lombards have behaved infamously 
 towards them, and deserted them in their utmost need, never 
 supplying them with food or wine. They fought most gallantly, 
 and were defeated much more by hunger and fatigue than by the 
 Austrians. The King showed great courage, but no military 
 skill. 
 
 August 8th. Lord Palmerston yesterday announced that Eng- 
 land and France were to mediate between Austria and Italy, 
 which was received with loud cheers. We dined with the Palmer- 
 stons, where the French Minister told us he was recalled for 
 speaking to M. Guizot in the street. I can't say I believed him. 
 
 August th. We left London for Achnacarry by our usual 
 route through Glasgow, and afterwards by steamer to Corpach. 
 
 We passed the autumn at Achnacarry as usual until Octo- 
 ber 22, during which time we were visited by the Charteris, 
 Wrottesleys, Sidney Herberts, Lord and Lady Bruce, Lord and 
 Lady Jocelyn, the Duke and Duchess of Montrose, (fee. On 
 September 25, we heard of the death of Lord George Bentinck, 
 which took place suddenly on the 21st. He was staying at Wei- 
 beck, and being engaged to dine with Lord Manvers, he sent his 
 servant with his clothes in a gig, saying he would walk himself, 
 the distance being only about five miles. However, he never 
 arrived, and the servant becoming alarmed drove back to Welbeck 
 and inquired if anybody had seen him. A search was made, and 
 he was found in a field, about a mile from Welbeck, quite dead. 
 He will be a dreadful loss to our party, for he was not only a 
 very clever, but a most honest, courageous, and high-minded man. 
 The inquest was held on the 25th, and it appears from the medical 
 testimony he died from a spasm of the heart, brought on, it is 
 supposed, by excitement and the hard work he has gone through 
 for the last two or three years. There was no disease in the 
 heart or in any other part of his frame, which the surgeon said 
 promised a long life. It must therefore have been quite an acci- 
 dental attack, and one that anyone might have if they overworked 
 themselves. The sensation his death has caused throughout the 
 country is extraordinary, and is likely to bring about very im- 
 
1848 DERIVATION OF NAME OF TKOLLOPE. 173 
 
 portant changes in our party. No one but Disraeli can fill his 
 place. Although of perfectly different natures, they pulled together 
 without any difficulty. It will leave Disraeli without a rival, and 
 enable him to show the great genius he undoubtedly possesses 
 without any comparisons. 
 
 October llth. Mrs. Norton arrived at Aclmacarry and stayed 
 with us three or four days. We found her very agreeable and 
 amusing, but her beauty, her manners, and her conversation are 
 all of the most masculine character and the latter is often 
 coarser than even a man should use. Sidney Herbert told us a 
 funny story about the origin of the name of Trollope. A son of 
 Mrs. Trollope, the authoress, who was with him at Harrow, first 
 told it of his own accord, but used to be made to repeat it by 
 sufficient punchings on the head, as follows: 'Tallyhosier the 
 Norman came over to England with William the Conqueror, and 
 being out hunting one day with his Majesty in the New Forest, 
 happened to kill three wolves, and " trois " being French for 
 " three," " loup" French for " wolves," he was called " troisloup" 
 which with many changes and corruptions during countless cen- 
 turies became " Trollope " ' ! 
 
 October 14th. We rode to Glenquoich, belonging to 'Bear' 
 Ellice, crossing the Garry, where the water came up above our 
 saddle-girths. The house at Glenquoich is a wooden construction, 
 small but well furnished. There was a party of the Abercorns 
 and Jocelyns staying there. On Sunday ' Bear ' Ellice read 
 prayers of his own composition, and we afterwards drove to Loch 
 Hourn. The path leading to it is the finest I have yet seen in 
 Scotland, not excepting even Glencoe. The * Bear ' is a regular 
 showman and has got his lesson by heart, and when he is inter- 
 rupted forgets where he left off. 
 
 October IQth. Returned to Aclmacarry and found that a good 
 deal of snow had fallen since yesterday. It is not yet known 
 what the Government mean to do with Smith O'Brien. The jury 
 found him * Guilty,' but with a recommendation to mercy. A 
 fresh rebellion broke out at Vienna on the 6th, and Count Latour, 
 Minister of War, was murdered. The Emperor fled, and after 
 some severe fighting all through the 6th and 7th, the arsenal was 
 taken and the town remained in the hands of the insurgents. 
 
 October 19/j. Matters at Vienna remain the same. The 
 
174 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MOUNTER. 1848 
 
 garrison lias taken up a position on a hill commanding the town, 
 and the troops are loyal. Jellachich, who is Ban of Croatia, has 
 arrived before Vienna, with the intention of commencing a bom- 
 bardment. Cholera has broken out again in London. 
 
 October 27th. Left Aclmacarry by Loch Laggan, Dunkeld, 
 c. Stayed at Chillingham Castle. 
 
 November I0th. Went to Knowsley. Heard that Vienna 
 was taken by Windischgratz on the 31st, on which day the 
 Viennese agreed to capitulate. But after the terms of surrender 
 had been agreed upon, hearing that the Hungarians were ad- 
 vancing to their assistance, they resumed hostilities, and, contrary 
 to good faith, fired upon the Austrians, who were entering to 
 take possession. Windischgratz thereupon immediately ordered 
 the cannonade and bombardment to begin, by which much damage 
 was done. At the same time Jellachich advanced to meet the 
 Hungarians, whom he totally defeated, and next day, November 
 1st, Vienna was in possession of the Austrians. We met at 
 Knowsley General Talbot, nearly eighty years of age, a remark- 
 able character. He was one of the early settlers in Canada, 
 where he cleared several acres of land with his own hand in a 
 part of the country which was then quite unpeopled and has now 
 a population of two hundred thousand. He is very rich, and is 
 a sort of king there. 
 
 November 24th. Heron Court. Lord Canning and Adolphus 
 FitzClarence arrived for dinner. The latter commands the Queen's 
 yacht. Count Rossi, whom we used to know at Rome two years 
 ago, and who was then French Ambassador, and since Louis 
 Philippe's abdication Prime Minister of the Pope, has been assas- 
 sinated on the staircase of the Chamber of Deputies. No attempt 
 was made to arrest ,the murderer. His son nearly shared the 
 same fate in trying to assist his father. 
 
 December 2nd. News from Italy very bad. After Rossi's 
 murder the mob and soldiers attacked the Quirinal, fired into the 
 windows and killed Cardinal Palma. The Swiss Guards behaved 
 very gallantly, but were too few to oppose any effectual resistance, 
 and the Pope was obliged to accede to the demands of the rabble 
 and appointed Mamiani Prime Minister. For about a week the 
 Pope remained in his palace closely watched, when he succeeded 
 
1818 LOUIS NAPOLEON PRESIDENT. 175 
 
 in making his escape on the 24th to Gaeta, where a steamer was 
 waiting to take him to France. The Pope was assisted in his 
 escape by Mrs. Dodwell, an Italian lady, who provided disguises. 
 
 December Wi. Went to Tottenham, Lord Ailesbury's place, 
 where there was a large party. It appears that the Pope made 
 his escape from the Quirinal disguised as the Bavarian Minister's 
 servant. Having by this means got downstairs, he mounted 
 the box by the coachman and reached the Bavarian Minister's 
 house ; he changed his dress, and, post-horses having already been 
 procured, he started directly for the Neapolitan States. His 
 escape was not discovered for some time, as his attendants had 
 been told he was at prayers and must not be disturbed. 
 
 December llth. The Emperor of Austria has abdicated in 
 favour of his nephew, the Archduke Franz Josef. 
 
 December 20th. Prince Louis Bonaparte has been proclaimed 
 President of the French Republic by a plebiscite. He had an 
 immense majority over General Cavaignac. This, no doubt, is the 
 first step to the Empire. His name has acted like magic on the 
 nation. 
 
 1849 
 
 January 2'2nd. The Herberts, Shelburnes, Cannings, and * 
 Lord Eddisbury arrived. There has been some hard fighting in 
 India on the banks of the Chenab, which has ended in the 
 retreat of the Sikh army. But this slight advantage, if it can 
 be called one, where we have not taken a single prisoner, gun, or 
 standard, has been dearly bought by the loss of General Cureton 
 and General Havelock, who were killed at the head of their 
 regiments. The former greatly distinguished himself in the late 
 war under Lord Hardinge, and was considered the first cavalry 
 officer in the service. 
 
 February 1st. Parliament opens to-day. All mention of the 
 grievances of the agricultural interest having been omitted from 
 the Queen's Speech, Lord Stanley brings forward an amendment 
 to the Address in these words : ' We regret being compelled 
 humbly to represent to your Majesty that neither your Majesty's 
 1 Afterwards Lord Stanley of Alderlev. 
 
176 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MLNlSTKli. J8J9 
 
 relations with foreign Powers, nor the state of the revenue, nor 
 the condition of the commercial and manufacturing interest, are 
 such as in our opinion justify us in addressing your Majesty in 
 language of congratulation, and that a large portion of the agri- 
 cultural and colonial interests of the Empire is labouring under 
 a state of progressive depression calculated to excite the most 
 serious apprehension and anxiety.' This amendment was received 
 with loud cheers, and was lost only by two, the numbers being 
 52 to 50. The Ministers complained of having been taken by 
 surprise. It was settled at a dinner the evening before, when 
 Lord Stanley read the Queen's Speech to his guests ; and when 
 they were all gone, with the exception of the Duke of Richmond, 
 Lord Redesdale, and myself, he drew up this amendment with us. 
 The Duke of Wellington supported the Government, but he has 
 lost his influence in the House of Lords from constantly taking 
 their part, and I do not believe he can now command more than 
 three or four votes, but this number made the difference on this 
 occasion. The same amendment was proposed by Disraeli in the 
 Commons, but not pressed to a division. The triumvirate (Mr. 
 Disraeli, Lord Granby, and Mr. Herries) appointed to be our 
 leaders in that House is an evident failure, the latter two being 
 in the way of the first. 
 
 February \Wi. The deposition of the Pope was passed in the 
 Roman Chamber by a majority of 136 out of 144 votes, and the 
 proclamation of the Republic of Rome by 120. His spiritual 
 power is, however, guaranteed, which seems an absurdity. A 
 Republic has also been proclaimed at Florence, and the Grand 
 Duke of Tuscany is at San Stefano, where two English ships of 
 war await his orders. 
 
 February 20th. My audit dinner took place, and was very 
 ill attended, with a great deficit of rents. I made a speech to the 
 farmers to prove to them that the repeal of the malt tax would do 
 them more harm than good, which I feel certain is the case. 1 
 Prince Louis Napoleon is gaining great popularity. Trade in 
 France is reviving and strangers beginning to flock to Paris. It 
 will soon be as gay and agreeable as ever. The Austrians have 
 entered Ferrara, and are said to be on their way to Rome. There 
 
 1 This proved true, as it cheapened barley when it was repealed in 1880. 
 
18-19 THE SIKH WAR. 177 
 
 is a very important piece of news, the advance of the Russians 
 against the Hungarians in consequence of the demands for assist- 
 ance from Austria, which will enable the latter to send a larger 
 force into Italy. Lord Palmerston has made a speech in the 
 House of Commons, charging the King of Naples with every sort 
 of crime and tyranny. Much of it may be true, but a great deal 
 is certainly false, and a great deal exaggerated. Our Ambassador, 
 his brother (Mr. Temple), believes every absurd story that is told 
 against King Bomba, and repeats it to his chief. 
 
 February 22nd. Letters from Vienna announce the complete 
 destruction of the corps of Hungarians commanded by General 
 Bern. 
 
 March 3rd. The Austrians entered Ferrara on February 18, 
 and found that an officer of the garrison and three soldiers had 
 been killed by the townspeople ; and that the Austrian Consul 
 had had his house plundered without any effort 011 the part of 
 the authorities being made to prevent it. Marshal Radetsky 
 determined to punish the people of Ferrara and ensure the safety 
 of the garrison there. A deputation waited 011 Field-Marshal 
 Haynau, who insisted on the following conditions : (1) To de- 
 liver up the murderers of the soldiers ; (2) That six hostages 
 should be given for the fulfilment of the conditions now made ; 
 
 (3) The army of the Pope, their liege lord, to be reinstated ; and 
 
 (4) That a fine of twenty thousand dollars should be paid. 
 March 5th. Bad news from India. Lord Gough has again 
 
 attacked the Sikhs in a very strong position, with an inferior 
 force, and exhausted by a long march. Notwithstanding this the 
 troops took their positions, but being unsupported at night they 
 were obliged to abandon them after a tremendous loss of life ; 
 nearly one hundred officers and two thousand men being killed or 
 wounded. Some of the cavalry, both native and English, be- 
 haved badly. Lord Gough himself fought in the thickest of the 
 melee, and was not to be found when it was necessary to give 
 orders, and in fact the battle was won in great confusion. 
 
 March ?th. Lord Stanley asked the Government whether it 
 was true that arms had been furnished to the Sicilian insurgents 
 by our Government, to which Lord Lansdowne replied that it was 
 so, but threw the whole blame on Lord Palmerston, saying that it 
 
 N 
 
178 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1849 
 
 was clone by his orders, and that when the rest of the Govern- 
 ment were informed of it they were highly displeased at the 
 measure, and sent an apology to the King of Naples, promising 
 that it would not occur again. Lord Lansdowne in his speech 
 attacked the Sicilian Government, and Lord Brougham when re- 
 plying said : ' The noble Lord said, " the Sicilian Government," 
 I conclude he means "the insurgents ; " ' to which Lord Lansdowne 
 answered, ' I mean the Government de facto' ' Yes,' said Lord 
 Brougham, ' that is the Government of the insurgents, and is no 
 more the Government of the Kingdom of all the Sicilies than 
 Smith O'Brien's Committee was the Government of England.' 
 
 March llth. Sir Charles Napier says that in the position 
 Lord Gough is he must either destroy the Sikhs or be destroyed 
 himself, as there is no middle course. 
 
 March 13th. The second reading of the bill repealing the 
 Navigation Laws passed the Commons last night by a majority of 
 56. The Peelites voted different ways, some for and some against 
 the bill. 
 
 March llth. We dined with the Colchesters, and were intro- 
 duced to Sir Charles Napier. He is a little man with grey hair 
 brushed back from his face, with an immense hooked and pointed 
 nose, small eyes, and wears spectacles, very like the conventional 
 face of a Jew. He is appointed to retrieve our affairs in India, 
 and when the Duke of Wellington named him to the post he at 
 first hesitated, until the Duke told him if he didn't go he would 
 go himself. Great notice was taken of Sir Charles, and it was a 
 curious scene altogether, for the Duke of Wellington arrived at 
 the party, and for a few minutes those two great men were en- 
 gaged in close conversation in the centre of the room, and the 
 company formed a pircle round them, though at a respectful 
 distance. 
 
 March 17th. Disraeli's motion for an inquiry into the burthens 
 on land was thrown out by a majority of 91. It gave the Peelites 
 a fair opportunity for a reconciliation with us, as it had nothing 
 to do with Free Trade ; they, however, voted in a body with the 
 Whigs. 
 
 March %2nd. The papers contain a proclamation by Radetsky 
 to his soldiers announcing the recommencement of hostilities on 
 
1849 WAR IN PIEDMONT. 179 
 
 the 2 1st, and stating his intention of marching on Turin. The 
 troops are perfectly well disposed and in high spirits, and there is 
 little doubt that Charles Albert will be made to regret his rash 
 and treacherous conduct. The armistice which was granted by 
 the Austrians six months ago, at a time when they could have 
 conquered the whole of Piedmont, was effected for the purpose of 
 settling the preliminaries of peace, but it has been employed by 
 Charles Albert in making preparations for war. This last time he 
 has been urged on by the Revolutionary party against his own 
 will, preferring to fight the Austrians to losing his crown. It is 
 conjectured that he does not mean to defend Turin, but will throw 
 himself back on Alessandria and Genoa. The invading army is 
 said to be in high spirits and confident of success. The Pied- 
 montese have the disadvantage of being commanded by a foreigner, 
 Chrzanowski, a Pole. 
 
 March 29^A. Was at the Drawing Room. Great complaints 
 made by the ladies that the wives and daughters of the Queen's 
 servants and the ladies' maids of many of themselves obstructed 
 the gallery and had comfortable seats, whilst they themselves were 
 obliged to stand till their carriages came up ; this, after standing 
 so long upstairs, was rather hard. A despatch from the French 
 Minister at Turin states that the army of Charles Albert has been 
 forced back on to the mountains of Biela, and that the Austrians 
 have occupied Novara, Vercelli, and Trino. The King has abdi- 
 cated and fled, and the Government has requested Mr. Aber- 
 croniby, our Minister, and himself to apply for an armistice to 
 cover Turin. Charles Albert, after his abdication in favour of 
 the Duke of Savoy, passed through Nice on his way to France. 
 The Piedmontese army has been totally beaten at Novara, but has 
 saved its honour. Lord Mahon told me a story of Mrs. Disraeli, 
 who was paying a visit somewhere in the country, where she met 
 Lord and Lady Hardinge. It happened that Lord Hardinge's 
 room was next to the Disraelis', and the next morning Mrs. 
 Disraeli said to Lord Hardinge at breakfast, ' Oh, Lord Hardinge, 
 I consider myself the most fortunate of women. I said to myself 
 when I woke this morning, " What a lucky woman I am ! here I 
 have been sleeping between the greatest orator and the greatest 
 
 N 2 
 
180 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1849 
 
 warrior of the day ! " ! Lady Hardinge did not appear pleased at 
 the statement. I left for Paris. 
 
 Saturday, March 30. I arrived at Paris this morning, and 
 having informed the Prince President, Louis Napoleon, of my 
 being here, he immediately gave me an audience. Lord Stanley 
 being at the head of the Opposition, the Prince seemed anxious to 
 know what he might expect from him if he succeeded the present 
 Government. He himself was only just in the saddle, in a posi- 
 tion of great difficulty, and very anxious about the future. He 
 said the danger to Europe lay in the absolute necessity of modify- 
 ing the treaties of 1815, which should be done before a war broke 
 out. What would England do if Austria and Prussia went to 
 war ? What would England do if such a modification was pro- 
 posed by a Congress 1 France, he said, would not now be jealous 
 of our gaining more power in Egypt, and France and England to- 
 gether could remodel everything. This seems to me to hint at an 
 idea that France would take part with Prussia, and if that Power 
 gained territory in Germany, France would advance her frontier 
 and allow England compensations in the Levant. The Prince 
 said that Russia was, unfortunately, popular with the upper classes 
 in Paris. He regretted the Roman business having turned out so 
 ill, but it had been badly managed. Of France he said the Legi- 
 timists were really the most unpatriotic and betes, and turned the 
 elections here. They hated England the most of any of the dif- 
 ferent parties. If he (the President) chose to write an article 
 as long as his finger against them in the ' Moniteur,' he could 
 rally the Rouges and Republicans round him, but this he would 
 not do. The Royalists wanted him to play the part of Monk, 
 without seeing the difference of the situation of public opinion as 
 well as his own personally. He would in that case betray the 
 7,000,000 who had elected him, even if he had the power, which 
 he had not. He considered the army staunch. The worst of the 
 situation was that he had not one friend on whom he could depend ; 
 he was quite alone, and his only friends were those he did not 
 know. He seemed to me very thin-skinned about the English 
 newspapers and the reports regarding himself. He dislikes Lord 
 Aberdeen. He has only 200 votes in the Chamber in his favour. 
 
 This conversation I afterwards repeated to Lord Stanley, who 
 
1849 VICTORY OF GOOJERAT, 181 
 
 agreed with me in thinking that the mind of the President was 
 full of schemes for the revision of the map of Europe, that he 
 was the principal author of those which had been lately published 
 in that sense, that no positive policy was fixed in his mind as long 
 as he considered himself fettered by the Chamber and had not 
 overcome his national enemies by some decided act, but that, 
 although his position was precarious, it was not at all hopeless. 
 
 April 1st. News has been received of a great victory over 
 the Sikhs near Goojerat on February 21. They left their camp 
 on the llth, and having failed in their endeavour to draw Lord 
 Gough out of his entrenchments, they retired, when it was 
 ascertained that they had gone in the direction of Goojerat, 
 which they took, having surprised the Afghan garrison. They 
 then attempted to cross the Chenab at Sodra, but were met by a 
 detachment of General Whish's army from Mooltan, which had 
 advanced by forced marches to the relief of Lord Gough, where 
 they were attacked by the combined armies of Lord Gough and 
 General Whish, and were completely defeated, losing most of their 
 cannon and all their ammunition and tents. 
 
 April 13th. The Austrians have taken Brescia, and Genoa 
 has surrendered. Jellachich has beaten the Hungarians, who 
 latterly had been very successful, having defeated the Austrians 
 and Russians in several encounters. 
 
 April 14:th. I returned from Paris. The President, who 
 received me in the most friendly manner, was under the impres- 
 sion that if the Whigs were turned out Peel himself would come 
 in, and that if in that event Lord Aberdeen is our Foreign 
 Minister, he would intrigue for the restoration of the Bourbons, 
 both of which suppositions are erroneous, as we shall certainly 
 never again interfere in the domestic arrangements of France. 
 There is a story now very much talked of in London which, if 
 true, must tell against Lord Palmerston, as to his attention to 
 public affairs. It is this : The armistice between Denmark and 
 Germany had already been far advanced, and was to expire on 
 April 2, when a courier from Copenhagen arrived in London on 
 March 26, who was the bearer of the final proposals of the 
 Danish Government in answer to the conditions offered by the 
 German Plenipotentiary. This communication was immediately 
 
182 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MlNlSTEil. 1849 
 
 forwarded to Lord Palmerston as the mediating Power, and it 
 was all the more important not only from the nature of its 
 contents, but because the Danish courier was strictly ordered to 
 leave London, with or without an answer, so as to reach 
 Copenhagen again before the conclusion of the armistice. This 
 period of time, short in itself, and decisive as to the settlement 
 of the question of peace or war, accordingly passed away the 
 courier left London without any notice having been taken of the 
 communication, and his return to Copenhagen was the signal for 
 the precipitate departure of that expedition which has cost the 
 lives of many seamen and the Danish fleet two of its finest ships. 
 At length, on March 29, the Queen happened to hold a Drawing 
 Room, at which some sort of a personal explanation took place 
 between the Ministers and the members of the Diplomatic Corps. 
 It was then ascertained that the all-important despatch upon 
 which the question of peace or war turned had not been opened 
 or read by Lord Palmerston during the interval of two or three 
 days allowed for an answer. No answer at -all was therefore 
 given. The German Plenipotentiary remained in total ignorance 
 of the fact that any such proposals had been made, as, on the 
 other hand, the Danish Plenipotentiary does not appear to have 
 been clearly apprised of the extent of concessions made in 
 favour of his Government. Thus the messenger of actual war 
 was allowed to leave this country because an English Minister 
 did not read a letter. 
 
 April I5th. Lord Seymour called and said that the story 
 about Lord Palmerston and the Danish despatch was quite true. 
 
 April IQth. A suspension of hostilities has been agreed upon 
 at Genoa, and it does not expire until the 9th. Lord Hardwicke, 
 who commands the ' Vengeance,' is in the harbour ; he has taken 
 all the English residents on board, and is doing all he can to 
 arrange matters. The leader of the Republican party sent a 
 message to say he would order the batteries to fire upon the ship 
 and sink her, but Lord Hardwicke despised the threat and 
 remained. He landed at the peril of his life, a large mob being 
 on the shore, apparently ready to attack him and his boat's crew. 
 But on getting out of his boat he went straight up to them, and 
 seeing a woman advance, evidently in a great fury, to attack him, 
 
1849 DEBATE ON THE NAVIGATION BILL. 183 
 
 he caught and embraced her before all the mob, who cheered him 
 violently. 
 
 April 25th. The Navigation Bill passed the Commons by a 
 majority of 61. 
 
 May 2nd. News has arrived from India of the termination 
 of the war, the Sikhs, to the number of sixteen thousand men, 
 having laid down their arms without fighting to General Gilbert. 
 Forty-one pieces of camion have been given up, making in all 
 one hundred and sixty taken in this campaign. The state of 
 Europe continues unsatisfactory so far as Austria and Denmark 
 are concerned. The Russians have entered Transylvania, and 
 the Hungarians will probably be defeated. The King of Prussia 
 has refused the title of Emperor of Germany. There was a 
 meeting of Peers yesterday at Lord Stanley's, and I remained 
 with him afterwards to arrange the course of speakers on the 
 Navigation Bill. Lord Stanley wished Lord Brougham to speak 
 just before Lord Grey, intending to speak last himself. He said, 
 ' Brougham must poke him up, and I will knock him down.' 
 
 May 8th. The debate took place on the Navigation Bill in 
 the House of Lords. It was perfectly crammed in every corner, 
 many of the Peers finding it difficult to get seats. 
 
 May 9th. The Ministers have only a majority of ten, and we 
 had one of fourteen present, so they won it by proxies. They 
 looked very downcast and dispirited when the numbers were 
 announced, as it is the first time such an important question has 
 been decided by proxies. Not one of Lord Stanley's party was 
 absent, and he had sent them a message of thanks for their 
 support. 
 
 May \0th. The French expedition left Civita Vecchia on the 
 28th, and reached Rome on the 30th ult., expecting to be received 
 with open arms ; but instead of that it seems they got a good 
 beating, after several unsuccessful attempts to take the barricades, 
 which were defended by Poles ; the Romans contenting themselves 
 with looking on and applauding. The French were obliged to 
 retreat, and are in waiting for reinforcements. 
 
 May 15th. An insurrection has broken out in Canada. It 
 appears that the sanction of the Governor- General was given at 
 Montreal on the 25th to the Rebellion Losses Indemnity Bill. 
 
184 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1849 
 
 Directly it became known the rage of the populace knew no 
 bounds, immense mobs collected, drove the members out of the 
 House of Parliament, and set tire to the building, which with the 
 library, containing a large collection of valuable books, was 
 destroyed. Lord Elgin was pelted with eggs, arid his immediate 
 recall insisted upon. 
 
 May 18th. Nothing could be worse than the foreign news. 
 Germany is in the most dreadful state ; the Austrians are being 
 beaten on all sides by Bern and Dembinski ; there has been an 
 insurrection at Dresden, which was not put down until after 
 three days' hard fighting and great loss of life ; the Grand Duke 
 of Baden has been driven from his dominions ; and the Red 
 Republicans are triumphant at Rome. General Oudinot, who 
 commands the French army there, has made no further attempt 
 011 the city since his defeat. It is quite true that the Romans 
 took five hundred prisoners from the French. 
 
 June 5th. Lady Blessington died yesterday in Paris, of 
 apoplexy. The French army remains stationary before Rome, 
 though it amounts to twenty-five thousand men. The malarial 
 fever has begun to attack them. M. de Lesseps has left Rome, 
 fearing assassination. 
 
 June 14Jh. News has arrived that the French made an 
 attack upon Rome 011 June 3, took possession of the Villa 
 Pamphili Doria, but have not entered the town. Oudinot was 
 attacking the Porta del Popolo with his artillery. 
 
 June 18th. The French army has not gained an inch of 
 ground. General Oudinot is anxious to spare the town, which 
 must be destroyed if he uses his heavy artillery against it, but he 
 will probably find himself compelled to do so in the end, as the 
 honour of France is now involved. Macdonald, the sculptor, has 
 arrived in England. 'He used to be a violent Radical, but the 
 scenes he has witnessed have effected a great change in his 
 opinions. He says a grape-shot entered a window of the Vatican 
 and lodged in the wall within two or three feet of the Apollo 
 Belvidere. Some of the palaces have also been struck, but 
 without doing much mischief. 
 
 June 2Sth. The French have taken possession of a portion 
 of the outer walls of Rome, but have not yet entered the city. 
 
1849 THE FRENCH ENTER ROME. 185 
 
 They have simply effected a lodgment in the breach. The 
 Austrians took Ancona on June 18, but Venice has not yet 
 surrendered. 
 
 July 4th. The French are probably by this time in possession 
 of Rome, which offered to capitulate on the 30th, after two days' 
 hard fighting. It is said that Mazzini and his colleagues have 
 been forced to this by the people, who when the moment ap- 
 proached that they must risk their lives shrank from the danger. 
 The Princess Belgiojoso tried to encourage them to resistance, but in 
 vain. On the receipt of this intelligence in Paris, General Bedeau, 
 who had been sent to supersede General Oudinot, was recalled. 
 
 July 6th. Went to Lady Wilde's. 1 There was a French play 
 acted by the famous Doche. It was so improper that many of the 
 ladies slipped away. 
 
 July 7th. Lord Ward gave us his box to see Madame 
 Sontag's debut in * Linda di Chamouni.' It was most successful ; 
 her face is still lovely and her voice and execution perfect. 
 Lablache was present in a stage-box, and his expression of 
 rapture was indescribable. I never saw a face convey such 
 admiration and delight. He certainly is the best judge of singing 
 in the present day. 
 
 July Wi. Met Mario. I asked his opinion about 'Le Prophete,' 
 and he said it was not so fine as the * Huguenots,' but he could not 
 yet quite judge, as they did not know their parts ; but that there 
 was not a single piece in it to be compared to the grand duet in 
 the fourth act of the ' Huguenots,' which he thought the finest 
 that had ever been written. We went in the evening to a ball 
 at Cambridge House, where of course we found the elite of 
 society. I see that the Opera has been very nearly closed : the 
 orchestra, not having been paid, refused to play, but Mario 
 generously paid them out of his own pocket. 
 
 July 12th. The French entered Rome on July 3, and on the 
 same day Garibaldi left the city with his corps unmolested. It 
 is supposed he intends to throw himself into Calabria and excite 
 an insurrection there. 
 
 July 17 th. The Government were beaten yesterday on the 
 Irish Poor Law Bill in two divisions. 
 
 1 Nee Mademoiselle d'Estd. 
 
186 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. ISi'J 
 
 August 1st. We left on our annual journey to Achnacarry, 
 vid Carlisle, Greenock, and Corpach. 
 
 August 2Qth. The war in Hungary- is ended. Gorgey, to 
 whom Kossuth made over the dictatorship, made his submission 
 to the Russians on the 13th inst. The latter were under 
 Paskiewitch. Gorgey 's conduct must until further news excite 
 suspicion of treachery ; but he may have acted wisely for his 
 country, as the forces against him were overwhelming, and if, as 
 is said, there were differences amongst his own people, no other 
 course was open to him. 
 
 September 1st. We went to Ardverikie, a beautiful place on 
 Loch Laggan, hired by the Abercorns. 
 
 /September th. We went with Lady Abercorn, Lady Gran- 
 ville, and Lady Jocelyn to Cluiiy Castle, nearly fifteen miles 
 off, starting, with a fat coachman to drive us, about four in the 
 afternoon. Of course the horse knocked up before we arrived at 
 our destination, and we were obliged to get out and walk up the 
 hill from the lodge to the house. The woman in charge took us 
 for ladies' maids and valets, and when she found out who we 
 were, as she insisted upon knowing our names, I thought she 
 would have fainted. After seeing the castle we procured a horse 
 with some difficulty to take us home, but did not arrive till near 
 midnight. I believe Macpherson's ground at Cluiiy is supposed 
 to be the best for grouse in Scotland. 
 
 Sej)tember 6th. Returned to Achnacarry. At Mulcomer 
 Bridge we very nearly backed over the precipice, as the horse 
 jibbed. 
 
 S&plember IQth. Venice is surrounded, and the Austrians 
 entered it on the 28th ult. 
 
 September 22nd. I had been out deer-stalking, and as I was 
 returning home alone, and by bright moonlight, I saw a hind on 
 the hill a little above the road and shot her, but just as I was 
 stooping over her with a knife, she sprang up and struck at me 
 with one of her fore feet, hitting me in the forehead just between 
 the eyes. The blow was so violent that it knocked me down and 
 stunned me for a short time, and on recovering my senses I found 
 I was quite blind, but this was only from the blood. Her hoof 
 had cut a deep gash in my forehead and along my nose. The 
 
1849 EXECUTION OF THE MANNINGS. 187 
 
 animal was lying quite dead by my side. I walked to the house, 
 which was not far off, and the maid who opened the door was so 
 frightened at my appearance that she fainted forthwith. This 
 laid me up for a week, but with no further consequences. 
 
 October 24:th. We left Achnacarry. Our party had been 
 composed of the Jocelyns, Calcrafts, Charteris, Herberts, Lord 
 Cardigan, &c. 
 
 November 8th. We went to Chilling-ham Castle, where Mr. 
 Burrell, a clergyman, told us the story of a little girl at his school 
 who was asked what the outward visible sign in baptism was, 
 to which she replied, * The baby.' Also Lady Goodricke's little 
 daughter, who, seeing her mother was very uncomfortable before 
 the birth of her children, said she was ' determined to have all 
 her children before she married, and enjoy herself afterwards.' 
 
 November \kth. The Mannings have been executed for the 
 murder of O'Connor. She kept up her character to the last, 
 and showed the most extraordinary nerve ever possessed by a 
 woman. He confessed having assisted, though he affirmed that 
 she fired the shot, and had originated and planned the whole 
 crime. She, on the other hand, persisted in affirming her 
 innocence, and died with perfect composure, thinking apparently 
 of nothing but of exhibiting her beautiful figure to the best 
 advantage. Her dress was very handsome, being of black satin, 
 with a lace canesou, and a black veil over her head. The 
 attendants wished her to put on a cloak, but the proposal 
 annoyed her so much that they did not press it. She had been 
 lady's maid to the Duchess of Sutherland. After having mur- 
 dered O'Connor, they buried him under the hearthstone, and ate 
 their supper upon the spot for several days after. 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord M. 
 
 Grosvenor Gate : November 21. 1849. 
 
 My dear Lord, It is most vexatious that we should have missed 
 each other, as there was no one with whom I wished more to confer 
 than yourself, having every confidence in your intelligence and firm- 
 ness, and should long ago have written to you on many affairs had I not 
 found it impossible to write on subjects so complicated. 
 
 I probably leave town to-morrow, and have no prospect of being 
 
188 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1849 
 
 here again on December 2, as on the 5th I have a Bucks meeting, 
 which in the present awkward condition of affairs I must attend. 
 
 The state of our Press is deplorable. I approve of your suggestion 
 respecting the ' Post,' but it would be as well, I think, previously to 
 communicate with Knox, with whom I only some months ago had a 
 casual conversation on the subject in the hall of the Carlton. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 B. DISRAELI. 
 
 December llth. We went to Savernake, where there was a 
 large party. 
 
 December 13th. A sad accident happened this afternoon to 
 one of Lord Bruce's keepers, who blew off two fingers of his 
 right hand in loading Lord Jocelyn's gun. Fortunately, the 
 day's sport being nearly over, we were not more than a hundred 
 yards from the house, and by a most lucky chance the family 
 doctor was there, having come to see one of the servants, and 
 had his surgical instruments, so that the poor man had immediate 
 assistance, and his fingers were amputated in a few minutes. 
 All the gentlemen stood round to witness the operation and 
 encourage the man, who showed great pluck. A curious incident 
 occurred, proving how uncertain the action of such sights is upon 
 our nerves. Every one of us bore the sight pretty calmly but 
 Lord Raglan, who had seen a hundred battles, and who nearly 
 fainted away, and was obliged to retire. Yet in action he was 
 known to be remarkable for his unmoved calmness and sang 
 froid. l 
 
 1 Marshal St. Arnand said : ' C'est (oujours le meme calme qui ne le quitte 
 jamais.' 
 
1850 OPPOSITION TO THE CORN LAWS. 189 
 
 1850 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord M. 
 
 Hughenden Manor : Jan. 1, 1850. 
 
 My dear Lord, My absence at Quarter Sessions prevented my 
 receiving your very kind letter until to-day. I am very sorry indeed 
 that it is not in my power to have the pleasure of becoming your 
 guest, as you propose, but I have engagements at home from which I 
 cannot extricate myself. 
 
 Sir Kobert's letter is pompous and trite. There is really nothing 
 proposed in it which might not have been done with equal propriety 
 if the Corn Laws had not been repealed ; but he has succeeded in 
 conveying an impression that his estate is in bad condition, and that 
 he is conscious he has led his friends into a hopeless scrape. 
 
 I think Sidney Herbert is in a pretty scrape ; 35,000 needlewomen 
 to be deported at 15Z. a-piece (his own estimate) would take upwards 
 of 600,OOOZ. He should have subscribed at least one year's income 
 as an example, and if he succeeds in his object, which is impossible, 
 he will do no good. 
 
 I am sure you will make a capital speech at Salisbury, but I wish 
 the movement was not merely agricultural. There are the other great 
 interests (in buckram) that your friend Gr. F. Young tallied so much 
 of. Why does not Limehouse at least stir ? 
 
 Ever yours faithfully, 
 
 D. 
 
 P.S. Let nothing prevent you looking at the last article in 
 ' Blackwood ' on high farming in Scotland. 
 
 Lord Stanley to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : Jan. 2, 1850. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I omitted some time ago to thank you for 
 your list of Peers. I have noted down a few to whom I think for 
 various reasons it would be unnecessary for me to write, and we 
 never, I believe, send circulars to the Bishops. I have also put down 
 three names which appear to me to be omissions from your list. Is 
 Dunsany yet elected ? If he is, he should be written to. Take care 
 to have it as generally known as possible that Eedesdale is to be our 
 candidate l whenever old Shaftesbury retires, which I think he will 
 * As Chaii-man of Committees. 
 
190 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1850 
 
 do this session, though probably not at the very commencement; 
 still we ought to be prepared for anything that may happen. 
 
 Love to my lady. I am very glad to hear you are all pleased with 
 what you see and hear of Ossulston's choice. 
 
 Yours very sincerely, 
 
 STANLEY. 
 
 January 4^. Heron Court. I went to-day to a Protec- 
 tionist meeting at Salisbury, where I had to propose a resolution 
 and make a speech. 
 
 Mr. Sidney Herbert to Lord M. 
 
 Wilton : Jan. 6, 1850. 
 
 My dear Fitzharris, I have been long enough in public life to 
 know how often public duty impels a course which is very painful to 
 private friendship, and I confess I am far more grieved on public than 
 on private grounds at the line taken during the last months by yourself 
 and your friends. Farmers and landlords were beginning to settle 
 down and adjust themselves to the new state of things when that un- 
 fortunate delusion that Protection can be restored has come to disturb 
 and unsettle everything. In the face of the thriving and daily im- 
 proving state of all classes, except the one which has to go through 
 the process, never very pleasant, of giving up a pecuniary advantage 
 which they enjoyed at the expense of the rest, it is hopeless to attempt 
 the re-imposition of the Corn Laws. If it were possible by any com- 
 bination of circumstances to do so, even for a time, I believe such 
 success would be fatal to the order to which you and I, in our different 
 degrees, belong. 
 
 However, there is little use in our discussing the point. I know 
 enough of you and those with whom you are acting to do you the 
 justice to believe (what others will not) that you are acting upon a 
 strong conviction, that the course you advocate would benefit all classes 
 of the community as well as your own, and that you would not move 
 a finger for it if you did not think so. 
 
 I wish I could foresee with any confidence the time when this fiscal 
 question shall be no bar to our co-operation on social and political 
 matters which are far more important to the vitality of this country. 
 Believe me, my dear Fitzharris, 
 
 Most affectionately yours, 
 
 SIDNEY HERBERT. 
 
isoo DISRAELI'S MOTION ON TAXATION. 191 
 
 January \kth to February 19th. I was laid up and in con- 
 siderable danger from an attack of rheumatic fever. Lord Cante- 
 lupe and Mr. Pelham were seized at the same time with the 
 same complaint, and both died. The London doctors had treated 
 them with acids, principally lemon juice, Avhilst my country 
 practitioner had given me calomel and strong alkalis two dia- 
 metrically opposite systems of treatment. 
 
 February 22nd. The division upon Disraeli's motion upon 
 taxation took place this morning, and the Government had only 
 a majority of 21. The Ministers looked rather annoyed, for 
 though it was not for a return to Protection, it was a move in 
 that direction, and is considered so by all parties. Sir Robert 
 Peel and Sir James Graham both spoke and voted against us. 
 When th'3 former got up and expressed great sympathy for the 
 sufferings of the agriculturists, Colonel Sibthorp lifted up both 
 his hands in a mock-tragic manner, exclaiming, ' Oh dear ! oh 
 dear ! ' which set the whole House into a roar of laughter. Peel, 
 instead of paying no attention to the interruption, turned to 
 Colonel Sibthorp and gave him some explanation, adding, he 
 hoped he believed him, to which Sibthorp replied, ' I cjin't say I 
 do.' A good many Peelites voted for us. There was a great row 
 at a Protectionist meeting at Dorchester. The mob attacked the 
 farmers, pelting them with stones ; they bore it for some time, 
 and then made a charge upon the mob with their hunting-whips 
 and dispersed them. 
 
 March 3rd. The Government have introduced a bill for 
 lowering the franchise in Ireland, which is of course only a pre- 
 lude to a similar measure in England. 
 
 April 16th. In Paris. On arriving I wrote to the President, 
 who asked me to breakfast the next morning at the Elysee. He 
 was more than cordial, and began by reminding me that he had 
 always told me in his darkest days he would some day govern 
 France. ' I told you so,' said he, ' when you came to visit me in my 
 prison at Ham, and you and every one thought I was mad. But 
 although I am here I know nobody ; the friends I have I don't 
 know, and they don't know me, even by sight. Although a 
 Frenchman, not fifty of them had ever seen me when I came over 
 from England. I have tried to consolidate all political parties, 
 
192 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1850 
 
 but I can conciliate none ; there is now a conspiracy to seize me 
 and send me to Vincennes, and General Changarnier and Thiers 
 are at its head. The Chamber is unmanageable. I stand per- 
 fectly alone, but the army and the people are with me, and I 
 don't despair. Yet every day may see me a prisoner. Your 
 Ambassador, Lord Normanby, is intriguing against me, although 
 his chief, Lord Palmerston, and some of your Cabinet Ministers are 
 in my favour. I believe Lord Normanby carries on a private cor- 
 respondence with Prince Albert to my detriment. V After this he 
 invited me to drive with him at St. Cloud and see the haras, 
 which I did. Among the horses was a splendid dark chestnut, 
 which the stud groom, an Englishman, led out to show me. The 
 President, after admiring him much, ordered the man to send him 
 to his stables at Paris. ' I can't do that, Sir,' he replied, ' the 
 horse belongs to the Republic.' As we were sitting in the phaeton 
 Louis Napoleon jogged my arm and observed, * You see my posi- 
 tion; it is time to put an end to it.' Driving home, he made no 
 secret of his intention of being beforehand with his enemies, and 
 there was no mistaking the means he would take to be so. 
 
 April 21 st. I gave a dinner to Lord Normanby and a few 
 friends at Philippe's cafe. I found his lordship knew of my 
 breakfast with the President, and could not conceal his curiosity 
 and displeasure, which was foolish and unwarrantable, as I had 
 never taken part in foreign politics, nor even held any office. He 
 showed his personal antipathy to the Prince President in a very 
 undiplomatic way, foretelling his impending fall. He said his first 
 speech was a failure, and was made with a strong German accent, 
 but long as I have known him I never perceived he had one. It 
 is evident Lord Normaiiby and his chief, Lord Palmerston, are at 
 variance in their policy, and the former is with Lord Aberdeen, 
 whose bete noire is Louis Napoleon. After this the President 
 invited me to dinner, and after it was over took me into an inner 
 room where we had a long conversation. The rest of the com 
 pany, which consisted of Lord Normanby, Lord Ailesbury, Lord 
 Clanricarde, and Lord Brougham, came to take leave of the 
 President, as it was getting late. I also got up to go, but he 
 stopped me, asking me to remain to finish our conversation. It 
 was chiefly relating to the difficulties he was in. This annoyed 
 
1850 CABRERA* 193 
 
 Lord Normanby exceedingly, and was considered important enough 
 for some one to write home that Lord Normanby was much cha- 
 grined at not knowing what the subject of our conversation had 
 been. He must have guessed that it related to his treacherous 
 hostility. Left Paris. 
 
 April 26th. Dined with the Eglintons, where I met General 
 Cabrera, to whom I was introduced. He is very much what I 
 expected, a little dark man, with a very intelligent countenance, 
 and a lively, energetic manner. He is not handsome, but his eyes 
 are so bright and expressive, and his whole appearance so indica- 
 tive of energy, cleverness, and courage, it is impossible to think 
 him ugly. He speaks horrid French, and I had great difficulty in 
 understanding him. We sent him a ticket for our box at the 
 Opera next day, and he came to it. I was much amused at hear- 
 ing Lady Suffield, who did not know him, but found out he was a 
 Spaniard, ask him whether there was any truth in the report that 
 Cabrera was to marry Miss Richards, the great heiress. He 
 laughed and answered, ' Yo soy Cabrera,' but did not deny the 
 fact, which I believe to be correct. Another lady asked Cabrera, 
 not knowing him, whether the report of his marriage with Miss 
 Richards was true, and after giving him a long dissertation on 
 the lady's fortune, she added she thought it a great pity that Miss 
 Richards should marry a man like Cabrera, who had not a far- 
 thing in his pocket and nothing but bullets in his head. Cabrera 
 laughed and said, ' I whom you are speaking to am that unfor- 
 tunate individual.' Then he revenged himself by asking her if 
 she was not a relation of Parodi, who was singing at the time. 
 
 April \ltli. The French Ambassador has been recalled in 
 consequence of Lord Palmerston's conduct on the Greek question. 
 It had been agreed upon in London in the event of the conditions 
 approved by M. Gros being rejected by Mr. Wyse, our Minister at 
 Athens, that the blockade should not be resumed without special 
 orders from England. Lord Palmerston neglected to send instruc- 
 tions to that effect, and Mr. Wyse having received no orders, and 
 not agreeing to M. Gros' proposals, acted upon his former instruc- 
 tions and resumed the blockade. Upon which the King consented 
 to the terms proposed by us. This has very much offended the 
 French, who talk of going to war with us, 
 
 
 
194 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. I8o0 
 
 June 7th. Went to Lady Grey's party. Mr. Bernal Osborne 
 was there, and gave a very amusing account of the Nepaulese 
 Ambassador, whom he knew in India, having come to Calcutta to 
 explain his reasons for having shot the Prime Minister of the King 
 of Nepaul. Mr. Bernal Osborne says he had committed a great 
 number of murders, though he looks very young and gentle. 
 
 Lord Stanley to Lord M. 
 
 St. James's Square : June 16, 1850. 
 
 Dear Malmesbury, I have just seen Aberdeen, and we have gone 
 over your lis.ts [re Kedesdale's election] together. He thinks you have 
 taken by no means a sanguine view, as far as the names we looked over 
 are concerned. Of the ten Peelites whom you give to the Government, 
 he expects Ellesmere and Wharncliffe to vote with us, De Grey to stay 
 away, Ashburton, Bristol, and Cowley to be with them, and Athole, 
 Churchill, Denbigh, and the Bishop of Winchester he knows nothing 
 about. Of the twelve doubtful Peelites, he expects we shall have 
 Bathurst, Clare, and Howe ; Seaton and Shaftesbury are against us ; 
 Gough, Hardinge, Wellington, arid Bipon will stay away ; he knows 
 nothing of Hertford, Northumberland, and Winchester. You may add 
 to the Whigs who will not vote, Lord Lovat. He thinks Manners will 
 follow him (Aberdeen). He asked me, and I could not tell him how 
 you had reckoned Cawdor. 
 
 Yours ever, 
 
 STANLEY. 
 
 June VI tli. Lord Stanley made a great speech on the affairs of 
 Greece in the House of Lords. He moved a resolution condemn- 
 ing Lord Palmerston, which was carried by a majority of 37 in a 
 very full House. The Peeresses' Gallery was quite full, several 
 ladies sitting on the floor, and many were obliged to return home 
 for want of room. The evening began by an attack on the 
 Prussian Minister, Count Bunsen, who was seated in the Ladies' 
 Gallery, and not in the part appointed for Ambassadors. Lord 
 Brougham had previously gone into the gallery with Lady 
 Melbourne and Lady Newport, and told Bunsen he had no right 
 to be there. Bunsen refused to give up his place, upon which 
 Lord Brougham descended to the House and called attention to 
 * a stranger being in the Peeresses' Gallery,' saying, ' If he does 
 
1850 ACCIDENT TO SIR ROBERT PEEL. 195 
 
 not come down I shall move your lordships to enforce the order 
 of the House. It is the more intolerable as he has a place assigned 
 to him in another part, and he is now keeping the room of two l 
 peeresses.' This was received with shouts of laughter and cheers ; 
 but Bunsen. refused to move till Lord Brougham sent Sir Augustus 
 Clifford, Usher of the Black Rod, to him, when he got into a fury 
 and left the House, taking his wife and daughter with him. Lord 
 Stanley then got up and made a magnificent and extremely amus- 
 ing speech, which lasted from five till nearly eight, I went after 
 wards to Lady Waldegrave's, and there saw Madame Yan 
 Weyer, who had already heard of Lord Brougham's attack oil 
 Bunsen, and was perfectly wild at the insult offered to a Minister. 
 I told her I did not approve of the way Lord Brougham had 
 behaved, but that Bunsen had no right to sit in the Peeresses' 
 Gallery. She would not agree to this, but if she tried herself she 
 would find I am right. 
 
 June 20th. Went to the Drawing Room, which was more 
 crowded than anything I had ever seen, and a disgraceful scene 
 the ladies screaming and fainting, their gowns torn into shreds 
 by the spurs, and their arms scratched by the epaulettes of the 
 men. 
 
 June 27th. The Queen was attacked this evening as she was 
 coming out of Cambridge House, by a man, who struck her on 
 the head with a cane. Her Majesty showed her usual courage, 
 amd went in the evening to the Opera. When she arrived, in 
 the middle of the skating scene in the * Prophete,' the audience rose 
 and cheered her for full five minutes, after which ' God Save the 
 Queen ' was sung by the Italian artists. 
 
 June 29th. I heard this afternoon that Sir Robert Peel had 
 been thrown from his horse on Constitution Hill, and was very 
 much hurt. 
 
 June 30th. Several people called on their way from Sir 
 Robert Peel's. The accounts of him are bad. 
 
 July 1st. Sir Robert Peel is worse to-day. He suffers 
 great pain, and the doctors say he is in a very precarious state. 
 
 July 2nd. The doctors give hardly any hope of Sir Robert 
 Peel's recovery. He suffers dreadful pain, but is conscious. 
 1 Bunsen was a very stout man. 
 
 o 2 
 
196 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18-30 
 
 Lady Peel is so distracted that the doctors will not allow her 
 to go into his room. She came in once, but when Sir Robert saw 
 the state she was in he went into convulsions, and since then she 
 has not been permitted to go near him. 
 
 July 3rd. Sir Robert Peel died this morning. His wife saw 
 him before his death, having been allowed to go to his bedside 
 as soon as the case was quite hopeless. He took the Sacrament, 
 which was administered to him by the Bishop of Gibraltar, all 
 his family being present. The post-mortem examination in the 
 case of Sir Robert Peel proved that the fifth rib on the left side 
 had been fractured and pressed upon the lungs, which must have 
 produced intolerable agony. The accounts of the accident 
 differ very much. Some say he was seen reeling in his saddle 
 for a moment before he fell, and that it was through dropping 
 the reins that the horse swerved. The general opinion is that 
 his horse, which was a young one, started at being passed by 
 Miss Ellice's groom, who was riding a very spirited animal. The 
 accident was seen by several people, but all give different 
 accounts ; the majority think he was simply thrown by the 
 horse starting ; and that is the most probable story. We went 
 to the French play with the Ossulstons to hear Rachel in Bajazet. 
 She acts very finely, but her voice has grown like that of a man, 
 and she has lost all pretensions to good looks. Her countenance 
 has become so diabolical and unfeminine that it is quite dis- 
 agreeable to look at her. 
 
 July 9th, The Duke of Cambridge died last night. The 
 Duchess of Gloucester arrived a short time before he expired, 
 and a messenger was sent to Prince Albert to come immediately 
 to the Duchess of Cambridge. It is a singular accident and 
 coincidence that the J)uke, Sir Robert Peel, and Lord Cantelupe 
 were all invited and engaged to dine yesterday with the Duke 
 and Duchess of Norfolk. But considering the length of time 
 that invitations are sent before the day appointed for dinners, 
 there must be many cases of the kind. 
 
 August I2tk. Left London for Achnacarry, rid Carlisle 
 and Corpach. After remaining there till October 27, we took 
 a steamer for Glasgow, whence to Chillingham Castle. 
 
 November 15th. Heron Court. Lord Clanwilliam and Lord 
 
18-30 MRS. NORTON AND SIR E. LANDSEER. 197 
 
 Stanley arrived. The two being the quickest men I know, 
 amused us much by chaffing one another, and I think on the 
 whole Lord Clanwilliam had the best of it. They both of them 
 enjoyed the wild-fowl shooting very much, and were as eager as 
 two boys. 
 
 Lord Eglinton to Lord M. 
 
 Eglinton Castle : November 24, 1850. 
 My dear M., 
 
 We had a reviving meeting of Protectionists here this week, and, as 
 we were all of one way of thinking, the arguments used were most 
 convincing. There is the best possible feeling among all the gentle- 
 men of our party, and no desire to rush to extremities, or drive us to 
 a certain defeat ; but in many parts of Scotland, as in England, the 
 farmers think us too lukewarm, and accuse the landlords of deserting 
 them. I think we must fight about something next session, and 
 we shall have plenty of scope for it if we oppose the income tax, 
 and stand out for equalisation of local taxes. As to the Papal 
 Aggression, the country seems to be very like my late Protectionist 
 party. 
 
 Very sincerely yours, 
 
 EGLINTON AND WINTON. 
 
 November 26th. I hear Mrs. Norton and Sir Edwin 
 Landseer have quarrelled. They have been great friends for 
 the last two years, and she encouraged his admiration to get 
 his drawings and instructions in painting. He is very angry 
 and spiteful about her. 
 
 December 1st. Sir William Stanley, whom I saw at Paris, 
 is now hopelessly deranged. It is supposed it was occasioned by 
 a fall he had in the riding school at Paris. 
 
 Lord Stanley to Lord M. 
 
 Lathom House : December 2, 1850. 
 
 Dear Malmesbury, . . . Disraeli writes me word that he has a 
 great financial scheme which he is concocting with Herries, and which 
 he wishes to talk over with me. I shall probably go up to town for a 
 day or two early next month to discuss it with him ; but until I have 
 done so I hardly know what line it would be best to hold, and am not 
 fond of opening our game too soorj. through the medium of the papers, 
 
198 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1850 
 
 even if we were quite resolved upon it. My own impression is that we 
 must resist the income tax, and probably fight for a relaxation of the 
 monetary laws and an amendment of the poor law. I am myself 
 very much inclined in favour of your crotchet, if you can work it out. 1 
 On the Popery question I quite agree with you that we should rather 
 follow the stream, which is running quite strong enough, than attempt 
 to take a lead of our own. I think the Government are in a most 
 awkward dilemma, from which they will find it very difficult to escape ; 
 and the more rope you give them the more chance there is of their 
 hanging themselves at one end or the other. . . . 
 
 We had a good day while Clanwilliam was with us in Bickerstaffe 
 Wood five guns, 560 head ; and another after he left us, in the Trap 
 four guns, 471. My scores were 126 and 153. We expect a great 
 rabbit day on Friday, for which Jocelyn will come in, but it is the 
 worst year for woodcocks that I ever remember. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 STANLEY. 
 
 1851 
 
 January 1st. Lady Tankerville informed me that Lady 
 Olivia Ossulston was confined of a son, an event long wished for 
 in our family. 
 
 January \2th. The Prince President has dismissed Chan- 
 garnier from the command of the army in Paris, and all the 
 Ministers have resigned. All the principal men have been 
 summoned to the Ely see, and all join in disapproving of the step, 
 but the President remains firm. It is supposed it will end in 
 some compromise, but up to this moment no fresh Government 
 has been formed. The President declares he has a right to 
 dismiss any officer from his command, and will preserve his 
 privileges inviolate. ' Regarding his dotation, the President says 
 the Assembly can do as they please, as he can shut himself up in 
 one room in the Elysee and turn off his servants, but he will not 
 submit to be deprived of the privileges of his office. I admire 
 his firmness, and trust he will not allow himself to be persuaded 
 to give in, for if he does he will lose greatly in the public estima- 
 
 1 To make personal property pay its share of the Poor Rate like the Income 
 Tax as a principle. 
 
1851 RESIGNATION OF THE FRENCH MINISTRY. 199 
 
 tion. At present the country is with him, and it is evident the 
 hostility of the Chamber is solely occasioned by the ambition of 
 the different parties in it, each of whom expected him to play 
 into their hands, and finding him honest and determined to do 
 what he thinks right towards his country, have now coalesced to 
 overthrow him. The Moderates had better take care what they 
 do or they will drive him into the arms of the ultra- Republican 
 party. As to Changarnier, 1 he is decidedly hostile to the Presi- 
 dent and the Republican party, and aims at being Dictator. He 
 is a fine old soldier, and distinguished himself greatly in Africa, 
 but his appearance is against him. He dresses like an old dandy, 
 with a wig and very tight stays, and indulges in a great affecta- 
 tion of youth and physical activity which he does not possess. 
 
 January 17th. I hear that Mr. Roebuck wrote a letter to 
 Lord Brougham on the subject of the paragraph respecting Lady 
 Hastings, which some injudicious friends of hers had put in the 
 newspapers, and Lord Brougham's answer was very characteristic. 
 He told Lady Hastings she had better touch thirty Italians than 
 one newspaper. 
 
 January 21st. The new French Government have been 
 defeated on a vote of confidence by a majority of 415 votes to 
 286. They immediately tendered their resignations, which the 
 President refused to accept. M. Thiers sent to him to say that 
 the vote was not directed against his Government, but against his 
 Ministers, and that if he composed a new Cabinet, even taken 
 from among the members of the minority, Thiers would support 
 him, and, subject to this, his dotation would be voted without the 
 least difficulty. The President thanked them, but, seeing no 
 reason to change his Ministers, could not avail himself of their 
 suggestions and offers. 
 
 January 22nd. The President has accepted the resignation 
 of his Ministers, and it is said a new Cabinet will be constructed 
 out of the minority. Many members threaten to send Louis 
 Napoleon to Yincennes. 
 
 February 2nd. Dined with Lord Stanley, Lord Redesdale, 
 
 1 Changarnier continued to oppose the Emperor during his prosperity, but alter 
 his defeats in 1870 he joined his army, offering him the aid of his sword, and he 
 was taken prisoner at the capitulation of Metz. 
 
200 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1851 
 
 Mr. Disraeli, and Mr. Herries, and sat talking politics till one in 
 the morning. 
 
 February 3rd. Went to the christening of my little nephew, 1 
 Charley Bennet, for whom I was one of the godfathers. 
 
 February ^th. Parliament opened, and Lord Effingham 
 moved the Address in the House of Lords. Lord Stanley spoke 
 well, as usual, and raised a great laugh by saying, in allusion to 
 the restoration of tranquillity in Europe, ' that the increased 
 tranquillity in Europe was to be attributed to the increased 
 inactivity of the Foreign Secretary.' Lord Lansdowne answered 
 him, and after him Lord Roden got up, which was the signal for 
 a general clearance of the galleries by the ladies. Lord Stanley 
 proposed Lord Redesdale for the office of Chairman of Com- 
 mittees, in the room of Lord Shaftesbury, deceased, and he was 
 elected unanimously, as there was no other Peer who came within 
 any distance of him for that office. One of the ladies praised 
 Lord Stanley for having made an eloquent, and at the same time 
 a very temperate, speech. He started, and exclaimed, ' Good 
 God ! temperate ! I hope I didn't make a milk-and-water one.' 
 Considerable fears were entertained about the solidity of the 
 Crystal Palace, and some M.P. proposed to march a regiment of 
 soldiers through the galleries to test it, a singular idea under the 
 circumstances. Lord Willoughby has taken a house in London 
 during three months of the Exhibition for his tenants, without 
 telling Lady Willoughby, who learned it first from the news- 
 papers, and consoled herself for the outlay by saying, * Well, it 
 will neither improve their taste nor their morals.' Grisi was at 
 Brighton, where she has lately been staying, walking on the cliff 
 and escorted by two black fiddlers and two nurses, one carrying 
 the last baby and the other the one before. When she arrived 
 first she was so weak that the fiddlers had to support her, one on 
 each side ; but now she stumps away on her heels and looks as 
 well as ever. Mario is at St. Petersburg. There never was 
 such an adoration as she has for him. 
 
 February 9th. The Government is supposed to be in a mess 
 about their bill against Popery, and also anxious about the con- 
 tinuance of the low prices, which affect their pockets as well as 
 He died in India in 1880, 
 
1851 CONSERVATIVE PARTY TACTICS. 201 
 
 ours. They don't, however, dare to do anything for the relief of 
 agriculture, though they would probably be glad that we should 
 do so, and many people think they would willingly go out for a 
 time and leave us the odium and trouble of arranging these two 
 matters. 
 
 Lord Stanley to Lord M. 
 
 St. James's Square : Feb. 15, 1851. 
 
 My dear Mahnesbury, You might have been very sure that I 
 would not have given any notice on your behalf without your autho- 
 rity ; and you rightly conjecture that the notice I actually did give was 
 for the presentation of Hardwicke's petition. It was merely an error 
 of the newspapers. I have told Nelson to have a London Whip, and 
 to send word to Exeter, Richmond, Winchilsea, &c., that such a debate 
 is coming on, but without urging their attendance. I think we had 
 better not interfere by any specific resolution with the battle now 
 raging in the Commons. Next week they will have the Income Tax, 
 on which, I think, we may contrive to take a division (on Friday), and 
 perhaps beat them, without pledging ourselves to its absolute and im- 
 mediate repeal, against which there might be valid objections raised 
 from the state of the Revenue. Disraeli's speech or indeed speeches 
 were most masterly. Graham was very bitter, but very telling. It 
 is clear we have nothing to hope for from the leading Peelites but 
 opposition. Our division was very good, but not as good as it looked, 
 for we had several with us on whose general support we certainly could 
 not count. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 STANLEY. 
 
 February \th. The House of Lords has done nothing lately ; 
 in the Commons the adjourned debate on the Ecclesiastical Titles 
 Bill was resumed on Monday. On Tuesday Disraeli moved * That 
 the severe distress existing in the United Kingdom among that 
 important class of her Majesty's subjects, the owners and occupiers 
 of land, and which is justly lamented in her Majesty's Speech from 
 the Throne, renders it the duty of the Government to introduce 
 without delay such measures as may be most effectual for the relief 
 thereof.' On Wednesday the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill was again 
 discussed and the debate adjourned. On Thursday the debate on 
 Pjsraeli's motion was resumed, and the House divided upon it, 
 
202 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1851 
 
 when the numbers were 267 for the motion, and 281 against, 
 giving the Ministry only a majority of fourteen. The Ecclesias- 
 tical Titles Bill was divided upon, when 395 voted for, and 63 
 against, its introduction. 
 
 February 17 th. Went to London for the Agricultural debate 
 to-morrow, and spoke on the subject. Lord Stanley was much 
 pleased and amused. Returned to Heron Court on the 20th. At 
 Christchurch Petty Sessions a boy was brought up to give evidence 
 in a poaching case. As there were great doubts whether he under- 
 stood the nature of an oath, my brother undertook to cross-ex- 
 amine him. He inquired, ' Are you aware of the meaning of an 
 oath 1 ' The boy scratched his head with a puzzled look and then 
 said, ' Ees.' ' And you know in whose presence you stand 1 ' con- 
 tinued my brother. The boy looked up and caught sight of Colonel 
 Cameron, who was seated wrapped up in a cloak, with his hair 
 standing on end, and looked quite the most awful person in the 
 room. After a moment's consideration the boy again answered 
 1 Ees.' ' You are then aware of the solemnity of the act you are 
 going to perform, and the danger of swearing falsely ?' * Ees,' he 
 answered. The oath was then administered, and the boy began 
 to tell the most awful lies, which was pointed out to Mr. Berkeley, 
 with the remark that he was committing perjury. c No,' replied 
 Mr. Berkeley, 'fortunately he did not do so, for he swore by 
 Colonel Cameron.' 
 
 February 1\st. Mr. Berkeley amused us very much this 
 morning by telling us that Lady Stuart de Rothesay, when at 
 Highcliffe, passed her time in throwing stones and handfuls of 
 gravel over the cliff to try and stop it up and preserve it from 
 the encroachments of the sea. When he was walking about 
 there one day he saw the gardeners very busy collecting the 
 sweepings of the walks, consisting of gravel and dead leaves. He 
 asked them what they were going to do with them, and they 
 answered that they were going to throw them over the cliff by 
 Lady Stuart's orders for the above-mentioned purpose. Highcliffe 
 is a most beautiful house, built by the late Lord Stuart de 
 Rothesay, a part of it consisting of an old abbey brought from 
 Caen ; but it stands so near the edge of the cliff, which is falling 
 
lb')l ATTEMPTED MINISTERIAL RECONSTRUCTION. 203 
 
 daily, that if the destruction is not stopped it cannot last above 
 twenty years. 1 
 
 1- V, //</ \L\Lnd. Lord John Russell moved yesterday that 
 the Committee of Ways and Means should be postponed until next 
 Monday, when he would state his reasons for the request, and 
 also the course he intended to take. There was a Cabinet Council 
 yesterday morning, after which Lord John went to the Queen. 
 It is not yet known what passed, but the postponement of the 
 Budget is a tolerably clear indication. 
 
 February 23rd. Heard from Lady Tankerville, who said the 
 Government was out. There were many unhappy faces and some 
 happy ones at Lady Granville's party. My brother writes that 
 the Queen has sent for Lord Aberdeen. Lord and Lady Stanley 
 dined at the Palace on Friday, having been asked some days before. 
 It must have been rather awkward both for them and the Queen. 
 
 February 2th. Lord John Russell and Lord Lansdowne had 
 iiiteviews on Saturday morning with the Queen. Immediately 
 after their departure she sent for Lord Stanley, who arrived at 
 the Palace at one o'clock and remained in close conference with 
 her for an hour. When he reached his house in St. James's Square 
 he found a second letter awaiting him from the Queen, who had 
 written to him again after he left the Palace. At five o'clock 
 Prince Albert wrote to Lord Aberdeen, who, being absent from 
 town, only went to the Palace at nine o'clock and remained till 
 twelve in consultation with the Queen. At six o'clock Lord John 
 Russell had a second interview with the Queen, and remained 
 more than two hours. Sir James Graham visited Lord Aberdeen 
 yesterday, and Graham and Aberdeen visited Lord John Russell 
 in the morning, having an interview at a later period of the day 
 with Mr. Disraeli and Lord Stanley. 
 
 Lord Canning to Lord M. 
 
 Grosvenor Square : Feb. 24, 1851. 
 
 My dear M., I did not know until Lord Tankerville told it me last 
 night that you were out of civilized society, or I would have written 
 on Saturday. 
 
 1 Lady Waterford has saved it by some extensive and expensive works on the 
 cliff. 
 
204 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18-31 
 
 To begin at the beginning, Lord John's announcement on Friday 
 was at first misinterpreted by most of those who were not in the secret. 
 We thought that, as usual, we were to be treated to many budgets, and 
 that the respite till Monday was asked for the purpose of preparing the 
 second edition. But the truth was known in the course of the evening ; 
 and it is a fact that Lord John decided on resignation in the morning 
 before he summoned the Cabinet ; from which, when it did meet, Lords 
 Lansdowne and Carlisle were absent the one with gout at Bowood, 
 the other in the City on business ; and before either of them knew they 
 were out, Lord John had been to the Queen. Minto, too, who is sick 
 in bed, was kept in the dark. 
 
 There was some division amongst them as to the necessity, or even 
 propriety, of going out. Carlisle does not disguise from his friends that 
 he saw no need of doing so ; and others share his opinion. Lord Lans- 
 downe, I believe, is glad to be quit of office on any terms. 
 
 As to the cause, we shall hear Lord John's motives this evening. I 
 suppose the minority on Locke King's motion will be the ostensible 
 reason ; but of course the bad reception of the Budget was a more 
 cogent one. I have reason to think, however, that what nettled Lord 
 John most was the cold reception given to his promise of dealing with 
 the Franchise next session, which did not prevent some even of his own 
 people from voting against him. 
 
 On Saturday afternoon Stanley was sent for. "What passed you 
 will know, sooner or later, better than I can tell you ; but I believe his 
 refusal to form a Government was not absolute i.e. that he desired to 
 reserve the reconsideration of the matter if any other party should 
 fail. 
 
 I hear that Disraeli's language is that ' unconstitutional conditions ' 
 were proposed. If he really says so, it probably refers to some limita- 
 tion as to dissolving ; but I know nothing authentic. 
 
 In the afternoon Lord John was with the Queen again ; and in the 
 even she saw him, Lord Aberdeen, and Graham together for more 
 than two hours. All yesterday negotiations were going on ; but, so far 
 as I know, without any result up to the present moment. 
 
 Every kind of speculation is afloat a reconstruction of the Govern- 
 ment, with only an infusion of new Whig blood ; a coalition between 
 the Peelites and the Government ; a junction of Graham simply with 
 the Government ; or a Government under Stanley. I should be sorry 
 to have to bet upon the issue ; but what I wish is, that Stanley should 
 form a Government, receiving from the present Ministers and from us 
 the promise of support in getting his money, and against Radical 
 attacks, upon the condition that he should not dissolve Parliament until 
 
18.31 OPPOSITION TO LORD JOHN RUSSELL. 205 
 
 after the harvest, and that meanwhile he should not attempt to disturb 
 Free Trade ; he being at liberty to take any course he pleased as soon 
 as this Session is over, and we being then released from the pro- 
 mise of supporting him any longer. I see nothing impracticable in this. 
 I have little hope of a wholesome state of politics or parties until you 
 have been in power, and have tried your own cause after your own 
 fashion; and, under some such limitations as I have mentioned, 
 I think that the risk which is to be apprehended from a Protectionist 
 Government attempting, or being suspected of attempting, a reversal 
 of commercial policy would be avoided, and certainly it would be no 
 bad bargain for Stanley. 
 
 Mr. F. Mills to Lord M. 
 I The Terrace, Whitehall Gardens : 4.30 P.M., Feb. 24, 1851. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, To give you the news, I have ordered a 
 seven o'clock newspaper to be put into the post at 7.25 to go to you 
 to-night. 
 
 Lonsdale kept sending to your house yesterday, thinking it were 
 impossible you should not be up. At half-past six yesterday Stanley 
 had made no communication of any sort to him. This is at least 
 strange. He was the first man Peel used to consult. 
 
 I think the counties would stand at 5s. duty with the income and 
 property tax taken off. 
 
 Bright told Roebuck yesterday, ' We will never stand Lord John as 
 Prime Minister again.' 
 
 I go to Lowestoft on Friday, and on the following Friday to 
 Brussels. 
 
 They talk of Labouchere, Francis Baring, and Sir C. Wood being 
 made Peers. 1 
 
 Lord Harrington is all but dead. He is at Brighton, and by the 
 last accounts there was not the least spark of hope. There is, then, 
 another loss, as Leicester, his brother, is worse than Cobden. 
 
 Ever yours, &c. 
 
 F. MILLS. 
 
 February 25th. Lord Stanley has declined to form a Govern- 
 ment at present, though it is understood he has expressed his 
 willingness to do so should Lord John Russell fail in recon- 
 structing his Ministry, which he declared last night in the House 
 of Commons he had undertaken to do at the Queen's request. He 
 1 They were created Taunton, Northbrook, and Halifax. 
 
206 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18.51 
 
 has asked till Friday to make the necessary arrangements, and 
 in the meantime all public business is suspended. Mr. Disraeli 
 accused Lord John Russell of not being quite correct in his state- 
 ments ; and Lord Stanley in the House of Lords refused at 
 present to say one word of what passed between him and the 
 Queen, though he promised a full statement later. It is supposed 
 that Lord John will try to form a coalition with the leading 
 Peelites, but Sir James Graham asks for Lord Clarendon and six 
 Cabinet places, which are hard terms. Nobody knows what part 
 Lord Aberdeen will take. I came up to town to-day, and Sidney 
 Herbert told me that Lord John Russell -had failed in his en- 
 deavours to reconstruct his Government. 
 
 Lord Stanley to Lord M. 
 
 St. James's Square : Feb. 25, 1851. 
 
 Dear Malmesbury, I must see you without a moment's delay. 
 John Russell's attempted reconstruction has failed, the Peelites cannot 
 form a Government, and I shall have to try my hand. Let me see 
 you, if possible, in the course of to-morrow. 
 
 Yours ever, 
 
 STANLEY. 
 
 February 2Qth. Lord John Russell has failed, and the Queen 
 has again sent for Lord Stanley. 
 
 February 27th. All the Peelites have refused to join Lord 
 Stanley, although he offered Gladstone and Canning 'Cabinet 
 places the former Foreign Affairs. I think Lord Stanley will 
 be unable to form a Government, but a few others and myself are 
 to meet at his house at one o'clock, when it will probably be 
 decided whether he gives up the attempt or not. My impression 
 is that he will do so. Lord Aberdeen refused to attempt the task 
 of forming a Cabinet, and yet the Peelites decline to join either 
 the "Whigs or us. I can't imagine what they want, for, being 
 the weakest party in the country, they can't hope to govern by 
 themselves. 
 
 February 28th. We met at Lord Stanley's in St. James's 
 Square, and have failed in forming a Government. He had pre- 
 viously requested me to take the Colonial Office, which I consider- 
 
!8iSl LOHt) STANLEY'S FAILURE. 207 
 
 a great compliment, as it is one of the hardest worked of places. 
 Those assembled were Mr. Disraeli, Sir John Pakington, Mr. 
 Walpole, Lord Hardwicke, Mr. Henley, Mr. Herries, Lord John 
 Manners, and Lord Eglinton. Everything went smoothly, each 
 willingly accepting the respective post to which Lord Stanley 
 appointed him, excepting Mr. Henley, who made such difficulties 
 about himself and submitted so many upon various subjects, that 
 Lord Stanley threw up the game, to the great disappointment and 
 disgust of most of the others present. Mr. Henley seemed quite 
 overpowered by the responsibility he was asked to undertake as 
 President of the Board of Trade, and is evidently a most nervous 
 man. Mr. Disraeli did not conceal his anger at his want of 
 courage and interest in the matter. Lord Stanley had written to 
 Sir Stratford Canning, who was at Constantinople, asking him to 
 take the management of Foreign Affairs, which he at once con- 
 sented to do. In the House of Lords, Lord Stanley announced 
 his failure, and did not conceal it as being caused by the want of 
 experience in public business which he found existed in his party. 
 This is probably the case, but what really caused the break-up of 
 the conference was the timid conduct of Mr. Henley and Mr. 
 Herries. 
 
 March 1st. Lord Stanley's speech was a fine one, manly and 
 straightforward, but I fear it will discourage his party. He says, 
 alluding to them : ' A party, numerous no doubt, but still 
 undoubtedly in a minority in the House of Commons on several 
 occasions, and which unfortunately, though it no doubt numbers 
 in its ranks men of talent and intellect, contains, I will not say 
 no single individual, but hardly one individual of political experi- 
 ence and versed in official business. I feel that is a great dis- 
 advantage for any party to labour under ; but there is a third 
 party in the House of Commons, not indeed very extensive 
 numerically, but most important as regards official experience 
 and the talents of the great portion of its members. I mean that 
 small party, in point of numbers, which has adhered to the policy 
 of the late Sir Robert Peel.' This will appear to many as rather 
 praising his opponents at the expense of his friends, and it will 
 have the effect of making the former more difficult to deal with, 
 and at the same time give discouragement, if not offence, to his 
 
208 MEMOIRS OF A3 EX-MINISTKK. l8ol 
 
 own party, He then states the financial measures he would have 
 proposed if he had come into office. His plan was to put on five 
 shillings fixed duty on corn, and take threepence off the income 
 tax preparatory to its total repeal, whenever the revenue of the 
 country admitted it. Lord Stanley told me afterwards that ' the 
 total want of decision in Mr. Herries and Mr. Henley made him 
 see at once that they would be of no use. The latter seemed 
 frightened rather than pleased at being in the Cabinet, and 
 appeared paralysed.' This was quite true. As to Herries, he 
 looked like an old doctor who had just killed a patient, and 
 Henley like the undertaker who was to bury him. The difficulties 
 Lord Stanley would have had to contend with were also very 
 great a majority against him in both Houses, the Mutiny Bill 
 not passed, supplies not voted, and the time not favourable for a 
 dissolution of Parliament all confirmed him in his determination 
 to give up the attempt ; and he accordingly went to the Queen at 
 five o'clock and announced his failure. The Queen had authorised 
 him to say that if he had asked for a dissolution she would not 
 have refused. The Duke of Northumberland would have had the 
 Admiralty. The Queen has sent for the Duke of Wellington to 
 ask his advice. I expect that Lord John will reconstruct his 
 Ministry tant bien que mal, and that even the Peelites will join 
 it. I called upon Lady Stanley, who seems in great spirits at her 
 husband not being in office. 
 
 March 2nd. Norman Macdonald is appointed Comptroller of 
 the Lord Chamberlain's Department, a place for life worth twelve 
 hundred a year. He called upon me to announce it as an old 
 colleague at Oriel College. After Lord Stanley's speech Lady 
 Jocelyii asked him whom he had meant by the person he alluded 
 to who refused tojoiii him 011 account of the pressure of his 
 domestic duties. He answered ' Not Jccelyn,' at which she 
 looked put out, for she evidently thought she had a good joke 
 against him, the phrase having created a laugh. A few days ago, 
 as I was returning home, I saw the Duke of Newcastle, Mr. 
 Sidney Herbert, and Mr. Bonham Carter standing together near 
 the gate of Sir Robert Peel's house in close consultation, looking 
 as if they were invoking his ghost to inspire them. 
 
 March 6th, Saw Ben Stanley, who was very much out ofc 
 
1851 THE CHARGE AGAINST LORD TORRINGTON. 209 
 
 spirits, and confirms the report that the Government is in great 
 difficulties. Nothing has occurred since they resumed office to 
 strengthen them. 
 
 March \\th. The Government were beaten last night on 
 Lord Duncan's motion for paying the money derived from the 
 revenues of the Crown into the Exchequer. They so little 
 expected this that Ben Stanley, their Whip, prevented Lord 
 Douro's voting for them, as he was ready to do, telling him there 
 was no occasion for his staying, as they were sure of a majority. 
 Lord Stanley seems confident of soon going into office, and has 
 asked me to take his son Edward for my under-secretary, which is 
 an additional compliment, and desires me to make out a list of 
 those that I thought ought to have places. Nothing could be 
 kinder or more flattering. Ben Stanley was walking a few days 
 ago with Lord Bessborough and Lord Granville, the former of 
 whom is Master of the Buckhounds, while the latter at one time 
 held the place, talking of Lord Stanley's appointments. One of 
 them asked what Lord Stradbroke was likely to have. ' Oh, 
 answered Ben, ' the Buckhounds, of course ; that is the only 
 place for a fellow like that.' The other two looked rather 
 foolish at the lapsus lingum of their companion. The motion 
 upon Ceylon, accusing Lord Torrington of tyranny when Governor 
 there, is put off. He seems confident of making out a good case 
 for himself. The present Sir Robert Peel spoke in the House of 
 Commons, and Disraeli says his speech was very clever, and so 
 straightforward and honest that if his father had been there he 
 would have disowned him. 
 
 March 2Qth. The second reading of the Papal Aggression Bill 
 passed this morning by a majority of 438 to 95. 
 
 March 28th. Talking to Mr. Fortescue, he told me that Mrs. 
 Lawrence, the American Minister's wife, said to him, speaking of 
 her husband, * A wonderful man, a very heavy man (meaning 
 clever) ; when he goes to the east he tilts over the west.' 
 
 April 1st. I hear that Lord Torrington made a very good 
 Speech this evening in defence of his conduct in Ceylon, and was 
 cheered on all sides when he sat down. 
 
 April 2nd. Sir Gilbert Heatlicote has left all his landed 
 property to his eldest son, who is also residuary legatee, with the 
 
210 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18-31 
 
 exception of the Durdans, which he has left, with 5,000?. a year, 
 to his youngest. Lady Olivia Ossulston and Lady Malmesbury 
 went to a banquet at Merchant Taylors' Hall. Mr. Disraeli spoke 
 well, but there was nothing particularly interesting in his speech. 
 The most eloquent part of Lord Stanley's was that in which he 
 alluded to Lord George Bentinck, which he did in the most feeling 
 manner. The enthusiasm of the Conservative audience was un- 
 bounded, and the cheering when his health was drunk must have 
 lasted five minutes. 
 
 April 5th. Lady Lansdowne died the day before yesterday al 
 Bowood, the immediate cause of her death being a paralytic stroke 
 
 April 6th. Edward Stanley called and told me we had no 
 chance of turning out the Government this session, as they hac 
 evidently made friends again with the Radical party by promising 
 to introduce a new Reform Bill this year. 
 
 April Sth. The division on Mr. Herries' motion on th( 
 income tax took place yesterday, and the Government had 
 majority of 48. 
 
 April \2th. The debate on Mr. Disraeli's amendment to th< 
 Assessed Taxes Act took place last night, and Ministers had 
 majority of 13. The amendment was that if any relief was 
 given by the remission of taxes, the owners and occupiers o: 
 land should be the first to profit by it. 
 
 May 1st. London Exhibition was opened to-day by th< 
 Queen. Went off quietly. 
 
 May 2nd. Jew Bill passed second reading House of Commons 
 by 25 ; 202 to 177. This will encourage the Peers. 
 
 May Qth. Lord J. Russell refers income tax to Select Com 
 mittee, and saves Government from another defeat. The Queen 
 is going to give a fancy ball in June. Period, Charles II. No 
 becoming for ladies ; handsome for gentlemen. 
 
 May 7th. Ministers again defeated on Lord Naas's motion 
 on spirits duty. Numbers equal. Roebuck made an insolent 
 speech advising resignation. Lord John declined. 
 
 May 10th. Mr. Urquhart moved resolution that the recem 
 act of the Pope in appointing bishops in England was encouragec 
 by her Majesty's Government. Beaten by 79. This will enabl* 
 Ministers to go on to end of session. 
 
1851 TRIERS' OPINION OF LOUIS NAPOLEON. 211 
 
 May 17th. Lady Londonderry appeared at Duke of Devon- 
 shire's play in a gown trimmed with green birds, small ones 
 round the body and down the sides, and large ones down the 
 centre. The beak of one of the birds caught in the Queen's dress 
 and was some time before it could be disentangled. Lady L. very 
 proud of the episode. 
 
 May 21 st. I think we shall not beat Government on the 
 cruelties at Ceylon by Lord Torrington. But I hope to succeed 
 in effecting a reconciliation between our party and forty-five 
 members of the National Club who went against us on Mr. 
 Urquhart's motion from their foolish dislike of Disraeli and Mr. 
 Beresford. I have had an interview with Mr. Bellamy, their 
 leader, and think I shall succeed. 
 
 May 30th. Adjourned debate on Ceylon resumed ; majority 
 for Government, 80. We dined with the Disraelis. Met M. 
 Thiers, Mr. McCulloch, and Mr. Denison. I sat by Thiers, who, 
 knowing that I was intimately acquainted with Prince Louis 
 Napoleon, asked me a number of questions about him, and ended 
 by saying, ' Je 1'ai beaucoup etudie de pres et de loin, et c'est un 
 homme absolument nul.' To me, Thiers seemed the incarnation 
 of vanity. 
 
 June 12th. We went to the Queen's ball. It is said that 
 her Majesty received 600 excuses out of 1,400 invitations, and 
 that she did not fill up their places. I thought it very inferior 
 to the first two. Most of the fancy dresses shabby, as if they 
 had been got up cheap. At the others everybody went to great 
 expense, and they were magnificent. The period chosen was also 
 more becoming. The dresses of most of the ladies resembled 
 much the present fashion, differing only in the sleeves and the 
 little curls. The gaunt figure of Sir Charles Knightley appeared 
 in a pair of white satin shorts, which looked as if they had been 
 put on hind part before, for they bulged out much in front and 
 were tight behind, and he had neither coat nor cloak. 
 
 June 21st. Went to Lady Palmerston's party, where I saw 
 Narvaez and the Spanish beauty, Mademoiselle Montijo. Narvaez, 1 
 
 1 Narvaez, after being Prime Minister and heading .several pronunciamicntos, 
 when asked on his deathbed whether he forgave his enemies, replied : 'I have none, 
 as I always got rid of them.' 
 
 p 2 
 
212 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1851 
 
 an ugly little fat man, with a vile expression of countenance ; 
 Mademoiselle Montijo l very handsome, auburn hair, beautiful skin 
 and figure. Her grandmother was Scotch, a Miss Kirkpatrick, 
 which may account for her lovely complexion. 
 
 June 28th. Lord Stanley sent for me early this morning, 
 having received alarming accounts of Lord Derby, his father. 2 
 
 June 30th. Ben Stanley told me the Government were deter- 
 mined not to go out, and would rather submit to any humiliation. 
 He was the eldest son of Lord Stanley of Alderley, and a mem- 
 ber of the Government. He was nicknamed Sir Benjamin 
 Backbite when at Oxford, from his satirical powers. He was a 
 very amusing man, and clever. 
 
 July 4th.- My brother, member for Christchurch, came up for 
 third reading of Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, which was passed, with 
 Sir Frederick Thesiger's amendments, before eight o'clock. Num- 
 bers on first division 208 for amendment; 129 against. Lord 
 J. Russell moved omission of words giving power to common in- 
 formers to institute proceedings. Lost by 124 to 175. House 
 then divided on question that ' Bill do pass.' Carried by 263 to 
 46 ; majority 217. Irish members left House in a body before 
 divisions. 
 
 I went to a great fete at Fulham, given by Mr. Lumley, 
 manager of the Opera. All the Corps Diplomatique there. 
 
 July 7th. We dined at Lord Cardigan's ; thence to concert 
 at Buckingham Palace. 
 
 J^dy 10th. Went in the evening to Madame Yan de Weyer's. 
 I hear the ball to the Queen at the Guildhall was extremely 
 amusing. People very ridiculous. The ladies passed her at a 
 run, never curtseying, and then returning to stare at her. Some 
 of the gentlemen, passed with their arms round the ladies' 
 waists, others holding them by the hand at arm's length, as if i 
 they were going to dance a minuet. One man kissed his hand to \ 
 the Queen as he went by, which set her Majesty off in a fit of \ 
 laughter. 
 
 A^^r)^lst 1th. Left London for Achnacarry, Lochiel's place,; 
 whieh I hired, and remained there till November 5. 
 
 1 Afterwards Empress of the French* 
 * lie <liod a few days after. 
 
1851 A TYNEMOUTH SUPERSTITION. 213 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : Sept. 5, 1851. 
 
 Dear Malmesbury, I quite 'approve of your answer to Mr. Knox, 1 
 whose letter I enclose. It is not very easy to write civilly to a man 
 that his paper is conducted with very little talent ; and I admire the 
 way in which you have managed to compliment the Editor, and smooth 
 down any possible soreness he might feel. 
 
 I send you one of the first impressions of the Menagerie 2 catalogue. 
 You will, at all events, like to look at it, and perhaps some of the water 
 birds may tempt you to become a purchaser. They are all to be sold 
 by auction without any reserve, beginning on the 6th of October ; and 
 from the great number I think it probable they may go for very little. 
 If you are inclined to give me a commission to buy for you, you shall 
 be treated very honestly. 
 
 Ever, &c. 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 November $th.- Chillingham Castle. Mr. Collingwood, a 
 Northumbrian squire, told us that the people at Tynemouth will 
 not have their daughters christened before their sons, as they say 
 when that is done the sons never have any whiskers. I asked 
 whether in that case the daughters had them instead ? 
 
 November 10th. Arrived at Knowsley. Lord Stanley (now 
 Lord Derby) looks very ill. Great battue shooting for next three 
 days. 
 
 November \Wi. Lord Palmerston made a very Radical 
 speech two days ago in reply to an address to him by the Finsbury 
 Committee in favour of Kossuth, 3 the Hungarian patriot. Almost 
 all London is talking of it, arid almost all blaming it. 
 
 November 23rd. It is reported that Lord Palmerston is to go 
 out in consequence of his Radical speech to the Finsbury deputa- 
 tion. His colleagues are all furious with him. 
 
 1 Editor of the Morning Herald. 
 
 2 The late Lord Derby had left the finest menagerie in England and probably 
 in Europe, to supply which he used to send agents to all parts of the world. 
 
 3 Lord Palmerston was always tampering with Kossuth and the Hungarian 
 insurgents, and so was Louis Napoleon ; but neither ever took a practical course in 
 their favour, their object being to bully and frighten Austria and help Italv. 
 Kossuth published a very curious conversation which he had with the Emperor. 
 
214 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1851 
 
 November 2th. "No truth in Lord Palmerston's resignation. 
 Rain has fallen, after a very long drought. 
 
 November 25th. Called on Madame and Mdlle. Gaggiotti. 
 The latter a very remarkable person, and at Rome is surnamed 
 Corinne, in consequence of her various talents. She is extremely 
 handsome of the Roman type a great musician, speaks four 
 languages, and paints very much above the average of profes- 
 sional artists. She has created a great sensation in London, and 
 is making a good many portraits. She goes by her maiden name, 
 but is married to, and separated from, a Mr. Richards, who is 
 connected with the press. 
 
 I spoke the previous day at an agricultural dinner at Christ- 
 church. It was difficult to satisfy the farming interest without 
 compromising Lord Derby, whose name, however, I never men- 
 tioned ; but I had to keep up their spirits without raising them 
 too high by expectations that the old Protective duties could ever 
 return even if we came into office. Lord Derby complimented 
 me on it, and sent me a message to say that he was ready to 
 father every sentiment in it. Lady Augusta Lennox's marriage 
 with Prince Edward of Saxe- Weimar went off very well, to the 
 great edification of an immense congregation. The church was 
 so full that several ladies got into the pulpit. 
 
 November 28th. Lord Derby praised my speech to the Duke 
 of Richmond, and says he wishes its tone to be followed at the 
 meeting on December 12. 
 
 November 29th. Dined with the Palmerstons. Met Sir H. 
 and Lady Bulwer, Count and Countess de Flahault, and several 
 foreign Ministers. 
 
 December 2nd. .Great news from Paris. Generals Changar- 
 nier, Cavaignac, Lamoriciere, and Charras and M. Thiers have 
 been arrested and taken to Vincennes, the President having 
 discovered that they meant to anticipate him, as he told me when 
 I saw him in April last/ He has been well received by the people 
 and with enthusiasm by the soldiers. A great many Deputies 
 have been arrested. Changarnier is said to have resisted and 
 Charras to have killed one of the police. The first proclamation 
 is as follows : 
 
18.51 THE COUP D'ETAT. 215 
 
 1. National Assembly dissolved. 
 
 2. Universal suffrage re-established and Law of May 31 
 abolished. 
 
 3. French people convoked in its electoral colleges from De- 
 cember 14 to 21. 
 
 4. State of siege decreed. 
 
 5. Council of State dissolved. 
 
 A second proclamation declares that the President's good 
 intentions towards the people have been frustrated by the 
 Assembly, and having proclaimed its dissolution he proposes to 
 establish the following Government : 
 
 1. A Chief Magistrate elected for ten years by universal 
 suffrage. 
 
 2. A Ministry depending upon the Executive alone. 
 
 3. A Council of State. 
 
 4. A Legislative Assembly elected by universal suffrage with- 
 out scrutiny of the electoral list. 
 
 5. A Senate. 
 
 This coup tfetat seems to have been determined upon and 
 executed by Louis Napoleon unknown even to his Ministers, whom 
 he dismissed the evening before, though no doubt Morny, 1 Per- 
 signy, Colonel Fleury, and Maupas were concerned in the plan. 
 The movements of the troops on the two preceding days were 
 supposed by all parties to be intended as a precaution against any 
 insurrection in consequence of the Paris election then going on. 
 About 200 representatives met on the morning of Tuesday at 
 Oount Daru's, one of the Vice-Presidents, but receiving a message 
 
 1 Morny was a recognised natural son of Count Flahault by Queen Hortense, 
 and therefore the Emperor's half-brother. He was his right-hand man and 
 generally gave him good advice, as he possessed great intelligence and tact, and 
 was a man of the world. Morny told me that at the first period of Louis Napoleon's 
 Presidency he was eager to fighfe for the Rhine, but that he had told him roughly 
 that, if he did, 'les Allemands le flanqueraient dans le Rhin,' an opinion verified in 
 1H7<>. Morny was made a duke, and being in a favourable position for speculating 
 acquired a large fortune, married a Russian princess, and died before the fall of the 
 Empire, being thus spared seeing a painful close to an eventful and prosperous life, 
 t first knew him in Paris in 1834, when he was a man of fashion, and appreciated 
 for his wit, and when he rode a steeplechase against an Englishman at La Croix de 
 St. lU'rny, which lie lost. 
 
216 
 
 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 1851 1 
 
 from Colonel Lauriston, commanding the 10th legion, saying that] 
 he placed the Mairie of the 10th Arrondissement at their disposal, 
 and that his legion would defend them, they repaired there and 
 proceeded to deliberate, Daru in the chair. After a debate con- 
 ducted in due form, and at which the shorthand writers of the 
 'Moniteur' were present, the conduct of Louis Napoleon was 
 declared to be illegal. In. consequence they affirmed him to have | 
 forfeited all claims to the high dignity of President of the Repub- 
 lic, in conformity with Article 68 of the Constitution. Another 
 decree frees the officers of the army and navy and the public 
 functionaries from their oath of obedience to Louis Napoleon ; 
 the High Court of Justice is convoked to judge the President | 
 and his Ministers. 
 
 These decrees were signed by the members present, with I 
 Daru's name at the head. After they were passed, a body of the 
 Chasseurs of Yincennes surrounded the building. M. Berryerj 
 addressed the people out of window, telling them they had pro- 
 nounced the decheance of the President. This was received very 
 coldly. 
 
 The officer commanding the troops insisted upon entering, and 
 in a few minutes the chamber was cleared. MM. Daru, Odilon 
 Barrot, De Broglie, and Mole remained in the apartment. Daru 
 was arrested, but the others were allowed to depart. The officer 
 refused M. O. Barrot's request to be taken, saying he had 110 
 orders to do so. The President, with a numerous staff, rode| 
 along the Quays at eleven o'clock, and reviewed the troops in th( 
 Place de la Concorde and in the Square of the Tuileries. 
 
 December 4th. Attempt at insurrection yesterday at Paris,! 
 M. Baudin, a representative of the people, having harangued the 
 workmen in the Rue St. Antoine and summoned them to take uj 
 arms for the delivery of the members arrested. Two barricades 
 were erected, but were immediately taken by the soldiers and 
 Baudin was killed. This put an end to the emeute, the insurgents 
 having fled in all directions. The news from the Departments 
 good, so I trust Louis Napoleon is safe. 
 
 Sir Robert Peel has advertised his stud of hunters for sale 
 the following terms : 'To be sold at Messrs. Tattersalls', the entii 
 stud of Sir Robert Peel, Bart., who is declining hunting with! 
 
1851 SERIOUS OUTBREAK AT PARIS. 217 
 
 :he Atherstone hounds in consequence of the unsportsmanlike 
 joiiduct and political animosity, even in the hunting field, of 
 certain Protectionist farmers/ They had insulted him and warned 
 lim off their land. 
 
 December 5th. The French Minister of War has addressed a 
 sircular to the generals of the army : ' The soldiers are to vote 
 cor the election of a President within forty-eight hours from the 
 :-eceipt of the circular. " Yes" or "No " is simply to be replied to 
 :he proposition.' 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : Dec. 5, 1851. 
 
 Dear Malmesbury, I ought sooner to have returned you the two 
 etters which were enclosed in yours on the 14th, for which many 
 .hanks. That from Paris is very interesting, and the parallel between 
 L851 and 1797, to which I referred, very curious. Your friend (the 
 President) has it all his own way, thanks to his own cleverness and 
 joldness and the folly of his opponents. "What use he may make of 
 lis power remains to be seen. I hope he will not verify the anticipa- 
 tions of your Paris correspondent ; but for good or evil he has a great 
 *ame before him. I hear Aberdeen is violent against him. I suspected 
 >he language in the ' Times ' was of his inspiration. Palmerston, on 
 the other hand, has taken him up warmly. Has that anything to do 
 with his sudden ostracism ? for it is quite clear he has not resigned, 
 but that his colleagues have combined to turn him out. He will be a 
 :horn in their side ; but his ardent support of the strong measures 
 :aken by the Prince (President or Emperor ?) will have lost him some 
 }f his popularity with the extreme Radicals. Tell me what you hear ; 
 [ know nothing but from the newspapers. 
 
 Yours very sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 December 6th. Serious emeute at Paris on 4th. Barricades 
 erected and much fighting. Fifty thousand troops marched along 
 Boulevards at 1.30, and were fired upon from some of the houses. 
 All quiet again by 6 o'clock P.M., and placards announced the 
 restoration of order. News from Lyons and provinces satisfac- 
 tory. 
 
 December 7th. Paris quiet. Funds risen two percent. Only 
 
218 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1851 
 
 thirty-one representatives have been arrested. Election of the 
 President takes place 20th or 21st. Some new regiments entered 
 Paris, shouting ' Yive 1'Empereur ! ' and all * Vive Napoleon ! ' 
 Changarnier, Cavaignac, Lamoriciere, Leflo, Bedeau, Charras, 
 Roger du Nord, are prisoners at Ham. What an irony of fate 
 for these men, who had sent the Prince to the same prison a few 
 years ago ! 
 
 Christmas Day, Heron Court. Sir George Bowles writes that 
 Lord Palmerston is out of office, and that either Lord Granville 
 or Lord Clarendon is to succeed him. There has been a quarrel 
 between him and the Queen and Lord John, and various reports 
 respecting the cause, which we shall soon know. 
 
 December 26th. Article in the 'Times,' apparently official, 
 giving clearly to understand that it was Lord Palmerston's 
 approval of the President's coup d'etat of December 2 which was 
 the cause of his dismissal from office. It is, however, evident there 
 has been some intrigue besides. Lord Palmerston is not a man 
 to sit quiet under this mortification, and his secession will probably 
 lead to a break up. Lord Granville is made Foreign Secretary. 
 
 M. de Persigny to Lord M. 
 
 Paris : Dec. 26, 1851. 
 
 My dear Lord, Des preoccupations extraordinaires qui tiennent 
 aux evenements derniers m'ont empeche de repondre, aussi prompte- 
 ment que je 1'aurais desire, a votre derniere lettre. Je m'empresse 
 aujourd'hui de profiter d'uii moment plus tranquille pour vous dire 
 d'abord que j'ai remis votre lettre au Prince, et qu'il est entierement 
 de votre avis sur ce qu'il y a a faire pour attirer les capitaux anglais 
 dans notre pays et cimenter de plus en plus Palliance qui doit exister 
 entre les deux grands peuples, 
 
 Nous voyons ici tvec beaucoup de regret Pardeur de certains 
 journaux anglais 4 denaturer les evenements qui viennent de s'accom- 
 plir ; nous craignons que la persistance de cette hostilite n'egare les 
 sentiments du peuple anglais et ne cree pour Pavenir des difficultes. 
 
 Je comprends en effet qu'il est difficile a Pesprit anglais de com- 
 prendre notre caractere national, habitue & un regime de gouvernement 
 qui est admirable avec- les elements qu'il possede. L'Angleterre se 
 rend difficilement compte des faiblesses de notre systeme parlementaire. 
 En Angleterre la liberte et votre systeme parlementaire sont au profit 
 
1851 PERSIGNY'S VIEW OF THE SITUATION. 219 
 
 de 1'influence aristocratique. C'est le gouvernement des classes elevees, 
 et ces classes elevees sont faites au gouvernement et admirablement 
 intelligentes des interets publics. En France, au contraire, les 
 classes elevees sont completement impropres au manienient des affaires. 
 Elles sont, a 1'exemple de notre ancienne noblesse, brillaiites, legeres, 
 chevaleresques, frivoles, et guerrieres ; mais sans aucune des vertus 
 necessaires en un etat libre, de sorte que le systeme parlementaire ne 
 fonctionne qu'au profit du desordre, de 1'anarchie, et aux depens de 
 1'autorite. 
 
 La France, en un mot, n'est qu'une grande democratic qui a besoiii 
 d'etre disciplined, et nul element n'est plus propre a la personnifier que 
 1' element Napoleonien. C'est la le secret de cette immense ovation 
 populaire. On peut chercher a denaturer le caractere des evenements 
 et dire, comme le ' Times,' que c'est la violence, la compression militaire 
 qui forcent la population a donner leurs voix a Louis-Napoleon, mais 
 cela ne peut se dire qu'en Angleterre, ou Ton ne connait pas le genie 
 national de notre pays. Pour tout homme non prevenu il y a une re- 
 flexion bien simple. Comment une armee qui n'a pas fait la guerre et 
 qui n'est composee que de jeunes soldats, aurait-elle 1' esprit du despo- 
 tisme militaire ? Comment pourrait-elle se separer des sentiments des 
 masses et violenter le pays, quand elle sort chaque annee des entrailles 
 du pays et qu'elle y rentre chaque annee ? La verite c'est que 1'armee 
 est pleine du sentiment national. C'est le secret de tout ce qui vient 
 de se passer. Quand le sentiment national etait contraire au gouverne- 
 ment, comme en 1830 et 1848, 1'armee n'a ete d'aucun secours au 
 pouvoir. Aujourd'hui, au contraire, qu'elle a exprime le sentiment 
 public, elle a pu tout faire, sans aucune resistance serieuse. Quant aux 
 grandes masses, elles sont ivres de joie et d'enthousiasme, et jamais 
 revolution ne fut si facile ni si populaire. Je sais bien qu'on peut se 
 demander si apres le role qu'elle a joue dans les derniers evenements 
 1'armee ne sera pas avide de se produire et de se jeter dans les 
 aventures. 
 
 Ce danger n'est pas serieux. L'armee n'a pas le sentiment d'avoir 
 violente la nation, mais d'avoir, au contraire, servi a 1'expression de 
 son opinion. II n'y a pas dans les tetes militaires la moindre trace 
 d'ambition guerriere ; personne ne songe a recommencer les aventures, 
 et le Prince President moins que personne. 
 
 La plupart des officiers superieurs sont maries et ages, et ils ne 
 demandent qu'a vivre en paix ; ils redoutaient la division des parties 
 parlementaires, puisqu'a leurs yeux c'etait le triomphe certain des ele- 
 ments revolutionnaires, et qu'avec le triomphe de la demagogic leur 
 position, leur grade, leur retraite tout cela etait perdu, et ils se sont 
 
220 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18->1 
 
 sauves en sauvant la nation. Voila tout. Et ils sont satisfaits main- 
 tenant, ne demandant que la paix et le repos. Ce serait done une folie 
 inconcevable que d'ameuter les esprits en Angleterre contre un peril 
 qui n'existe pas, car ce serait le moyen de le creer. 
 
 Si les efforts que 1'on fait en Angleterre pour denaturer les evene- 
 ments reussissaient, ce n'est pas du cote de 1'armee fra^aise que vien- 
 drait le danger, mais du cote du peuple, dont on ranimerait les anciennes 
 haines nationales, quand elles ne demandent qu'a s'eteindre complete - 
 ment. J'espere done que les hommes d'etat d' Angleterre s'efforceront 
 de maintenir la bonne amitie qui existe, heureusement, entre les deux 
 pays. Plus Ton cherche en ce moment a egarer le peuple anglais, plus 
 il importe que les deux gouvernements se donneiit des teinoignages 
 d'estime et de confiance, et plus il est necessaire, comme vous le com- 
 prenez si bien, de lier les deux peuples par les interets materiels. Le 
 President est tout-a-fait dans ces sentiments ; il fera tout pour favoriser 
 les idees que vous lui soumettez. Bien ne lui serait plus odieux que 
 d'etre amene par des mouvements d' opinion publique en Angleterre a 
 reprendre cet heritage de haine et de jalousie qu'il ale premier repudie. 
 Du reste, je ne crois pas que Ton parviendra en Angleterre a agacer 
 1'opinion publique ; tout ce qui se fait et se prepare ici eclairera les 
 esprits et la verite se fera jour, et bien loin d'amener le refroidissement 
 entre les deux peuples, j'ai la conviction profonde que le grand acte du 
 deux decembre aura, au contraire, pour resultat de cimenter plus que 
 jamais la bonne harmonie entre les deux nations. 
 
 Pardonnez-moi ces,reflexions, faites a la hate. Soyez assez bon pour 
 me faire connaitre de temps en temps ce que vous savez de 1'opinion en 
 Angleterre et tachons tous les deux de contribuer a 1'oeuvre com- 
 mune. 
 
 Votre bien devoue, 
 
 F. DE PERSIGNY 
 
 December 30^/i, Lord Palmerston never went to Windsor t 
 give up the seals, and after waiting for him some time Lord John 
 delivered them to the Queen, who gave them to Lord Granville. 
 
 1852 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord M. 
 
 Hughenden : Jau. 2, 1852. 
 
 My dear Lord, I have arrived at the same conclusion with respect 
 to Lord John's coup d'etat, and am gratified that my view is sanctioned 
 
1852 LOUIS NAPOLEON ELECTED PRESIDENT. 221 
 
 by one of your acumen and knowledge of circumstances and persons. 
 The fact is, the Government have entirely changed their foreign policy ; 
 under ordinary circumstances, instead of making a victim of the Secre- 
 tary of State, they should have resigned. I assume, therefore, from 
 Lord John's conduct, that, after our self-confessed incapacity of last 
 February, he and the Court no longer recognise us as a practical power 
 in the State. 
 
 I return you Lonsdale's letter. When he objects to the prominence 
 given by my motions in the House of Commons to the subject of local 
 taxation, he forgets those motions last year gave us the government of 
 the country. Whether abstract Protection will be as successful is a 
 problem not yet solved. 
 
 Yours very truly, 
 
 D. 
 
 January 3rd. Louis Napoleon has been elected President for 
 ten years by 7,600,000 votes. Ceremony at Notre Dame on 
 January 1 seems to have been splendid. He was received with 
 immense enthusiasm, and a great many cries of ' Yive 1'Empereur ! ' 
 He has restored the eagle on the standard and the Legion of 
 Honour. Receptions to be at the Tuileries. It is said that the 
 Queen received Lady Palrnerston very coldly some time ago, before 
 Lord Palmerston's dismissal, when she went to present the 
 Portuguese Minister's wife and other ladies. The Queen asked 
 them all to stay, but did not invite her, so she had to return alone 
 to London. Lord Palmerston's speech about Kossuth has done 
 him great harm at Court and everywhere. 
 
 January 4dh. Our Ambassador at Paris, Lord Nornianby, 
 insinuated to M. Turgot, French Foreign Minister, that our Go- 
 vernment did not approve of the coup d'etat. Turgot replied, 
 he could hardly believe that, as Count Walewski, 1 the French 
 Ambassador in London, had written to say that Lord Palmerston 
 
 i I first knew Count Walewski during the Polish Rebellion of 1831, when he 
 came to London, sent by the Revolutionary Committee, to negotiate with our 
 Government for assistance. He was then only twenly-one, and a very handsome 
 and pleasing young man, being a softened likeness of his father, the Emperor 
 Napoleon. He was very well received in society, and elected at our fashionable 
 clubs. He soon afterwards married Lord Sandwich's daughter, who died. His 
 second wife was a Florentine, a beautifnl woman, who did the honours of their 
 embassy to perfection. He died quite suddenly, and comparatively young, at an 
 hotel nt Strasburg at 18G9, 
 
 
222 
 
 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 1852 
 
 told him he cordially approved of it. Lord Normanby then wrote, 
 it is supposed, to Lord John Russell, informing him of this ; and 
 this I believe is the real cause, or rather pretence, for Lord 
 Palmerston's dismissal. Count de Flahault gave me the official 
 return of the killed and wounded in Paris on December 4, from 
 which it appears that, beside the soldiers, 215 persons were killed ; 
 of these, 137 fell at the barricades, and 88 have since died of their 
 wounds ; 115 were wounded as well. Some were hidden from fear 
 of prosecution. Only ten curieux were killed. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : Jan. 7, 1852. 
 
 Dear Malmesbury, I only write a line (for I have had much to 
 write, and my wrist is not so long-enduring as it used to be), to thank 
 you for your letter of the 5th, and the current reports of the day. I 
 have had accounts from many quarters of the cause and mode of 
 Palmerston's ' resignation,' and they all agree so nearly, with some 
 variation in the minor details, that it is not difficult to make out a com- 
 plete history of the transaction, nor, consequently, to estimate the 
 frame of mind in which it has left the ex-Foreign Secretary. I think 
 Wodehouse's appointment not unlikely, and, as far as it goes, not an 
 unfit one ; but it would give them no strength in the Commons, where 
 they want it. I do not think they will apply to Graham, nor that he 
 will join them if they do. On the whole, their prospects are gloomy 
 enough ; but whether any Government can be formed, and stand, out 
 of the heterogeneous materials to be dealt with, is a very different 
 question. The same post which brought me your letter brought me one 
 also from Disraeli ; but so far from being ' mopy,' I never knew him 
 write or speak in a more sanguine tone. I expect to find him quite up. 
 to the mark when I go up to town, which I propose to do on the 29th, 
 leaving this place on the 27th, and taking Burghley and Hatfield on my 
 way. I have probably got your letter about Louis Napoleon, and, if so, 
 can put my hand on it at once when I go to town. It will be at least 
 curious, and may be useful to look back to it. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 January \\tli. Papers announce arrival of a boat at Brest 
 with twenty-five people from the { Amazon,' burnt at sea. This 
 dreadful disaster will confirm the superstition of seamen as to ill- 
 
1852 LORD DERBY AND THE JOURNALISTS. 223 
 
 luck of starting on a Friday, the ' Amazon ' having started on her 
 first voyage, Friday, January 2. Cause of burning yet a mystery. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : January 18, 1852. 
 
 My dear Mahnesbury, I received your letter at the railway station 
 yesterday, as I passed through London on my way home from Windsor. 
 You are perfectly right in the instructions you have given to Knox. 
 Mr. Phillips has no authority whatever to speak or write in my name, 
 nor have I in any degree made him acquainted with my views. I con- 
 tinue to think that a recurrence to duties on imports, including corn, is 
 desirable both on financial and on political grounds ; and I can neither 
 abandon this belief, nor a line of policy founded on it, until a general 
 election has convinced me that that which I think the best thing for 
 the country is an unattainable good. Should the country prove not to 
 be with us, I should feel absolved from the duty of protracting a hope- 
 less struggle, which, while it continues, must cause serious injury by 
 the uncertainty it creates as to the final result ; but to take office as a 
 Protectionist, and then spontaneously abandon the principle of Protec- 
 tion, would involve a degree of baseness, from the imputation of which 
 I should have hoped that my 'antecedents' (to borrow a French ex- 
 pression) might have relieved me. I return you the correspondence 
 between Messrs. Knox and Phillips. 1 A few days will give me an oppor- 
 tunity of stating to the party my views in a way not to be open to any 
 misapprehension. 
 
 Your friend in Paris is going an alarming pace. He must have an 
 utter contempt for his countrymen, and, if he finally succeeds, they 
 most richly deserve it. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 January 22nd. Letter in * Morning Herald, 5 very absurd one, 
 written by Mr. Blood, the clergyman who was saved from the 
 * Amazon,' who in the most canting and ridiculous language says 
 he was warned by a mysterious voice, when he lay down in his 
 cabin, not to undress. The voice said : l Blood, don't take off 
 your coat ; Blood, don't take off your spectacles ; ' and he ends 
 his letter by saying that ' his health has greatly benefited by 
 tossing on the billows.' 
 
 1 Journalists. 
 
224 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18o2 
 
 January 25th. A decree of President issued, confiscating 
 whole property of Orleans family i.e. obliging them to sell, 
 which is nearly the same thing. M. de Morny and M. Fould 
 refuse to sign the decrees, and after two days' discussion, 
 President insisting, they resigned. M. de Persigny l replaces 
 M. de Morny as Minister of the Interior. These tyrannical 
 measures will do harm to Louis Napoleon. This last one, so 
 evidently of revenge, is sure to be much abused. 
 
 January 3lst. Called on Lord Derby. He thought a 20/. 
 franchise for the counties quite as good for us as the 50. ; but 
 10. would be destruction. If Lord John did not resign and had 
 a dissolution it would make all government impossible. He is 
 himself determined to accept office if it should be offered him. 
 
 February 1st. Dined at Lord Derby's. Too many to discuss 
 politics satisfactorily. "We are not to oppose introduction of the 
 Reform Bill. 
 
 February 3rd. Parliament met to-day. No amendment pro- 
 posed to the Queen's Speech. Lord Derby made a magnificent 
 one, which will I hope satisfy farmers. Lord John in the 
 Commons stated his reasons for dismissing Lord Palmerston from 
 office. His speech was a good one very eloquent but his case 
 against Lord Palmerston very insufficient. Lord Palmerston's 
 defence feeble. He could not deny any facts brought against him 
 of official disobedience, but they were not serious enough to 
 warrant his dismissal. It is pretty evident that the Queen and 
 Prince Albert insisted upon it, and Lord John seized the oppor- 
 
 1 Persigny, whose real name was Fialin, was one of those adventurers who 
 looked forward with confidence to the success of Louis Napoleon's fatalism and 
 dreams of ambition, and proved it by the most absolute devotion, and, I must add, 
 personal affection for his master, whom he always accompanied bravely through his 
 failures and imprisonments. Faithful to the Emperor, the Emperor was faithful to 
 him, and loaded him with honours. He was a courageous and impetuous man, and 
 his hot temper was against his success as an ambassador, but he was intelligent 
 and, I believe, did not, like most others of the Napoleonic category, prepare his 
 pockets for a stormy day, for he died poor, soon after the fall of the Empire, ex- 
 pressing on his death-bed his devotion for his master, and his regret at having, in 
 the irritation of defeat, reproached him for his misfortunes. This message was 
 delivered to the Emperor, who mentioned it to me. I first made Persigny's 
 acquaintance at the Eglinton Tournament, at which he rode as equire to the 
 Prince. 
 
18-)2 DISMISSAL OF LORD PALMERSTON, 225 
 
 tunity to quarrel with him and turn him out. The whole dispute 
 turned upon Lord Palinerston having in the first instance, in con- 
 formity with the decision of the Cabinet in consequence of the 
 coup d'etat of December 2, written an official despatch to Lord 
 Normanby, saying he was to continue his relations with the 
 French Government as usual, and that it was the Queen's desire 
 that nothing should be done by her Ambassador at Paris which 
 could bear the appearance of interference of any kind in the 
 internal affairs of France. 
 
 Then, in a conversation with Count Walewski, Lord Palmerstoii 
 told him he approved of the coup d'etat. Lord Normanby wrote 
 to Lord John complaining of the embarrassing situation he was 
 placed in by this declaration of Lord Palmerstoii not agreeing 
 with his official instructions. Lord John thereupon wrote to Lord 
 Palmerston for an explanation, but got no answer. Several days 
 elapsed, and on December 13 he received a messenger from the 
 Queen, at Woburn, asking for an explanation of Lord Normanby's 
 letter. Again he wrote to Lord Palmerston, who never sent any 
 answer till the 17th, when he sent him copies of two despatches, 
 one to and one from Lord Normanby, which, not being satisfactory, 
 and the whole conduct of Lord Palmerston in the matter being 
 considered by Lord John contrary to the principle laid down 
 namely, 'that no important steps were to be taken on foreign 
 affairs without the concurrence of the Prime Minister ' and also 
 that he had shown disrespect to the Queen, he, without consulting 
 his colleagues, intimated to Lord Palmerston that he was to retire 
 from office. Lord John wrote on Saturday, December 20, to the 
 Queen, advising her to require Lord Palmerston's resignation ; 
 and on the 22nd, at the Cabinet, he read the whole correspond- 
 ence to the other members, who (he says) approved of the course 
 he had taken. Lord Palmerston denies none of these statements, 
 but rests his defence upon the principle that a private conversa- 
 tion is very different from an official communication, and that no 
 business could be done if there were any restraint upon the inter- 
 course between the Foreign Secretary and Foreign Ministers. He 
 asked in his speech, ' Is her Majesty's Minister to sit like a dolt, 
 when a Foreign Ambassador converses on some great event, 
 
 Q 
 
226 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 without giving him any answer or making any observation ? ' Here 
 the matter rests for the present. 1 
 
 February llth. Dined with the Montroses a Tory party of 
 twenty-four. Lord Colville is to be our whip in the House of 
 Lords, vice Lord Nelson. I was almost all the afternoon with 
 Lord Derby, discussing the Reform Bill, but without much effect, 
 as we are not strong enough either to amend or throw it out 
 unless the Peelites join us. 
 
 February \Wi. Lord Derby seems quite knocked down by 
 this Reform Bill, for which, strange to say, he seems to have 
 been unprepared. I found him to-day without his usual energy. 
 I am very anxious he should meet it by a counter bill or resolution, 
 but he will not hear of it, and treated Disraeli coldly when he 
 proposed it. A mutual dislike between them might have serious 
 consequences, but the two men are so different in character that 
 it can hardly be otherwise ; yet they cannot do without one 
 another at present. I have great confidence in Disraeli's good 
 temper and ambition to see that such is the case. 
 
 February 15th. Went to Heron Court with Mr. Bentinck 
 and Lord Anson. Lady Adelaide Vane's elopement with her 
 brother's tutor, Mr. Law, engages the attention of all society, to 
 the exclusion even of the Reform Bill. 
 
 February IQth. My brother, M.P. for Christchurch, arrived 
 for Lord Derby's meeting at Lord Egliiiton's house. Only 
 House of Commons. 
 
 February l$th. Lady Derby asked Lady Malmesbury whether 
 I should not prefer the Foreign Office to the Colonial, which he 
 had offered me last year at the crisis, as she thought it might be 
 arranged if I wished it. 
 
 February 20th. Lord Naas brought forward his motion of 
 censure with respect to the Irish Government. Lord John 
 Russell and Lord Palmerston defended Lord Clarendon, who 
 was Viceroy, and the Government had a majority of 92. Lord 
 
 1 Old diplomatists must know the difference between an officious and an official 
 conversation. The first is the free interchange of opinions between the two Ministers, 
 and compromises neither ; the latter would do so, and bind their Governments. I 
 always, when at the Foreign Office, prefaced a conversation by saying on which 
 footing it was to be understood. 
 
1852 LORD DERBY IN OFFICE. 227 
 
 Clarendon had committed himself with a disreputable journalist. 
 Very imprudent ! The division pleased our party, though beaten. 
 My brother came in the evening announcing defeat of Government 
 on Lord Palmerston's amendment to the Militia Bill by majority 
 of 11, upon which Lord John said he would resign. This event 
 was so unexpected that Lord Derby went this morning to 
 Badminton on a visit. 
 
 February 2Ist. Went to Disraeli's after breakfast, and found 
 him in a state of delight at the idea of coining into office. He said 
 he ' felt just like a young girl going to her first ball,' constantly 
 repeating, ' Now we have got a status.' With all his apparent 
 apathy when attacked in the House of Commons, he is always, 
 when out of it, in the highest state of elation or lowest depth of 
 despair, according to the fortune of tlje day. People are talking 
 of a combination between Lord Palmerston, Lord Clarendon, and 
 the Peelites. Dined with the Cannings. Have seen Lord Derby, 
 who wants me to take the Foreign Office, which I am very un- 
 willing to do, as it will keep me in London the whole year. 
 Nothing, however, can be settled until Lord Derby has seen the 
 Queen, which he is to do to-morrow at 2.30. 
 
 February 22nd. Lord Derby had an audience of the Queen, 
 and accepted the Government. He proposed me as Foreign 
 Secretary. H.M. also agreed to Lord Palmerston taking office 
 again, but not to lead the House of Commons. Lord Palmerston 
 had written to Lord Derby yesterday, offering to open communi- 
 cations with him ; so, on his return from the Palace, Lord Derby 
 wrote to ask him to call. I was with him when the answer came 
 saying that Lord Palmerston would come immediately. I then 
 went to the Carlton Club, whence I saw Lord Palmerston pass- 
 ing our window, with his jaunty air, towards St. James's Square. 
 I returned to Lord Derby's at 9 P.M., and have arranged many of 
 the appointments with him, Disraeli recommending the names of 
 the members of the house of Commons. 
 
 Paris : ce 23 fevrier 1852. 
 
 Mon cher Lord Malmesbury, Si 1'elcquente vengeance de Lord 
 Palmerston aboutit & vous faire nionter a line place que j'ai toujours 
 pense devoir tot ou tarcl etre reservee anx nobles qualites qui vous 
 
 Q 2 
 
228 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 distinguent, je ne veux pas etre la derniere a venir vous en faire rnes 
 compliments. Vous savez s'ils sont sinceres, car vous n'avez jamais 
 doute de mon amitie bien devouee. 
 
 Et si le Ministere doit se composer en dehors de vous (ce dont je ne 
 saurais vous plaiiidre, car les honneurs de nos jours plus que jamais 
 sont cherement achetes), venez alors nous faire une petite visite a Paris 
 pendant vos vacances. Ce n'est pas sans profit pour un homme comme 
 vous de venir voir de pres la physionomie etrange de cette France dans 
 une epoque si incroyablement extraordinaire ! 
 
 A mon retour en France dans le mois d'aout je suis partie pour 
 I'ltalie, ou j'ai passe quatre mois dans la terre que j'ai pres de Florence. 
 La j'ai pu souvent parler de vous avec mon frere, qui m'a charge de 
 vous dire mille clioses. 
 
 Lorsque j'ai quitte Florence le ciel politique de la France etait 
 seulement tres-orageux, mais la nue n'avait pas eclate. J'ai employe 
 six jours a parcourir la belle route de la Corniche le long de la Mediter- 
 ranee, et les parfums des Grangers et la douce vegetation tropicale que 
 protege le vivifiant soleil de ce pays enchanteur m'ont fait oublier 
 tellement la politique que jen'ai pas demandeun journal jusqu'a Nice. 
 La j'ai appris les etranges evenements de Paris. Mon mari est parti de 
 suite pour Paris, en traversant avec son intrepidite ordinaire les departe- 
 ments en feu. Moi, je suis restec a Nice quelques jours, et puis je me suis 
 hasardee, moi aussi, au milieu du feu. J'ai vu le spectacle de toutes 
 ces malheureuses populations egarees en lutte avec la force armee 
 moitie en fuite, sc cachaiit dans les bois le jour, et moitie enchainee de 
 tout age, de tout sexe, n'ayant plus d'humain que les noms. 1 
 
 Mais, malgre mon equipage, peu du gout des socialistes, je n'ai 
 souffert aucun affront, et je suis arrivee saine et sauve a Paris. 
 
 Et vous, mon cher Lord Malmesbury, vous aussi, vous avez passe 
 vos jours d'automne au mileu de massacres ! que de victimes vous 
 devez avoir fait dans vos belles chasses d'Ecosse ! 
 
 Si vous avez un instant, veuillez me donner de vos nouvelles, et me 
 dire si votre sante est bonne, et si nous avons quelque chance de vous 
 revoir cette annee. 
 
 Croyez a mon amitie bien sincere. 
 
 MARQUISE DE BOISSY. 
 
 P.S. La Duchesse de Grammont devait diner chez moi hier. Elle 
 ne 1'a pu, parce que le I)uc est tellement malade qu'on ne le quitte plus 
 un instant. 
 
 1 The horrors committed by the French mobs were too unnaturally dreadful t& 
 be described, especially at Clamecy. 
 
1852 EXCITEMENT AT THE CARLTOtf, 229 
 
 February 23rd. Lord Palmerston refuses to join Lord Derby 
 on account of Protection. Lord Derby has made his list, and there 
 is to be a general meeting of the new Cabinet at his house this 
 morning. I got a letter from Louis Napoleon the day before 
 yesterday, renewing his assurances of amity towards England, but 
 complaining of our armaments, which he said showed suspicion. 
 Got a message from Lord Derby at 8 P.M., desiring me to go 
 to him directly to help him to settle the Court appointments. 
 The Queen wants the Duchess of Northumberland to be Mistress 
 of the Robes. I hear M. Briinnow, Russian Ambassador, was 
 very much alarmed at Madame Walewska's party at being told 
 Sir Stratford Canning was to be Foreign Secretary. He said, 
 1 Allons, done ! c'est une mauvaise plaisanterie ! ' Lord Derby 
 had sounded Sir Stratford last year about taking the Foreign 
 Office, when he jumped at the appointment, but on reflection, 
 after the long antagonism between him and the Emperor of 
 Russia, it would have been looked on as an insult by Nicholas. 
 Sir Stratford will never forgive me for being the innocent cause 
 of this apparent slight. His talents are beyond dispute, but his 
 temper is so despotic and irritable, that he can only display them 
 in a peculiar kind of diplomacy. He managed the Turks in their 
 own way, and it was Sultan versus Sultan. With him at the 
 Foreign Office there could have been no peace with Russia or in 
 the Cabinet. I went to the Carlton Club, the state of which I 
 can only compare to the Bourse at Paris, or a fair in England, 
 such was the excitement. 
 
 From Louis Napoleon, Prince President, to Lord M. 
 
 Elysee : 24 fevrier 1852. 
 
 Mon cher Lord Malmesbury, Je ne veux pas tarder a vous feliciter 
 du poste eleve ou la confiance de la Heine vous a appele, mais je m'en 
 felicite surtout pour les bons rapports qui doivent en resulter pour les 
 deux pays. Nous avons re9U ici avec grand plaisir Lord et Lady 
 Cowley, et nous serions tres-heureux si le changement de Ministere ne 
 les entrainait pas d sa suite. Croyez, mon cher Lord Malmesbury, que 
 vous trouverez toujours mon gouvernement franc, loyal, anime des 
 sentiments les plus amicaux, et pret 4 s'entendre avec le votre pour 
 tout ce qui peut assurer la paix et les progres de la civilisation. 
 Je vous renouvelle 1'assurance de ma sincere amitie. 
 
 LOUIS-NAPOLEON. 
 
230 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER, 1852 
 
 Lord Palmerston to Lord M. 
 
 C.G.: February 24, 1852. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I shall be happy both on personal and 
 public grounds to give you any information which I can give, and 
 which you may think useful to you, with reference to the state of our ' 
 foreign relations, and I will either receive you here or call upon you, as 
 best may suit you, at any time most convenient to you to-morrow. 
 Your time is not entirely at your disposal, mine is at my own command; 
 I shall, therefore, await your appointment. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 PALMERSTON. 
 
 February 25th. I called 011 Lady Palmerston and Lady 
 Jersey both at home ; Lady Jersey in greatest delight at Lord 
 J. being Master of the Horse. Lady Clementina rayonnante. 
 Lord Brougham called, and in his mad manner fell on his knees 
 before Lady Malmesbury, kissed her hand, and then asked me 
 whether Louis Napoleon was not my son. I answered I did not 
 know, but there was one reason against it namely, that he was 
 nearly, if not as old as myself. Lord Brougham laughed, and 
 said, ' It would have been still more curious if he had been older.' 
 
 February 2Qth. Duchess of Northumberland has refused to 
 be Mistress of the Robes, on the plea that she would have to 
 manage the Duke's private business, now that he is First Lord of 
 the Admiralty. 
 
 Lord M. to President Louis Napoleon. 
 
 London : February 26, 1852. 
 
 Sir, I have to express to your Royal Highness my sincere thanks 
 for the honour you have done me by the kind letter I received from 
 your Royal Highness yesterday. 
 
 To the high gratification I feel at the mark of Her Majesty's con- 
 fidence by which I have been just distinguished is added that of 
 knowing that your Royal Highness is personally pleased with my 
 appointment, and also with that of Lord Cowley at Paris. 
 
 Lord Derby entertains the highest opinion of his abilities and 
 honourable character, and it is a satisfaction to him to know that your 
 Royal Highness has already appreciated them. 
 
 Your Royal Highness may feel assured that I shall enter upon niy 
 
1852 RECEIVING THE SEALS. 231 
 
 duties with the most complete conviction that amity between France 
 and England is not only necessary to the prosperity of both these 
 countries, but also to the general interests of civilisation ; and it was 
 with the liveliest pleasure that I read this sentiment so frankly and 
 loyally expressed in the letter of your Eoyal Highness. 
 
 I have known your Eoyal Highness too long to fear that, with 
 your great power for good or for evil, you will hesitate between them. 
 
 With every assurance of personal friendship, I have the honour to 
 be, &c., 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 February 27 th. I went to the Queen this morning at Windsor, 
 to kiss hands, and to receive the seals of office. The joke on 
 Dizzy's appointment is, that ' Benjamin's mess will be five times 
 as great as the others ! ' I began my work this morning, I have 
 settled to do the writing at my house, and to see the Foreign 
 Ministers at the office. The whole of the Corps Diplomatique 
 have received me most kindly, with the exception of the Yan de 
 Weyers. I believe it is because they are strong Orleanist partisans 
 and think I am a Bonapartist. He is a clever, agreeable man, 
 and was formerly a librarian in Belgium. He married a rich 
 American, Miss Bates, who always gave herself great airs. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley, Ambassador at Paris, 
 on Neufchdtel, <c. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 2, 1852. 
 
 Dear Lord Cowley, The reply to your last despatch, giving 
 officially the views of Lord Derby's Government on the Swiss question, 
 will follow in a few days. 1 Suffice it to say, that at present we cannot 
 sanction or approve in any way the conduct of the French Government 
 in this matter, and still less the reasons on which they found their 
 course towards Switzerland. At the same time, as Austria supports 
 the President, and Russia is neuter, we cannot effectively prevent his 
 intentions, and must urge on the Swiss the expediency of acting with 
 moderation as long as they do not sacrifice their independence for the 
 future. The last despatch of Mr. Magenis (English Minister at Berne) 
 is reassuring on this point, and I send it to you. 
 
 I believe you are aware of my having formerly had an intimate 
 
 1 The French wished the Swiss Government to expel the refugees. 
 
232 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 acquaintance with the President an accident that he has had the 
 maladresse to put forward ostentatiously in his newspapers. When I 
 was appointed, and before I kissed hands, I received from him a letter 
 of congratulation, expressing in the strongest terms his peaceable in- 
 tentions and desire of promoting civilisation. I enclose a copy. I 
 answered it in my private capacity. There is no reason you should not 
 allude to this letter (which the Queen has seen), and tell him how satis- 
 factory its receipt is to this Government. Before the last Government 
 resigned, and about a month since, I wrote to him a strong remonstrance 
 on the subject of the Orleans property decrees. He replied, with con- 
 tinued and repeated assurances of friendship to England, but declared 
 the confiscation necessary, as even some of his own new Senators had 
 been tampered with by Orleanist agents and money. This is quite a 
 marottc with him, and Walewski is strongly against him on this point. 
 You may depend upon his being a man of action and counsel, relying on 
 110 other agent but his own inspirations, but with great self-command 
 and power of self-denial if his passions are at variance with his interests. 
 He is very superstitious, and was formerly very accessible to romantic 
 and chivalrous impressions, and in private transactions most jealous of 
 his word and his honour. I give you these hints (experto crede), 
 because you will at once see their value where future events must 
 depend on the single will of one man. 
 
 My belief is that, on the Swiss question, if anything can be done, 
 and the President is not seeking a quarrel, you cannot do better than 
 communicate with him personally. He will, if it suits him, throw over 
 Turgot. 1 
 
 I must add that in his note he expressed a wish that you should 
 remain at Paris, of which, of course, there never was a doubt. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Lord Vv'estmor eland, Ambassador at Vienna, to Lord M. 
 
 March 4, 1852. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I write you these few words to say that 
 Prince Schwarzenberg has, I know, transmitted this day by messenger 
 to Count Buol a despatch, in accordance with his promise to me as re- 
 ported in my letter of the day before yesterday ; and from the report 
 I have received of this despatch, I believe you will be satisfied with the 
 sentiments it expresses. The speech of Lord Derby, and the language 
 1 Turgot was French Minister for Foreign Affairs. 
 
1852 'THE AUSTRIAN NOTES. 233 
 
 he holds as to foreign Governments, has had the best effect here Loth 
 with th3 Government and the puLlic. As a proof of it I enclose the 
 articles from two of the semi-official newspapers of this town. 
 
 Very sincerely yours, 
 
 WESTMORELAND. 
 
 Marquess of Lansdowne to Lord M., on Ms Accession to the 
 Foreign Office. 
 
 March 1852. 
 
 My dear Lord Malmesbury, Having Leen prevented from going 
 to the levee yesterday, where I might -probahly have met you, I have 
 had no opportunity of thanking you since the last sitting of the House of 
 Lords for the very kind and cordial expressions of kindness you used 
 in alluding to what I had said on that occasion. 1 
 
 I assure you that they were doubly gratifying to me as coming from 
 you, awakening some of the most agreeable recollections of my early 
 life and of former friendships. 
 
 Apart from all political considerations, I sincerely wish you success 
 in the discharge of the new duties you have undertaken, and remain, 
 
 Very truly yours, 
 
 LANSDOWNE. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 St. James's Square : March 1852. 
 
 Dear Malmesbury, If I am late for dinner you will have made me 
 so. The despatches [the Austrian Notes] you have sent me are very 
 satisfactory, and I am glad we have got them just at this moment. I 
 must have them again if they are left with you, as of course they must 
 be, to be answered. Our tone should be as cordial as possible, but we 
 must take care what we say, for there is rather too great a desire to 
 exhibit us as following exactly the same line as Austria, and I have no 
 ideaof committing the Government to another Holy Alliance. The 
 despatch about France is as singular as it is satisfactory. Austria would 
 seem to say, ' How happy could I be with either ! ' but just at this 
 moment she thinks us the safest ally. 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 March Qth. Met Lord Grey, who told me they meant to op- 
 pose us in both Houses, and expected to turn us out in three 
 
 weeks. 
 
 1 His intended retirement from public life. He died in 1865. 
 
234 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 Dined at Northumberland House ; met a large party, in- 
 cluding almost all the Cabinet. Lord Derby said to my wife, * I 
 have been driving a team of young horses this morning ; not one 
 had ever been in harness before, and they went beautifully ; not 
 one kicked amongst them.' All kinds of jokes were made in 
 respect of our being such novices in office ; and Lady Clanricarde, 
 intending to quiz Lord Derby about the appointment of Sir John 
 Pakington to the Colonies, said, across a large dinner table, 'Are 
 you sure, Lord Derby, that he is a real man 1 ' To which he re- 
 plied, * Well, I think so he has been married three times.' 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Westmoreland, H.M. Ambassador at Vienna, 
 on his first interview ivith Count Buol. 
 
 London : March 8, 1852. 
 My dear Lord Westmoreland, 
 
 I grieve at the contents of your last despatch, received yesterday, 
 which describes the animus of Prince Schwarzenberg towards this 
 country. Your private letter to Granville I have not opened, and it 
 has been sent to the country after him. When we came into office I 
 hoped to find at once a positive disposition to reconciliation on the part 
 of Buol. Having had my levee on Monday, the 1st inst., he asked for 
 an appointment the next day. When he arrived he began, certainly, 
 by hoping that the new Government would establish better relations 
 between our Courts ; but immediately proceeded to ask for a condem- 
 nation of Granville's last despatch to him on the subject of the Modena 
 and Papal Notes, and of his refusing to read those Notes. He took a 
 very high tone, describing it as a positive affront to him, unsupported 
 by any precedents in the forms of diplomacy. He hinted at being 
 bound to retire altogether from communicating with us till he heard 
 from Vienna. He foresaw great anger from the Emperor, who was so 
 young ; and, in short;, spoke of the fact of the despatch, and of the 
 circulating that despatch among our Ministers at other Courts, as an 
 ensemble requiring reparation to him personally and to his Court, a 
 reparation which we ought to grant in the form of a written condem- 
 nation of my predecessor's conduct in this matter. 
 
 I contented myself by asserting the right we had to refuse Notes 
 of this important nature when presented by unaccredited persons. So 
 far I approved of Granville's act, but of course would not be responsible 
 if in his manner he had committed any solecism. 
 
COUNT 13UOL. 235 
 
 I must say Buol's manner was anything but agreeable, and he 
 alternately tried to bully and to mystify me as to diplomatic usages in 
 a way which can only be accounted for from his supposing (and justly 
 so) that he was dealing with an inexperienced hand. I must leave it 
 to you to assure Prince Schwarzenberg of our anxious desire to resume 
 our old relations of cordial amity with Austria. Surely the best way 
 is to drop any further correspondence whatever on these Notes and the 
 Refugee Question. The latter we cannot entertain for a moment, even 
 if Lord Derby did not feel as strongly as he does the injustice and 
 impossibility of yielding to any demand for the expulsion of refugees 
 from this country as long as they conform to its laws and do not give 
 their conspiracies a practical form. You must be aware that no 
 Government which complied with such demands could exist a month 
 in England. I trust you will be able to have orders sent here to let 
 bygones be bygones, and to avoid all reference to the past. 
 
 The President (Louis Napoleon) is full of peaceful and friendly pro- 
 fessions, and the last despatch from Magenis states the Swiss to be in- 
 clined to yield to reasonable demands. Walewski says that Austria 
 first proposed the occupation of Switzerland, and that it is to prevent 
 it that France has taken up the question. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBUEY. 
 
 Lord M. to Sir Stratford Canning, H.M. Ambassador at 
 Constantinople, on the Tanzimat Law. 
 
 London : March 8, 1852. 
 My dear Sir Stratford, 
 
 I should like to have your opinion as to the expediency of inviting 
 Eussia, France, and Austria to join us in urging the Sultan to exempt 
 Egypt from the new law respecting capital punishment, and to reduce 
 our demand to five years, which would cover the construction of the 
 Suez railway. 
 
 MALMESBUEY. 
 
 March ]Qth. Duke of Wellington, Jerseys, Briinnows, Van 
 de Weyers, Buols, Derbys, and Lord Bath, dined with us. The 
 Duke is nearly stone deaf. 
 
 Lord Hardwicke confiscated the latchkey of forty housemaids 
 
 
236 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER 18.32 
 
 ut the General Post Office in London, at the risk of a revolution 
 in his Department. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley, H.M. Ambassador at Paris, 
 on Neufchdtcl. 
 
 Foreign Office: March 1], 1852. 
 Dear Lord Cowley, 
 
 I have now to inform you that Btmsen has come forward with a 
 proposition (I enclose it) respecting a recognition hy the four Powers of 
 Prussia's rights over Neufchatel. Now, however we may and do 
 acknowledge these rights, which are confirmed by the Treaty of 
 Vienna, there would be no advantage in repeating such an undisputed 
 fact by a new protocol, unless collateral objects recommended it. One 
 of these, it is thought, would be worth having in the repeated recogni- 
 tion of Swiss independence and neutrality. Assuming the project to 
 be desirable, it appears to me doubtful whether France would consent 
 to it as well as the other Powers, and if she refused she would then be 
 on another line. I would therefore request you to discover privately 
 whether, in the event of such a proposal as this of Bunsen's being 
 made, France would consent to join the other four Powers. 
 
 My own opinion (even supposing we are convinced of the policy of 
 strengthening the liens of the Treaty of 1815 respecting Switzerland) is 
 that this is not the time to do it that we ought at this moment to appear 
 to the Swiss as the independent and real friend, offering honourable and 
 reasonable advice in their present difficulties. I think that if, simul- 
 taneously with our present representations in this sense, we urged the 
 acknowledgment of the King of Prussia's claims in conjunction with 
 two nations who are, in the act of bullying them, the Swiss would no 
 longer follow our advice with the same confidence which they have 
 apparently shown. 
 
 I have just received your two letters and despatches. I have 
 known Persigny long and well. He is a most fearless fellow, but the 
 essence of vanity and a great perorateur. Formerly, by flattery and 
 piquing his vanity in assuming his ignorance, anything could be 
 extracted. He his now, perhaps, more catious by experience, but only 
 a year ago, by applying the above medicine, I relieved him of every 
 word of his famous conversation with Changarnier an hour after it had 
 taken place, and all he had done and not done at Berlin. The Presi- 
 dent knows he is faithful but does not think more of his steadiness 
 than I do. Yours truly, MALMESBURY. 
 
1852 OUR CABINET FORMED. 237 
 
 March llth.- Our Cabinet is now formed, and consists of the 
 following : 
 
 Premier . . . . Lord Derby. 
 
 Lord Chancellor . . , Lord St. Leonards. 
 
 Lord President of the Council Lord Lonsdale. 
 
 Lord Privy Seal . . . Lord Salisbury. 
 
 Foreign Secretary . . . Lord Malmesbury. 
 
 Home Secretary . . . Mr. Walpole. 
 
 Colonial Secretary . . Sir J. Pakington. 
 
 War Office .... Colonel Beresford. 
 
 Navy ..... Duke of Northumberland. 
 
 Woods and Forests . . Lord John Manners. 
 
 Post Office .... Lord Hardwicke. 
 
 Board of Control . . . Mr. Herries. 
 Chancellor of the Exchequer 
 
 and leader of the House of 
 
 Commons .... Mr. Disraeli. 
 
 The only men who have ever held office before are Lord Derby 
 and Lord Lonsdale and Mr. Herries ; and the country is to a certain 
 degree anxious as to a Government composed of men so inexperi- 
 enced in public business. The Opposition papers are loud in their 
 abuse of us personally, to an amount of scurrility that does them no 
 honour. With regard to myself, I get a good share of their epi- 
 grams and insults, but I thought all this natural enough under the 
 peculiar circumstances, and have cared little for it, until I found 
 out that the most bitter and disparaging articles were written by 
 Sidney Herbert and Lord Lincoln, both of whom have been for 
 years my most intimate and ' familiar friends,' l and I confess 
 their anonymous and treacherous warfare gives me great pain ; 
 but such are politics, destructive of all the gentler sentiments 
 between man and man, Lord Palmerston, who had been the ward 
 of the first Lord Malmesbury, and had always maintained the 
 most constant friendship with my family, knowing that I was 
 inexperienced in official life, and that I must have considerable 
 difficulty in managing so high and important a charge as that of 
 the Foreign Office, kindly offered to call on me and give me some 
 advice upon the main principles of our English policy with foreign 
 
 1 These two had set up a paper of their own, the Morning Chronicle, by which 
 they eventually lost a great deal of moneyj 
 
238 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 countries. Of course, I gratefully accepted his offer, and he came 
 to my house in Whitehall Gardens, giving me a masterly sketch 
 of the status quo in Europe, and some general hints as to my 
 procedure. The pith of them was ' to keep well with France ; ' 
 but adding, * that she was ambitious to have the principal influence 
 in the East, and that in this respect we were " like two men in 
 love with the same woman." ' He said, ' You have no idea till 
 you know more of your office what a power of prestige England 
 possesses abroad, and it will be your first duty to see that it does 
 not wane. All the Foreign Ministers will try at first to get ob- 
 jects which they have been refused by successive Governments ; 
 so take care you yield nothing until you have well looked into 
 every side of the question. When the diplomates call, do not be 
 too reserved, but preface your observations by stating that what 
 you say is officious.' He said, that of course being unaccustomed 
 to this sort of work namely, reading a number of papers and 
 answering or taking note of them they must cost me more time 
 and labour than they did him, but that the advantage I had was 
 in having young eyes, as he suffered much from his sight. He 
 recommended me to insist on all official correspondence being 
 written in a plain hand with proper intervals between the lines, 
 and he mentioned some Ministers who were quite illegible. On 
 the subject of appointments abroad he said, satirically, ' You will 
 be struck with a very curious circumstance namely, that " 110 
 climate agrees with an English diplomatist excepting that of 
 Paris, Florence, or Naples ! " ; He said that the advent of Louis 
 Napoleon to power was a good thing for France, and, from the 
 extraordinary figures of the plebiscite, proved she was weary both 
 of Bourbons and lawyers ; but that, as it was quite possible that 
 his tendencies might be to avenge his uncle's fate, we must turn 
 all our attention to strengthening our national defences both 
 by forts and an increase of armaments. This is also the ruling 
 feeling at Court and throughout the country, as the long rule of 
 the Whigs has let down all the defensive powers of Great Britain. 
 If in 1840 Thiers had had his way, and France had gone to war 
 with us, we should have been totally unprepared, oven in our 
 navy. 
 
 After this interview, I called by appointment on the Duke of 
 
1852 MY STAFF. 239 
 
 Wellington, whom, being Lord- Lieutenant of my county, and 
 having often seen him respecting the yeomanry, &c., I knew very 
 well. His advice was much the same as Lord Palmerston's. He 
 had a bad opinion of the Emperor Nicholas's character for sin- 
 cerity, and said there was much in him of ' the Greek of the 
 Lower Empire.' He wound up as I was going out, * Mind you 
 keep well with France, as that is a most important object for us ; 
 but be careful as to this new change of dynasty. I don't believe 
 Louis Napoleon will ever go to war with us if he can help it, but 
 he must keep up his popularity, and then God knows what he 
 may do.' He urged me to press on Lord Derby the increase of 
 our armaments by sea and land. We talked as above in a small 
 room, sitting in the middle of it, on two board chairs (the only 
 ones) just opposite each other. He was very deaf, and therefore 
 spoke louder than he used to do. 
 
 Lord Derby had appointed his son, Edward Stanley, as my 
 Under Secretary, but as he was in India for his pleasure, I was 
 without anyone whom I knew, and this made my position more 
 difficult. I received, however, the most cordial assistance from 
 the Permanent Under-Secretary, Mr. Addington. (who was a 
 Tory and had been our Minister at Washington), from the moment 
 I entered the Foreign Office. The chief of the clerks was Mr. 
 Hammond, 1 a very strong partisan on the other side. All the 
 staff were kindly disposed, but I could see that they expected me 
 to give them much trouble, and to ask their advice. They were 
 surprised to see how I knew the routine work, and all the 
 verbiage of the profession, as I did thoroughly, from having in 
 1844 published the Memoirs, State Papers, and Correspondence 
 of my grandfather, the first Earl. For two years I was employed 
 in reading not only his public despatches to Ministers at home, 
 but also to his brother diplomatists abroad. I went through 
 above 2,000 of these, embracing the period between 1768 and 
 1809, as if I had been an Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office 
 for forty years, arranging and collating them, and investigating 
 their contemporary history. 
 
 I shall have, therefore, no difficulty in expounding our policy 
 to our diplomatists abroad, and to foreign ones in London, as 
 1 Now Lord Hammond. 
 
240 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18o2 
 
 soon as our Cabinet has fixed it. I owe much to the Queen and 
 the Prince, who, in the kindest and most gracious manner, give 
 me a great deal of private information of which I could know 
 nothing as to foreign, especially German, Courts. Lord Gran- 
 ville and I had been friends, as my grandfather and his father 
 were before us, the latter having served with Lord Malmesbury 
 in his missions. He called on me, as is usual, to explain the 
 status quo of foreign affairs. The pressing questions are treat- 
 ment of political refugees and French demands on Switzerland 
 to expel them ; the claims of Prussia on Neufchatel ; the claim 
 of Abbas in Egypt, of powder of life and death refused by the 
 Sultan : the treaty settling the Greek and Danish Crowns ; but, 
 above all, the great uncertainty of Louis Napoleon's intentions as 
 to his policy, and making himself Emperor. Rome and Modena 
 had sent notes, suggested by Austria, through Count Buol, 
 demanding the extradition of their refugees, which Lord Gran- 
 ville met by throwing them after him when he went out of the 
 room ; and this was my first diplomatic interview with Buol, 
 who was raving against England and Granville. He behaved in 
 the most coarse and insolent manner when I refused to receive 
 the notes which he presented, and to such a degree, that I at last 
 asked him if he was accustomed to speak to English Ministers in 
 that style ; because I must tell him at once that I would not 
 bear it, and should inform his Court of his violence. He then 
 left the room. 1 
 
 Soon after, Prince Schwarzenberg came into power, recalled 
 Buol and repudiated his demands respecting refugees, expressing 
 as strongly as possible his pleasure at our party coming into office, 
 and his wishes for our good understanding. Turgot is Minister 
 for Foreign Affairs for France, Walewski Ambassador to England. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley, H.M. Ambassador at Paris, on 
 opening the River Plate. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 16, 1852. 
 
 Dear Lord Cowley, I have only time to request you to discover 
 how far the French Government would be prepared to go hand in hand 
 
 1 Lord Granville denies having heen in any way discourteous to Count Buol, 
 whose conduct and manner to me, and his account of Lord Granville's to himself, 
 was a c.omcdie diplomatique played on my inexperience of official forms. 
 
1832 THE DANISH SUCCESSION. 241 
 
 with us in ti'ying to persuade the South American States to open the 
 rivers Parana and Uruguay to us on free-trade principles. We mus 
 try to get America to join with us in this great plan, which (now that 
 Bosas is defeated and an exile) may, I hope, be accomplished. Wo 
 should probably send a special mission to negotiate this, and arrange, 
 if possible, the Brazilian loan. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 March 17th. Our immemorial Cabinet dinner was at Lord 
 Lonsdale's. Each of us gives one on a Wednesday. 1 Lord Ossuls- 
 ton beat Sir George Grey for Northumberland, and came in with 
 Lord Lovaine. Saw Lady Derby, who wishes Lady Malmesbury 
 to present Princess Edward of Saxe- Weimar at the Drawing- 
 room as Countess of Dornberg. The Prince and the Richmond 
 family hope she will be allowed the title of Princess by courtesy 
 in society; Lady Derby begged Lady Malmesbury to send them 
 an invitation to her party next Saturday, giving her the title of 
 Princess, which she did. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Bloomfield, H.M. Ambassador at Berlin, on the 
 Danish Succession and the Treaty of London of 1852. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 18, 1852. 
 
 Dear Lord Bloomfield, Referring to your conversation with M. 
 Manteuffel upon the contingencies dependent upon a French invasion 
 of Belgium, I have only to say that your language was exactly what 
 her Majesty's Government wishes to be held on that subject. You 
 must take care that there is no such secret understanding as to fetter 
 our discretion as to the extent or even character of our interference in 
 a supposed case, which at present appears very improbable. We are 
 not disposed to enter into any offensive and defensive alliances, 
 although we shall readily acknowledge our responsibility as laid down 
 by treaties. 
 
 If the President ever contemplated an invasion of Belgium, he has, 
 I think, relinquished the idea for the present, being made aware that 
 
 1 Until the next Administration, the Cabinet always had dinners once a week, 
 giving them by tui'ns, and it was at one of these, always held on Wednesday, that 
 Thistlewood and his gang meant to murder the Ministers. 
 
 R 
 
242 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MJNISTKH. l,s.V2 
 
 from no quarter will ho receive encouragement, but probably resistance 
 from every Power of consequence in Europe. 
 
 You will be glad to hear that all our wrangles with Austria are 
 terminated, and that we have received a most friendly note from Prince 
 S ch war z enberg. 
 
 The Swiss question is softening down, and the only really very 
 important point now is the speedy signature of the agreement for the 
 Danish Succession. You will, I hope, use all your influence at Berlin 
 to show the King that the Duke of Augustenberg only delays his assent 
 to the indemnity from a foolish hope that a row may take place some- 
 where and somehow amongst the Five Powers, and that in the scuffle 
 he may get something more. It would be very desirable for the King 
 of Prussia to make him understand that the only chance he runs is 
 that of losing the terms now offered him by further delays. 
 
 I also wish you to induce M. Manteuffel to write to M. Bunsen 
 instructions to join us in signing the agreement on the Danish Succes- 
 sion. M. Briimiow has full powers to do so, and is anxious to terminate 
 this business at so favourable a moment ; so is France ; and I conclude 
 that Austria would follow Prussia in the move. 
 
 Yours turly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Lord M. to Mr. Cra/nqpton, H,M. Minister at Washington. 
 
 Foreign Office: March 26, 1852.^ 
 
 My dear Sir, I send you the copy of a despatch I have written to 
 Lord Cowley, which will inform you of the intention of her Majesty's 
 Government to send a special mission to Buenos Ayres with the object 
 of obtaining as free a use as possible of the great tributaries to the 
 Plata. It is the wish of her Majesty's Government that you should 
 mention this fact to the Government of the United States, stating at 
 the same time that we desire no commercial advantages for ourselves 
 in particular, but are only anxious that the whole world should profit 
 by any liberal policy which the Argentine Confederation maybe induced 
 to adopt. Lord Derby has already spoken on the subject to Mr. 
 Lawrence here, who, I believe, has informed his Government of that 
 conversation. We have reason to believe that the Government of the 
 United States will receive the information with favour ; but if you 
 should find any dissatisfaction expressed at our not having invited it to 
 join with us and France in this mission, you will account for the fact 
 by representing that our success depends upon the most rapid move- 
 ments, and that no time was left to put ourselves in communication 
 
1852 THE REFUGEE QUESTION. 243 
 
 with the United States, and to receive a reply. Should any questions 
 be asked you respecting our primary proposals, you will not fail to state 
 that we can only demand the opening of the Parana as a privilege to 
 be obtained by negotiation and not as a right. 
 
 You will at once see how this point touches our rights to the 
 navigation of the St. Lawrence, and the importance of our not appear- 
 ing to hold different principles on different sides of the Equator. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley, H.M. Ambassador at Paris. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 26, 1852. 
 Dear Lord Cowley, 
 
 I have always held to Walewski the same language, that we would 
 give that ' advice to the Swiss Government which was consonant with 
 their interests without compromising their independence.' Walewski 
 after having described to me the ultimatum of France, asked me to 
 communicate it privately to Mageiiis, and to instruct him to let the 
 Federal Government know how they could settle the matter. He re- 
 peatedly said the demands upon future refugees would not be pressed, 
 and never had been intended, and made use of the expression, 
 ' L'avenir appartient a tout le monde.' 
 
 Your language to M. de Turgot should still be in the words I have 
 quoted above as used by me. If the Executive of the Federal Govern- 
 ment has, by its own laws, the power of expelling foreigners deemed 
 dangerous to the State, their doing so at the request of France is a 
 question of opinion and justice on the part of the Executive, and not a 
 breach of constitutional law and liberty. Thus Dr. Fiirrer may, if not 
 afraid of the Opposition party, exiler et interner whom he pleases 
 without sacrificing Swiss rights. 
 
 Yours, truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Lord M. to Sir Hamilton Seymour, H.M. Ambassador 
 at St. Petersburg. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 29, 1852. 
 
 My dear Sir Hamilton, Notwithstanding the impression which you 
 appear to have that the Prince President has relinquished his anxiety 
 
 n 2 
 
244 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1832 
 
 to possess the title of Emperor, I confess I do not feel the least con- 
 vinced that any change has taken place in his ambitious intentions. I 
 have known him personally for many years, and I can answer for the 
 most remarkable feature in his character being an obstinacy of inten- 
 tion, which, as it is maintained on all subjects with an unruffled 
 temper, is held to the last against all opposition. All projects once 
 formed and matured in his head remain there perfectly uncommuni- 
 cated in detail, but their practical attempts of fulfilment will be a mere 
 question of time. To be Emperor has been his marotte since he was 
 twenty years old, when I recollect his mother used to laugh at him for 
 indulging such a dream. Walewski tells me (on his return from Paris) 
 that the whole army is most eager to crown him. He is universally 
 called ' Altesse Imperiale,' and there is good reason for supposing 
 that his mantle is in the hands of the brodeuses. I do not, myself, see 
 that any title he may please to assume can seriously influence European 
 or monarchical interests. France has so long 'desecrated royalty and 
 its prestige upon its own ground, from the time it decapitated Louis XVI. 
 until it elected and banished Louis Philippe, that any of its acts relating 
 to personal dignities must be looked upon as a masquerade of mum- 
 mers. The impression made by these successive actors of royalty upon 
 legal and hereditary titles can only induce a comparison in favour of 
 the latter. As to political consequences, I think the assumption by 
 Louis Napoleon of the Imperial purple would be null, and if not null 
 rather likely to put an end to his velleitcs, as it has been his primary 
 object it may be his last and having obtained all he can obtain, 
 except by force of arms, and being himself no soldier, and jealous of 
 generals, I do not think it unlikely that he will rest quietly at the 
 Tuileries. One object of making himself Emperor is undoubtedly to 
 obtain a royal bride. 
 
 These are my ideas, founded on my personal knowledge of the man ; 
 but if I am mistaken as to the results of his elevation to the throne, 
 I am not so as to his general character. He certainly entertained 
 formerly the idea of a territorial redistribution of the arrangements of 
 1815, and you may depend upon it the' idea still remains in fiis brain. 
 
 It is, therefore, most necessary that he should be made to feel (of 
 course as civilly as possible) that the great Powers look upon the settle- 
 ment of 1815 as final. He is much pleased at our invitation to join us 
 in renewing negotiations to open the Plate and its tributaries to the 
 world, and is to send M. St. George in a man-of-war, in company with 
 our envoy, Sir C. Hotham. 
 
 Yours very truly, MALMESBURY, 
 
1852 WRECK OF THE < J31RKENHEAD.' 245 
 
 April 1st. Drawing Hoom. Lady Malmesbury had to pre- 
 sent all the wives of the Foreign Ministers. 
 
 April 5th. We dined at the Palace. Queen very gracious to 
 both of us ; so was the Prince, by whom Lady Malmesbury sat 
 at dinner. Party : Comte d'Aquila, Duke of Cambridge, Prince 
 Leopold of Saxe-Coburg, Carinis, and Briinnow. I was attacked 
 in the House of Lords by Lord Beaumont on the old question of 
 refugees, whom he pretended to suppose I would give up. Prince 
 Schwarzenberg, Prime Minister of Austria, died yesterday, and 
 Count Buol is appointed in his stead. News has been received 
 of the loss of the ' Birkenhead,' large steamer, carrying out troops 
 to the Cape. She was wrecked on a reef not above two or three 
 miles from the shore in Simon's Bay. Above 400 men perished. 
 The courage they showed was wonderful. Not a word was 
 uttered or a cry heard till the vessel sunk. All the women and 
 children saved, 
 
 Lord M. to Hon. Charles Murray, H.M. Consul in Egypt. 
 
 Foreign Office: April 8, 1852, 
 
 My clear Murray, Many thanks for your congratulations and your' 
 ' digest ' (as Brougham calls it) of the affairs of Egypt. I have seen 
 Layard, Larking, 1 and others of equal experience in travel and business 
 over the East, and I find them all differing as much as your officials do 
 respecting the real practical results lik ely to occur should the Tanzimat 
 be enforced in Egypt. 
 
 I can't form any opinion beyond this, that the two Turks do not 
 look upon it so much as to its effect on their respective populations as 
 on the symbolical importance which the power of life and death gives 
 to a turban. 
 
 However this may be, you must consider the Tanzimat as a question 
 of time only, and as passed. Successive Secretaries of State have 
 acknowledged the Sultan's right, nor do I see how it can be denied. 
 Vide the Treaty. This being the case, we must make the best of it 
 now that he seems determined not even to postpone the law, and you 
 must look farther than 1852. The next heir to Egypt is a Frenchman. 
 If Egypt by any act of ours be helped to more independence and 
 power, those advantages noiv, it is true, used for England, will then be 
 used against her, and if they have been gained at the expense of 
 1 Formerly Consul in Egypt. 
 
246 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 the Forte's goodwill and political power, we shall have made a seedy 
 bargain. We must look at the Sultan as the most lasting and secure 
 force of the two, and so shape our policy that we shall preserve the use 
 of Egypt for the present, without creating a ready-made dependency of 
 it to France hereafter. You must, therefore, take care not to appear 
 in any degree a partisan of either side, but supply the Pasha with 
 proper arguments, which must be urged without asperity. I consider 
 (and so does Larking) the Commissioners to be so many irritators, and 
 they should go home again. If Canning can't shake the Sultan at 
 Stamboul, nor I his Minister here, I am sure that your Commissioners 
 are more likely to drive him mad than to soothe him and his viziers. 
 
 I am grieved to hear from your brother that feuds are not confined 
 to the Turks, but that you, Canning, and Rose are all in hot water. 
 This is most fatal to the interests of your country, which ought to be 
 the first object in the minds of each and all of you, and it is a source 
 of great regret to the Government. Pray, therefore, bury them in 
 oblivion at least, till you leave the East. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Lord M, to Hon. P. C. Scarlett, H.M. Charge d' Affaires at 
 Florence. 
 
 Foreign Office : April 9, 1852. 
 
 Dear Mr. Scarlett, You must if possible get 5001. for Mather, or he 
 should have such a sum as would bring him a small annuity. That is 
 what he would have got in England. As a last resource, you might 
 ask for arbitration. 
 
 I send you Prince Schwarzenberg's letter, which is satisfactory in 
 a national sense, but is not enough as regards the Tuscans, who close 
 their courts of justice to us. 
 
 Of course you must not talk of an apology from the officer, as it 
 would be bathos after we have got Schwarzenberg's note. Two days 
 before his death he told Lord Westmoreland that Tuscany ought to 
 have allowed Mather to plead in a civil court. 1 
 
 I hope you will have the credit of doing this before Bulwer arrives. 
 
 Yoiirs truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 1 Mr. Mather refused to make way for an Austrian detachment at Florence, 
 pushing his way into the band, upon which an officer wounded him by a sabre cut. 
 Hinc illee lacrymse. 
 
1852 DEATH OF PRINCE SCHWARZENBERG. 247 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Westmoreland. 
 
 Heron Court: April 10, 1852. 
 
 Dear Lord Westmoreland, We first heard of Prince Schwarzen- 
 berg's death on Tuesday at three o'clock, by the submarine telegraph. 
 He must have died at the very moment we were debating on his corre- 
 spondence in the House of Lords. We are of course anxious to know 
 who will be his successor, and are now under the impression (given by 
 himself) that Buol will be the man. When he left me at the Palace, 
 where I took him to make his parting bow, he was very civil, which 
 has not always been the case. He took a strong view against Mather's 
 case, and argued that the Austrian army was one of occupation. It is 
 not so, but an auxiliary army. But were it even an army of occupa- 
 tion, that is no reason Tuscany should close her civil courts. The Duke 
 of Wellington says the Portuguese courts were open the whole time of 
 his occupation and whilst the war was raging, and that his soldiers 
 were amenable to them. 
 
 Bulwer goes to Florence about the 20th, by which time I hope 
 Scarlett will have got 500Z. for Mather, which is about what an English 
 jury would have given. Buol almost promised to use his influence 
 with Austria to induce Tuscany to do this. If she refuses, we shall 
 withdraw our mission. We have nothing but worry from this trumpery 
 little Court, and I am sorry to say till now the only other that has 
 followed this same course is your Imperial one. In Rome, where 
 there are ten times as many English, and a French army, nothing of 
 the sort happens. In France, where John Bull is everywhere seen in 
 all his varieties, not a dispute ever occurs ; and although I know some 
 of my countrymen abroad are eccentric fellows, I think you may in 
 proper place and season observe on this monopoly of vexations which 
 Austria and its dependencies have upon them. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Coivley, H.M. Ambassador in Paris. 
 
 Heron Court : April 11, 1852. 
 
 Dear Lord Cowley, ... Sir H. Seymour's private letters speak 
 of the Emperor Nicholas's fixed purpose to stand by the treaties, and 
 to look upon any march into Belgium as a casus belli. I quite agree 
 with every word you said to Addington about Buol, who, however, was 
 extremely civil to me before he went away. I presented him on his 
 
248 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1H.>2 
 
 departure, and he spoke to me a long time at the Palace 011 the subject 
 of Louis Napoleon's possible aggression, stating that there could be but 
 one policy for Kussia, Austria, and Prussia viz. to oppose a wall to 
 him which would be impenetrable ; but he never will get over Granville's 
 shying the ' note ' after him as he went out. 
 
 The Swiss note you sent me last bored me quite as much as it did 
 Turgot. No wonder they were so longer transcribing it for Magenis. 
 I look upon that cloud l as nearly dissipated, and I am sincerely obliged 
 to you for the handy way you have managed the question with Barman 
 and Turgot. Magenis did well as soon as he got to Berne. 
 
 I can't help thinking the peril of exercising the Tanzimat in Egypt 
 has been exaggerated. However that may be, the Sultan, who looks 
 upon it as a symbol of dominion, refuses to give way. But I have 
 written to Sir Stratford Canning to try a middle course, and to get the 
 power of life and death continued to the Pasha for murder, or for mur- 
 der and robbery, till the rail is finished to Alexandria. Nesselrode 
 proposed the same thing to Seymour, o I have pressed it there, and I 
 wish you would tell Kieseleff that if the Court of Russia wishes to 
 please us, it would recommend a delay of the Tanzimat, or a partial 
 adaptation of it, until the work is complete. 
 
 Yours trulj 7 , 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Westmoreland, H.M. Ambassador at Vienna. 
 
 Foreign Office : April 20, 1852. 
 
 Dear Lord Westmoreland, I shall be much obliged to you to con- 
 vey (at the proper time and place) to the Emperor the sympathy which 
 her Majesty's Government feel for him personally in the loss of a 
 servant to whom he was so attached as to Prince Schwarzenberg. 
 
 We trust that the return of friendly feelings which he had evinced 
 towards England before his death will be continued to us by his suc- 
 cessor, and we hope that he has passed sufficient time in England to 
 understand the somewhat anomalous co-existence of great license and 
 great order which is incomprehensible to foreigners who have not resided 
 here. 
 
 You will have got my despatch on the Turkish affair, and I depend 
 upon you to prevail on Austria to join us in recommending a terme 
 ynoyen to the Porte respecting the law of capital punishment, and to 
 oppose any attempts to change the Viceroy of Egypt. The next heir 
 is French by habits and education, and although we entirely admit the 
 
 l The French clnirns against the refugees in Switzerland, 
 
1852 THE TANZIMAT. 24,9 
 
 right of the Sultan to exercise the Tanzimat in Egypt, we could not, as 
 one of the Powers who signed the settlement of 1841, agree to his 
 changing the succession to the Viceroyalty for no better reason than 
 the remonstrance of his vassal against altering a law which he thinks 
 would render life and property unsafe in his province. 
 
 Another question I trust you will urge to a termination is the Danish 
 succession. Eussia wishes some alteration in the projet de convention 
 as it was presented by Denmark, to which we see no objection, but we 
 must resist all question of its being referred to the Diet. Austria and 
 Prussia can answer for Germany as far as they go, and if we go to other 
 States the affair will never be ended. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBUEY. 
 
 Lord M. to Lieut.-Col. Rose, 1 H.M. Charge cV Affaires at 
 Constantinople. 
 
 Foreign Office : April 21, 1852. 
 
 My dear Eose, I write you a line in answer to your letter to say 
 that, although we receive the most contradictory accounts of the prac- 
 tical effect of the Tanzimat as a question of police, we are disposed to 
 concur with you and Murray, that its exercise in Egypt would endanger 
 our commerce and countrymen. Be that as it may, you must abstract 
 your mind from local prejudices and look ahead. It is not our policy 
 to make Egypt independent, even if we cared, against all principle, to 
 break through the settlement of 1841. It is there distinctly stated that 
 the Sultan can exercise the laws he pleases, and the last article declares 
 that, if the Pasha does not adhere to the terms of the treaty, he forfeits 
 his Pashalic. But I repeat, it is not our policy to make him indepen- 
 dent of the Sultan, because he may die any day and a French Pasha 
 succeed, when our want of faith and selfishness would turn against us. 
 It is our interest to maintain the solidarity of the Turkish Empire, but 
 to use the Pasha as an instrument more capable and calculated to keep 
 the road to India safe than his distant ^master* You must not run one 
 against the other, nor give an excuse to the Sultan to degrade his 
 vassal. If the Sultan is obstinate about the Tanzimat, Abbas must 
 obey, but the Sultan will have to stand the consequences if English 
 property is not protected. 
 
 Ever yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBXJRY. 
 
 * Afterwards Field-Marshal Lord Stratlmairn, 
 
250 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18-32 
 
 April 21st. I went to the Levee. French insist on Switzer 
 land giving up Socialist refugees, and King of Prussia on having 
 Neufchatel, as under the treaties of 1815. This cannot now be 
 done without a war. 
 
 April 27th. Our Militia Bill carried by majority of 150. 
 Many Peelites and Whigs voted with us. 
 
 April 2Sth. Government had a majority of 53 last night 
 against 101. franchise for counties. 
 
 Lord M. to Hon. P. C. Scarlett, H.M. Charge d' Affaires 
 at Florence. 
 
 Foreign Office : April 27, 1852. 
 
 Dear Mr. Scarlett, Sir Henry Bulwer will start to-morrow for 
 Florence, notwithstanding the crisis you describe as going on in the 
 Tuscan Court. I am still in hopes that you will settle the Mather 
 compensation, by arbitration or otherwise, before he arrives, and I see 
 no reason why you should not push it on before the present Govern- 
 ment is turned out. It appears to me that the next, being utterly 
 bigoted, would be still more intractable, and not care if our mission at 
 Florence were to be closed nay, might rather desire it. 
 
 Lord Westmoreland has sent me an offer from Count Buol, to refer 
 the case of compensation to Mr. Mather to the Emperor if we fail in 
 Tuscany, where he states that Austria has given a voice in favour of 
 our claim. I am, however, unwilling to accept Count Buol's proposal 
 further than to ask him to give his good offices privately to us, and 
 recommend such payment as Mr. Mather would be allowed by an English 
 court of justice. He and the Tuscan Government must settle the 
 question of who is to be the loser between them ; but we who have never 
 treated the matter officially with Austria, but insisted on the responsi- 
 bility of Tuscany as an independent State, cannot accept the money 
 from Austria for Tuscany. 
 
 i t t 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBUEY. 
 
 May 1st. Dined at the Royal Academy. Disraeli's speech on 
 introducing his Budget has produced a bad effect in the country, 
 for the farmers, though reconciled to giving up Protection, ex- 
 pected some relief in other ways, and he does not give a hint at 
 any measure for their advantage. I fear this will tell at the next 
 
1852 SIGNING OF THE DANISH CONVENTION. 251 
 
 election. Lord Derby is much annoyed. I expect we shall be 
 turned out before December. 
 
 May 5th. Crowded ball at the Palace. Persigiiy, at Paris, 
 has been blustering to Madame de Lieven about war and empire, 
 which will all go to Nicholas. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Bloomfield, H.M. Ambassador at Berlin. 
 
 Foreign Office : May 10, 1852. 
 
 My dear Lord Bloomfield, You will have been as glad as any one 
 to hear that the Danish Convention was signed on Saturday by all the 
 plenipos. Bunsen refused to do so the day before (which would have 
 been a matter of convenience to the Ministers invited to the Chiswick 
 fete on Saturday) ' because his seal was at the engraver's.' 
 
 This act and puerile excuse have rendered him still more unpopular 
 than he was with his colleagues. I should like to know whether he 
 expected some further instructions by the telegraph on Saturday morn- 
 ing. As it was, he made no mention of reference to the Diet at the 
 Conference, but only suggested to me privately that the Convention 
 when signed should be so referred ; but I replied, I should object to 
 that until after the ratifications, when according to one of its articles 
 it would be submitted to the other Powers for adhesion. You will see 
 that I instruct you in a despatch sent by this messenger to ascertain 
 whether Bunsen really has had recent orders to catechise me respecting 
 an absurd incendiary proclamation printed in London seven months 
 ago. A week before Granville went out of office he put the same 
 questions to him regarding this document, which he did not condescend 
 to answer. 
 
 * 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 May llth. Disraeli moved to bring in a bill to appropriate 
 the four seats vacant by a clisfranchisernent of Sudbury and St. 
 Albans, and proposed to give two additional members to the West 
 Riding and two to South Lancashire. Mr. Gladstone moved the 
 order of the day as an. amendment. I think this will do us more 
 good than harm with the country. I hear that the review at 
 Paris on the 10th went off very well. I had an audience of the 
 Queen yesterday. She asked me whether Lady Tankerville had 
 gone to Paris for the review, expressing wonder that any one 
 
2f2 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 should do so. I told her Majesty that she had gone to see the 
 Gramonts. At the opera of ' II Flauto Magico/ the hero of the 
 piece was Ronconi as Papagallo, dressed all in feathers. He has 
 added to his costume a crest of red ones, which by some contri- 
 vance he occasionally raised upright, as cockatoos do when pleased 
 or surprised. He tried this piece of buffoonery whenever he was 
 applauded, and made the whole house roar with laughter. 
 
 May I2th. My turn to give the Cabinet dinner. 
 
 May 14:tk. Lord and Lady Ossulston just -returned from Paris. 
 They were invited to the fetes at the Tuileries, but the string was 
 so long that they returned home. No cheering from the mob, 
 only from the soldiers. Lord Cowley was hissed for using his 
 privilege of cutting into the string, and Lord Alfred Paget, who 
 was with him, shared his treatment. A great many arrests made 
 in Paris. 
 
 May 20th. We went this evening to the Walewskis, who had 
 a French play, * Brutus lache Cesar/ acted to perfection by Rose 
 Cheri, Lafont, and Leon. 
 
 May 2lst. My Under-Secretary, Lord Stanley, arrived this 
 morning from India. Dined with the Castlereaghs. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Bloomfield, H.M. Ambassador at Berlin. 
 
 Foreign Office : May 22, 1852. ' 
 
 My dear Lord Bloomfield, Bunsen has called upon me to beg you 
 will explain to the King that Manteuffel was quite right in not pressing 
 a reference of the Danish Convention to the Diet upon the six Powers 
 at the time of their signing it. Bunsen informs me that Manteuffel 
 was ordered by the King to instruct him to make the demand, and put 
 it in the shape of a note ; and I recollect that you also gave me notice 
 that such was the case before Bunsen received his full powers. He 
 furthermore declared' that Manteuffel never gave him the order. Be 
 this as it may, it is certain that none of the Powers would have recog- 
 nised the right of the Diet to interfere, and I told Bunsen that I wars 
 ready to argue this point, and that if he persisted, we would sign with- 
 out him. 
 
 I should be glad, if it is necessary, that you should set Manteuffel 
 right with the King, who, had he brought the question of the ' right ol 
 the Diet ' before the six Powers on this occasion, would have obliged 
 them on a public and SQlemn occasion to vote against his opinion, 
 
1852 AFFAIR OF MATHEK. 253 
 
 His Minister, therefore, served him well in not acting so indiscreetly as 
 
 to do so. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 May 24^. Kept until past ten in the House of Lords. 
 Government beaten in the Commons on Mr. Buncombe's amend- 
 ment on the Bribery Bill, proposing to extend its provisions to 
 counties. My brother voted against the Government. 
 
 The French Senate refuse to part with the Crown jewels until 
 the President marries. He says : ' Je ne suis pas presse.' 
 
 Lady Malmesbury gave a party at the Foreign Office. The 
 
 Opposition had spread a report that the staircase was not safe, 
 
 which they might have said with more truth of the rest of the 
 
 house, as a few days after my appointment the ceiling came down 
 
 pon the table at which I wrote, and would have killed me if I 
 
 ad been there. 
 
 May 28tk. I fear this business of Mr. Mather at Florence 
 vdll give me a great deal of trouble, as Mather pere is furious at 
 >nly obtaining 250?. for the injury done to his son's head, his 
 Irst demand being 5,000?. The latter gentleman chose to stand 
 n the way of a body of Austrian soldiers marching through the 
 treet with their band, and refused to move, on which the officer 
 ;ommanding struck him with his sword, and cut his head open, 
 ihough not dangerously. I took up the affair, and claimed com- 
 Densation from the Tuscan Government, as it was very important 
 n a political sense that we should establish the fact of the inde- 
 pendence of Tuscany, although occupied by Austrian troops. Mr. 
 Scarlett, who was Charge d' Affaires in Bulwer's absence, was 
 ordered not to accept less than 500?., and disobeyed his instruc- 
 tions. The Opposition, in view of the coming elections, are 
 making capital of this and other freaks of travelling Englishmen 
 who get themselves into scrapes abroad, and, being often de- 
 servedly punished or arrested, call upon their Government for 
 protection. This conduct on their part is very much due to a 
 blustering speech made some time, ago by Lord Palmerston, 
 declaring that John Bull, wherever he was, or whatever he did, 
 was to be as sacred as the ancient ' civis Romanus.' 
 
254 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 May 29^A. Mr, Scarlett, besides accepting half the minimum, 
 did so as a generous act of charity on the part of the Grand 
 Duke, instead of a compensation due to the injured Englishman. 
 I have written a strong remonstrance to Sir Henry Bulwer against 
 Mr. Scarlett's acceptance of the money, and his still worse abandon- 
 ment of the important point of responsibility of Tuscany as an 
 independent State, declaring that unless they admit that it is for 
 the injury inflicted, we shall withdraw our Minister from Flo- 
 rence. I suspect Mr. Scarlett did so from anxiety to have the 
 credit of concluding the business anyhow before the return of Sir 
 Henry Bulwer. 
 
 June 1st. The Tribunal de Premiere Instance has decided 
 against the President 'on. the Orleans decrees. He was asked 
 about that, but is not at all annoyed, and among other subjects 
 told my informant, ' Tenez ! en cherchant dans un journal que 
 j'ai ecrit en Suisse j'ai trouve ce passage : " Je suis lie pour 
 rendre le bonheur a la France et les Aigles a 1'armee : le reste 
 sont des bagatelles." ' His journey to that wretched district La 
 Sologne has made him very popular, and induced people to hope 
 that he will abandon the sword for the plough and the trowel. 
 He is much perplexed, as he is averse to marriage, and yet feels 
 that none of the Bonaparte family are fit to succeed him, and 
 could not maintain an imperial dynasty. Jerome and his son 
 lose no opportunity of annoying and crossing the President's views. 
 He despises but fears them. Persigny marries Marshal Ney's 
 granddaughter. 
 
 June, 2nd. Dined with the Walewskis, and thence to the 
 Duchess of Gloucester, then back again to the Walewskis. Turgot 
 is very unmanageable on the Tanzimat, and unwilling to give the 
 Pasha of Egypt the power of life and death over criminals, thereby 
 supporting the Sultan. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Coivley, H.M. Ambassador at Paris. 
 
 Foreign Office : June 3, 1852. 
 Dear Lord Cowley, 
 
 Walewski spoke to me about the affair of the ' Charlemagne.' Look 
 at the Treaty, July 13, 1841, arts. I. and XL The latter gives permis- 
 
1852 FKENCH EMPIRE CONTEMPLATED. 255 
 
 sion to the Sultan to let ' light vessels ' up the Dardanelles, which 
 certainly does not apply to the ' Charlemagne.' You will see by Lord 
 Stratford's despatch that he gave no advice, but I have no objection to 
 your saying that the Treaty is so clear that the French Admiral ex- 
 posed his Government to awkward remonstrances by either asking for 
 the Firman or accepting a promise of it, and that I conclude he did 
 not know how stringent the Treaty is. The eyes of Europe are so 
 attentively fixed on the President to observe how he respects conventions 
 that he should avoid all appearance of encroachment. 1 
 
 * t i * t t 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 June 3rd. Drawing Room. Dined with Lady Ailesbury. 
 Heard an amusing account of a dinner given by the Douglases at 
 Paris, to introduce the President to Madame de Lieven. It was 
 diamond cut diamond, and she admitted that she could make 
 nothing of him. 
 
 June 4ith. Queen's concert. Lord Cowley at Paris considers 
 the Empire as settled in the mind of the President. He has dis- 
 missed his mistress, Mrs. Howard, after giving her the title of 
 Comtesse de Beauregard 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Westmoreland, H.M. Ambassador at Vienna. 
 
 Foreign Office : June 8, 1852. 
 Dear Lord Westmoreland, 
 
 The Mather case has reached a very disagreeable crisis. 2 I send 
 you the papers, and you will see by my last two despatches to Bulwer 
 how the matter stands. 
 
 Pray tell Buol that it was impossible for us to accept such a note as 
 Casigliano's of the 10th ult. not a word of regret or good feeling, but 
 an insulting assertion that he paid the money from charity, and that 
 Mather had no right either to protection as an English subject or to 
 reparation for the assault. If the Austrians are not liable to be tried by 
 the Tuscan Civil Courts, we must have an admission from the Tuscan 
 Government that the Executive in Tuscany will protect and adjudicate 
 
 1 The Treaties with the Porte forbade ships of war like the ' Charlemagne ' 
 which carried M. de Lavalette to go up the Bosphorus. 
 
 2 Mr. Scarlett had accepted 2007. only, and that as a charitable gift. His 
 instructions were to insist on 500/, as the minimum. 
 
256 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MIMSTEft* 1852 
 
 for English plaintiffs and afterwards settle with Vieniia. We have! 
 otherwise no place of appeal, but are bandied from one to the other, 
 each refusing responsibility, or Austria asserting jurisdiction in Tuscany 
 and suppressing entirely her character of independence* 
 
 I attribute Scarlett's spontaneous offer to abandon the spirit and 
 letter of his instructions to illness. 
 
 The Queen received Coloredo immediately and just before she went 
 to Windsor. Make the most of this, which really was very gracious 
 and well-judged of her Majesty. Yours very truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Lord M. to James Hudson, Esq., H.M. Minister at Turin. 
 
 Foreign Office : June 8, 1852. 
 
 My dear Mr. Hudson, M. d'Azeglio's conduct respecting the 
 Editor of the ' Opinione ' is only one of a thousand proofs that the 
 ablest foreigner can never perfectly apprehend the principles of consti- 
 tutional liberty. To banish a man for abusing the Austrians would 
 deservedly have forfeited his position. You should, if possible, make 
 him understand that as for their own interests the proprietors of 
 journals must take different sides, he should have sufficient authority 
 established in whatever newspaper supports the Government to reply 
 to or denounce therein any attack upon his colleagues or foreign allies. 
 When Buol spoke to Lord Westmoreland on the subject and referred to 
 me, that is what I stated to be the total of what Buol could expect 
 to get, and he told Lord Westmoreland that he was satisfied with my 
 opinion. 
 
 In my speech to which you and M. d'Azeglio refer I did not at all 
 exaggerate my admiration of the conduct and results of the King and 
 his Ministers since 1849. From all you say I fear these fair promises 
 will not bring permanent liberty to Sardinia or any part of Italy, but 
 it is our interest and duty to give at least all the moral force we possess 
 to assist this constitutional monarchy in its development. You do not 
 say who is to be ' Le Roi du Eoyaume d'ltalie.' 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 June $tli. We went to Windsor. Party consists of Cam- 
 bridges, &c. A ball in the evening. The Queen danced a great 
 deal, and ended with ' La Tempete,' a sort of English country 
 dance. 
 
1852 AFFAIR OF MATHKK. 257 
 
 June 10th. Ascot Races. Dined again in St. George's Hall. 
 Ball till one o'clock. 
 
 Lord M. to lion. P. C. Scarlett, H.M. Charge d' Affaires 
 at Florence. 
 
 Foreign Office : June 12, 1852. 
 
 My dear Mr. Scarlett, I have just received your letter explaining 
 all the difficulties you had to contend with in the Mather case, and your 
 reasons for making the arrangements the Government felt it their 
 painful duty to disavow. We are convinced that it was from no re- 
 laxation of the activity which you have uniformly shown during this 
 harassing business that you brought it to a close so unsatisfactory to 
 them, but that you considered the re-establishment of friendly relations 
 with Tuscany and the liberation of the Stratfords as objects superior to 
 a literal compliance with your instructions. It was, however, quite 
 impossible for her Majesty's Government to forego the important, 
 nay, paramount principle of Tuscan responsibility either through her 
 Courts or Executive, and equally impossible to accept the note of M. de 
 Casigliano, which treated the payment as an eleemosynary gift instead 
 of a just reparation, whilst not a single expression of amity or regret 
 was added. It was, I assure you, a source of sincere regret to me that 
 I should be obliged to disapprove publicly of your act, but I stated as 
 publicly that it could only be attributed to an error of judgment. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 June 15M. Lord John Russell brought forward the Mather 
 case, and made a very violent speech. Disraeli's answer good. 
 Opposition papers abused me, and take the unexpected line that 
 redress ought to have been demanded from Austria. If I had 
 done so, I should have been accused of sacrificing the liberties of 
 Italian States to the despotism of Austria. But the whole thing 
 is got up for the coming elections. 
 
 June 16th. Our Militia Bill passed second reading last night 
 in the House of Lords. The President wants Napoleon's will sent 
 to Paris. 
 
 June 18th. Lord Derby showed me his list for the elections, 
 giving us a majority, but I don't believe it. 
 
 June 2lst> Lady Mahnesbury embarked for EIES. Debate on 
 
258 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 Mather's case went off well in Commons. Parliament is to be 
 dissolved on July 2. 
 
 Lord M. to A. Buchanan, Esq.} H.M. Minister at Berne. 
 
 Foreign Office : June 28, 1852. 
 
 Dear Mr. Buchanan, I have had some conversations with Count 
 Walewski on the Neufchatel question. Our object is to put aside the 
 subject, and to prevent the King of Prussia making an imprudent 
 demonstration. You will see that the Protocol states we are to consider 
 the best time for a Conference. We have not done that yet, and we 
 shall not take this primary step at present. If, however, the Swiss 
 could devise some method of settling the business it would be desirable. 
 I have repeated assurances that France would never suffer armed inter- 
 vention, and I need not tell you her Majesty's Government would bo 
 equally averse to it. The Swiss must know this from all I did this 
 year to settle their dispute with Louis Napoleon. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Lord M. to Sir H. Bulwer, H.M. Minister at Florence. 
 
 Foreign Office : July 2, 1852. 
 
 My dear Bulwer, I send you an official despatch, which I wrote 
 some time ago to Freeborii, 1 as being the only instructions the Govern- 
 ment could give then and repeat now with respect to Mr. Murray's 
 case. If he has been tried by the laws of the country in which he 
 was living and actually serving, we cannot interfere by menace, but 
 we must appeal to the friendly feelings of Eome and make the most of 
 his long imprisonment to save his life. I showed your note, asking 
 what language you should hold, to Lord Derby, who agreed with me 
 that a conciliatory tone was most likely to prevail in Murray's favour, 
 but that, as you had better means of judging than we have, we must 
 leave it to your discretion. 
 
 Murray's case can never be one authorising us to use force, which 
 is another reason for adopting the language of argument. Pray send 
 Mr. Barren to Berlin immediately. 
 
 The House of Commons cheered you handsomely re Mather. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 1 British Consul at Rome. 
 
18,12 TUSCAN RESPONSIBILITY. 259 
 
 July llth. Lords Stratford, Howdeii, and Paliuerston, &c., 
 dined with me. 
 
 Lord M. to Sir H. Bulwer, H.M. Minister at Florence. 
 
 Foreign Office : July 19, 1852. 
 
 My dear Bulwer, Your correspondence with the Duke of Casigliano 
 was sent by him to Vienna, and has brought a note here which shows 
 that the Austrian Government does not at all relish the principle of 
 Tuscan responsibility which you obliged the Duke to admit. The note 
 which Coloredo was instructed to read to me was written in a spirit 
 which I do not at all like, not only because the interpretation given to 
 it by Coloredo was that treaties overrode international law, but I see 
 in every word an intention to hold Tuscany and reduce it to the state 
 of Modena and Parina. Against such a consummation it will be your 
 duty and your glory to struggle. 
 
 I believe the Tuscans always have been wise enough to resist all 
 financial incorporation with Austria. Keep them hard to that re- 
 solution. 
 
 Your first despatches gave reason to hope that Tuscany was 
 anxious to get rid of its incubus, and to hire foreign troops. Is it 
 still so ? I do not think an Irish Legion would do, as it would create 
 jealousy, but a Foreign Legion of Irish, Swiss, &c., might. I admit 
 that the Austrian and French are necessary in the Papal States to pre- 
 vent anarchy, but that is not the case in Tuscany. Cannot you make 
 the Grand Duke see this ? 
 
 Since I wrote the above I have heard from Hudson. In case he 
 should have omitted giving you any information from his agent at 
 Home (I have begged him to do so), I advise you that the Pope is 
 supposed to be rather friendly than otherwise to our Government, but 
 that Irish influence and Jesuitism are strongly working at him against 
 us, and that (as formerly) Lord Shrewsbury is the tool. It would 
 not, however, appear difficult to persuade his Holiness that the peace 
 of Europe, and consequently of Italy, depends not a little on a Con- 
 servative policy. Hudson's account so far tallies with yours and 
 confirms its correctness. 
 
 I am very glad to hear you are getting better. The elections are 
 nearly over, and we have got 310 Derbyites in. Reste a voir whether 
 with 40 doubtful we can drive on. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBUBY. 
 
 s 2 
 
260 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1,}2 
 
 July 26th. Lord Ossulston lias won his election for North- 
 umberland, beating Sir George Grey by 35. 
 
 July 27 th. Elections look bad. I don't think we shall muster 
 above 300 Derbyites. Went to Osborne to present Duke of 
 Oldenburg. Hope the Queen will send a steamer, so that we may 
 not have to swim and run as we did the other day when I went 
 with Lords Stratford and Howden. We arrived in the royal 
 presence as if we had been snipe shooting. 
 
 August \\th. Our dispute with America about the fisheries 
 will be settled very well if there is no fighting amongst the 
 fishermen. 
 
 Mr. Disraeli, Chancellor of the Exchequer, to Lord M. 
 
 Hughenden : August 13, 1852. 
 
 My dear M., I return you Lord Cowley's confidential despatch. I 
 am not disposed to reduce our duties on French brandies to obtain a 
 reduction of their duties on our coals. We had better leave our mutual 
 tariffs as they stand, unless the French are willing to treat these 
 matters on a much more extensive scale. If they would reduce their 
 duties on linen, yarn, cottons, or iron, I should recommend our meeting 
 them with reductions on their brandies and silks. The latter would be 
 a great card for France. We ought now to be for as complete free 
 trade as we can obtain, and let the English farmer, and the English 
 landlord too, buy the best and the cheapest silks for their wives and 
 daughters. 
 
 In case anything is to be done in this respect, it should be done 
 with as little knowledge Ly the Board of Trade as practicable. That 
 office is filled with our enemies. Lord Cowley, therefore, should 
 conduct the business entirely ; or we should send some confidential and 
 circumspect agent of our own. 
 
 It is useless now to, vex ourselves about the Protectionist rock ahead. 
 If this section exist, it can do nothing until the financial statement is 
 made. Every expression of opinion on their side will be suspended 
 until they have -heard our financial measures. I confess I have no 
 great fear of them, and I think they and their constituents will be 
 satisfied. 
 
 The Fisheries affair is a bad business. Pakirtgton's circular is not 
 written with a thorough knowledge of the circiunstances. He is out 
 of his depth, more than three marine miles from shore. 
 
 These wretched colonies will all be independent too in a few years, 
 
18.V2 FRENCH DEMONSTRATION AT BERLIN. 201 
 
 and are a millstone round our necks. If I were you, I would pusli 
 matters with Filmore, who has 110 interest to pander to the populace 
 like Webster, and make an honourable and speed}' settlement. 
 
 Yours ever, 
 
 D. 
 
 Lord Bloomficld, H.M. Ambassador at Berlin, to Lord M. 
 
 Berlin : August 16, 1852. 
 
 My dear Lord Malmesbury, I have just addressed to your lordship 
 a despatch respecting a dinner party at which I assisted yesterday, 
 given by the French Minister in honour of the President's fete. 
 
 The Governments of Austria, Prussia, and Russia have acted closely 
 together on this question, as they will do on every one concerning their 
 general foreign policy ; and in the present instance it is evident that 
 my Russian colleague has been the clieville ouvriere in spoiling the 
 French projects at Berlin, and he has done so most successfully ; but 
 his game was easy, for he acted before a willing audience. 
 
 I trust that I did right in attending the dinner party ; and, indeed, 
 I do not know how I could have declined the invitation under the 
 circumstances which your lordship will find related in the despatch. I 
 felt, unimportant as my presence might be, my refusal to attend the 
 invitation would have been extremely uncourteous, and unnecessarily 
 so, towards the Chief of the French Republic ; nevertheless, I am 
 anxious to learn the judgment your lordship may pass on my conduct, 
 and I trust at all events on your indulgence in case I should not have 
 acted in exact conformity with your wishes. 
 
 All we can say of the French demonstration here is that it was a 
 complete failure, and has only served to draw out the real feeling of 
 this Government, and of its immediate allies, towards Louis Napoleon. 
 
 Believe me, &c., 
 
 BLOOMFIELD. 
 
 August 18th. Lady Malmesbury returned from Ems without 
 any benefit. I was at a Privy Council at Osborne. Turgot has 
 been superseded as Foreign Minister by Drouyn de 1'Huys. 
 
 September 1st. The Queen reached Holyrood. I had attended 
 her from Basingstoke. The journey was very prosperous, but we 
 had to post the last forty miles to Balmoral up the Spittal of 
 Glenshee. Nothing can exceed the good nature with which I am 
 treated both by her Majesty and the Prince. Balmoral is an old 
 
262 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18o2 
 
 country house in bad repair, and totally unfit for royal personages. 
 It was occupied as a shooting lodge by Sir Robert Gordon. The 
 Queen intends building a castle 011 or near the site. The royal 
 party consists of the Duchess of Kent, the ladies-in-waiting, 
 Colonel Phipps, and Sir Arthur Gordon. The rooms are so 
 small that I was obliged to write my despatches on my bed and 
 to keep the window constantly open to admit the necessary 
 quantity of air, and my private secretary, George Harris, lodged 
 somewhere three miles off. We played at billiards every evening, 
 the Queen and the Duchess being constantly obliged to get up 
 from their chairs to be out of the way of the cues. Nothing 
 could be more cheerful and evidently perfectly happy than the 
 Queen and Prince, or more kind to everybody around them. I 
 never met any man so remarkable for the variety of information 
 on all subjects as the latter, with a great fund of humour quand 
 il se deboutonne. They evidently enjoyed to the utmost the 
 beauty and tonic climate of the Highlands. The river Dee, run- 
 ning close to the house, gives excellent salmon fishing, but the 
 deer forest is as yet very small. 
 
 G. Harris, P. 8. to Lord M., on his Mission to Prince Louis 
 Napoleon. 
 
 20 Jermyn Street : September 2, 1852. 
 
 My dear Fitz, I had my audience of the President on Tuesday 
 evening, the 31st ult., at St. Cloud, and I assure you that in order to 
 obtain it I was obliged to have recourse aux grands moyens. Saturday, 
 Sunday, and Monday morning passed away without my receiving any 
 order from his Highness ; so on Monday evening I got Stuart, of the 
 Embassy, to give me a private letter of introduction to the aide-de-camp 
 in waiting, and I drove to St. Cloud and had my name put down, the 
 suite such as General Canrobert, Tascher, and Koquet giving me 
 hopes that in a week's time I might be appointed to an audience ; 
 whereupon I returned to Paris and called on Mrs. Howard, toadied and 
 flattered her, stating that I was in a great hurry to get Lack to London, 
 and only wanted to see his Highness the President for two minutes. 
 She sent off an orderly at once, and before night I received an invita- 
 tion from Louis Napoleon to accompany him out shooting, to say my 
 say at 5.30, and dine afterwards (the next day, the 31st August). 
 
 I got off the shooting and dinner, being too ill for either ; but 
 
1852 LEGACY TO THE QUEEN. 263 
 
 in my interview I told him exactly what you desired me to tell him, 
 viz., the menees of the refugees at Jersey, their threats of assassination, 
 their general project, and expectations of help from Mazzini and Kos- 
 suth, and, in fact, all the pith of Mr. Sanders's reports and General 
 Love's l apprehensions, not omitting certain details from reports of the 
 A Division about money and arms ; and, finally, letting his Highness 
 know that the Jersey authorities knew what to think of Stoffell and 
 other agents of the French Government. 
 
 The President desired me to thank you most cordially for the intel- 
 ligence, part of which (viz. the refugees' intention of landing and 
 rendezvous in the South, not far from Bayonne and the frontier), he 
 said was quite new to him. He mentioned that that very morning 
 Manteuffel had sent him a warning about the exiles des Isles Nor- 
 mandes, that amongst their projets insenses they meditated a descent 
 upon the coast of Algeria, where they counted on being able to ' corrupt ' 
 two regiments of the line, with which, under Mazzini' s orders and 
 inspiration, they were to return to Italy and revolutionize the whole of 
 that country. 
 
 In fact he laughed, or affected to laugh, at their plans ; and said 
 with more seriousness that assassination was the only project in which 
 they had a chance of success. 
 
 He seemed to dread the frightful tournee in store for him, making 
 the whole circuit of France. 
 
 He asked very much about you. 
 
 GEORGE HARRIS. 
 
 September kth. The Prince had a wood driven not far from 
 the house. After we had been posted in line two fine stags 
 passed me which I missed ; Colonel Phipps fired next, and lastly 
 the Prince, without any effect. The Queen had come out to see 
 the sport, lying down in the heather by the Prince, and witnessed 
 all these fiascos, to our humiliation. 
 
 September 10th. Left Balmoral for Achnacarry, riding across 
 country part of the way. Whilst I was at Balmoral Colonel 
 Phipps received a telegram from a clergyman, whose name I for- 
 get, and who was executor to a Mr. Neale, to say that the latter 
 had left 200,OOOZ. to the Queen. Neither her Majesty nor Phipps 
 would believe that it was not a joke ; but I thought otherwise, 
 and on requiring further information it proved to be correct. 
 
 1 Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey. 
 
264 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. J . 
 
 The Queen immediately declared that if he had any relations she 
 would not accept it, but it finally appeared that he had none. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. on the American Fisheries. 
 
 Balmoral: September 15, 1852. 
 
 My clear Malmesbury, I send you an interesting letter received 
 this morning from Sir G. Seymour l to the Duke of Northumberland, 
 to whom, when you have read it, I will thank you to return it. The 
 Queen has seen it. Crampton's private letter, which you left for me 
 here, was not altogether satisfactory ; but I do not see anything to be 
 uneasy about in his public despatches, and this letter from Seymour 
 appears to negative all probability of any collision. We must hold 
 very temperate, but very firm, language ; and assuredly, though God 
 forbid it should come to that, I am prepared to fight for our undoubted 
 rights, rather than yield to a spirit of democratic encroachment, which, 
 if not steadily resisted, will have no limits to its demands. But on 
 this account it is doubly important that we should come to an early 
 understanding on this same Fishery Question with our French neigh- 
 bours. I took the liberty of slightly altering your amended draft, in 
 which, I think, you had asserted the right under the Law of Nations 
 rather too broadly, without confining it to the three-mile limit from the 
 coast. I also transposed two of the paragraphs, The Queen has seen 
 and approved the amended draft, and the Prince told me they thought 
 it an excellent paper. 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 September 16th. George Harris arrived at Achnacarry with 
 the news of the Duke of Wellington's death. 
 
 Lord Malmesbury to Lord Derby on the Lord-Lieutenancy 
 of Hants. 
 
 Achnacarry: September 17, 1852. 
 
 My dear Derby, The news of the great Duke's death has just 
 reached us, and a long life of prosperity and honour appears to have 
 been providentially closed without suffering. 
 
 The event gives you an unusual burden of patronage, which will 
 doubtless be squabbled for handsomely, and I write to remind you of our 
 
 1 British Admiral on the Station. 
 
18,;2 LOUIS NAPOLEON AND THE EMI IRE. 265 
 
 conversation upon one appointment now in your gift namely, the 
 Lord-Lieutenancy of Hampshire. You were kind enough to allude to 
 me as the Duke's successor, but, as I told you then, you have clone for 
 me more than I deserve, or can repay you for in services, and I should 
 prefer much your strengthening the party by giving the post to Win- 
 chester. He is the oldest peer by family and title in the county. 
 Should he refuse it, mine would come after Lords Carnarvon and 
 Portsmouth, who are not in a situation to act ; but if you thought it 
 well in the event of Winchester refusing to offer it to Palmerstoii, I 
 should not consider it unfair or unwise. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Lord Brougham to Lord M. 
 
 Urougham : September 20, 1852. 
 
 My dear M., Many thanks for your letter, but after your former 
 one of August 14 I am a little let down. However, resignation and 
 patience must be the lot of the unfortunate, how great soever their 
 merits. 
 
 I was going to write you when your letter came, to tell you that I 
 had yesterday a letter from a very trustworthy man at Paris, who, 
 though not himself in public station, has long had access to those who 
 are, and whom I have always found to be very accurate in his informa- 
 tion, and to have a very sound judgment. W^ere I at liberty to name 
 him (which I am not), you would agree with me in considering his 
 statement worthy of attention. 
 
 . He says that within two months the President's marriage will take 
 place (the hitch having apparently been removed, though he don't say 
 so), that in less than three months there will be the Empire, but that 
 Louis Napoleon will have himself ' solicited.' Meanwhile the tour has 
 really, and not merely by the official accounts (sent to the ' Moniteur ' 
 all other reporters prohibited it should seem), been very triumphant. 
 But the guards are doubled at the offices of the Ministers, and part of 
 the men in each regiment in Paris are consignes. Yet for all this there 
 is not believed to be any occasion whatever, only it is to be so during 
 Louis Napoleon's absence, and the kind of panic the Ministers are 
 habitually in seems to descend from one Ministry to another pretty 
 regularly. - Yours sincerely, 
 
 H. BROUGHAM. 
 
 P.S. My own belief is that Louis Napoleon's difficulties will begin 
 when the Empire is proclaimed. He may foresee this, and be content 
 with the Presidentship for life. 
 
266 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 Lord Brougham to Lord M. 
 
 Brougham : September 30, 1852. 
 
 My dear M., I received another letter from the knowing person of 
 whom I spoke when I last wrote to you ; but not knowing where you 
 were, I wrote to young Stanley in Downing Street. It was to the 
 effect that this Belgian dispute is pretty certain to be a German quarrel, 
 got up by Louis Napoleon in the intention of paying court to the coal, 
 iron, cotton, &c., interests, as he is canvassing in all directions for 
 support. But it seems Leopold is in great indignation, and expects the 
 general opinion in Europe to go along with him when the case is 
 known. My informant added that Leopold would not make any 
 speech at the opening of his Chambers, but leave the whole matter to 
 them. I supposed he (Leopold) had changed his intentions, but I 
 believe now he had not. My man added that these Belgian proceed- 
 ings of Louis Napoleon's have been very reluctantly acquiesced in by 
 his (Louis Napoleon's) Ministers. 
 
 I feel somewhat uneasy with this Louis Napoleon, and fear he will, 
 when he has nothing else to occupy the French with, turn his mind to 
 worse things than fetes and mummery. 
 
 In the South the flocking has been much exaggerated by his 
 account, but there has been quite enough to let him take the title if he 
 chooses. Yours very sincerely, 
 
 ^H. B. 
 
 Lord Brougham to Lord M. on his Apprehensions of War. 
 
 Brougham : October 1, 1852. 
 
 My dear M., I assure you that, independent of the circumstances 
 mentioned in my last letter, and from quarters wholly different, I have 
 received accounts which are anything rather than calculated to relieve 
 me from my anxiety as to what is now passing in France, and I fear 
 preparing for Europe, and for England more than all the rest. There 
 is everywhere, and in these proceedings in the tour of Louis Napoleon, 
 a most unpleasant military feeling breaking out on every occasion. 
 You may rely upon it he is appealing to the vile national feeling more 
 or less openly, and to the feeling of the army especially. You may 
 also be assured of one thing that the Cavaignacs regard war as 
 inevitable, and don't believe that he could control the army on that 
 subject. 
 
 I quite feel the force of the remark that persons in Cavaignac's 
 position are to be listened to with very great caution, and that their 
 
1852 THE GREEK SUCCESSION. 267 
 
 disposition always is swayed by their situation. There is one of 
 Machiavel's chapters of which the title preaches this distrust. 
 
 Nevertheless, in this case all the probabilities are with Cavaignac, 
 and that such is his strong impression you may rest assured. I know 
 it in detail. Assuredly we cannot be too ivell prepared. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 H. B. 
 
 Sir Charles Phipps, P.8. to H.M., to Lord M. 
 
 Balmoral : October 1, 1852. 
 My dear Lord Malmesbury, 
 
 I was very sorry that you could not give a better account of Lady 
 Malmesbury, for I had before heard that she had not been well. 
 
 The Queen felt severely the death of the Duke of Wellington ; it 
 had been long imminent, but I do not think that this circumstance 
 even makes the loss, when it occurs, less painful. She felt his loss as 
 an ornament to his country, as a devoted servant, and a safe coun- 
 sellor, and as an old and intimate friend for whom she had a very deep 
 and sincere regard. But such a life^as his could not have been better 
 ended. 
 
 Our life here varies little in its routine. Your successor, Sir John 
 Pakington, was very successful in his first day's deer- stalking, killing 
 two stags. Yesterday the Prince killed two very fine ones, and upon 
 the famous stormy Monday he was fortunate enough to get five 
 stalking. m Yours, &c., 
 
 C. B. PHIPPS. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. on the Greek Succession. 
 
 Goodwood : Thursday. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I received your box this morning, and have 
 taken an early opportunity of questioning the Duke of Parma upon the 
 subject on which you wrote to me. He seemed very much surprised 
 at the reports of his resignation which I named to him, and assured 
 me, and desired me to assure you most solemnly that there was not a 
 syllable of truth in them. Je ne suis pas si fin, ni si bete. He added 
 that he had the greatest confidence in Mr. Ward, and was quite sure 
 that he would not deceive him, or take any step adverse to his interests. 
 His manner had every appearance of entire sincerity ; and if there is 
 any project afloat for his abdication I am pretty confident that he 
 is himself no party to it. 
 
2G8 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 I have also had a conversation with Briinnow on Greek affairs ; 
 and have arranged with him that yon should write to Petersburg and 
 Paris, sending a resume of the case, suggesting the necessity for a 
 revision of the Greek treaty, so as to bring it into harmony with the 
 Constitution, and proposing to call jointly on the King of Bavaria to 
 state the intentions of his sons with regard to the acceptance of the 
 Greek religion or the renunciation of the rights of succession. I did 
 not say anything to Briinnow about your having had any communica- 
 tion with Paris on the subject ; and he evidently desires that the 
 invitation to reconsider the question should proceed from you, and be 
 addressed simultaneously to the two other Powers. On the propriety 
 of adhering to the Constitution, if it should clash with the treaty, he 
 entirely agrees with us. The King of Greece should be a party to the 
 new treaty. He was not to the original one, which in point of fact has 
 never been made public, at least, so it would appear. Yours, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 From S.E. Count Waletvski, French Ambassador, to Lord M. 
 
 Londres : 5 Octobre 1852. 
 
 Mon cher Malmesbury, On nous avait annonce ces jours-ci que 
 le parlement serait reuni le 25 courant. Cette nouvelle m'avait fait 
 esperer votre retour avant le 16, mais on m'assure que rien n'est 
 change aux arrangements primitifs. Je vais passer quelques jours a 
 Broadlands. Si vous deviez etre a Londres avant le 15, veuillez me 
 1'ecrire et je reviendrai en ville sans delai, ayant besoin devousvoir 
 aussitot votre arrivee. J'ai a vous entretenir de mille choses, et entre 
 autres du reglement de la succession grecque. Votre ami Briinnow, 
 avec lequel j'ai longuement cause, presse vivement une solution, et 
 d'un autre cote, on laisse gratter 1'oreiile d'un Oldenburg. Dans tout 
 cela, je desire que vous et moi nous marchions unis comme les doigts 
 de la main. II faut, done, que nous nous entendions bien avant de 
 nous prononcer 1'un.ou 1'autre. J'apprends a 1'instant que le 
 pacte de famille est signe a Munich et a Athenes et qu'il est satis- 
 faisant. 
 
 Mille et mille amities. 
 
 A. WALEWSKI. 
 
 P.S. Le Prince marche de triomphes en triomphes. A son depart 
 de Paris on criait : ' Vive Napoleon ! ' et un peu ' Vive 1'Empereiu' ! ' a 
 son retour il y aura un chorus unanime de ' Vive 1'Empereur ! ' et ' Vive 
 Napoleon III ! ' 
 
1852 THE MADIAI. 269 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : October 3, 1852. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I have received several notes from you 
 which I have not answered, but I have attended to all the subjects to 
 which they related, and have passed all your boxes. Stanley, who is 
 here for three or four da3 r s, and returns on Tuesday, has brought me 
 this morning the copy of your letter to the Prince on the subject of the 
 Madiai l affair, in which I entirely concur. The Queen and Prince 
 both spoke to me on the subject just before I left Balmoral. I had not 
 then seen the papers, but I ventured to express my opinion that though 
 undoubtedly it was a case which would justify an unofficial representa- 
 tion, it was not one in which we were entitled to interfere officially, or 
 as of right ; and I am fully of opinion that if there is any chance of 
 obtaining a mitigation of the sentence, and a milder system for the 
 future, private, rather than public, remonstrance and representation 
 afford the best chance. 
 
 I am afraid, however, that chance is not a good one. The Grand 
 Duke seems to have thrown himself body and soul into the hands of 
 i\\e parti pretre ; and John Kussell hardly used too strong an expres- 
 sion when he said, two years ago, that there was in that body an 
 organised conspiracy against the liberties of Europe. It is clear that 
 Bulwer will do nothing at liome ; and the last declaration of Antonelli, 
 that in the business of the Irish priests they could not take the initia- 
 tive, inasmuch as it would be an interference with the affairs of another 
 country, is a declaration which it must have been difficult even for an 
 Italian cardinal to make with a grave face. It is the same party which 
 is at work in Naples ; but there we have got an irresistible case, and 
 we must not only hold firm language and insist upon our rights, but, if 
 need be, enforce them by the significant hint of the presence of our 
 Mediterranean fleet in the Bay of Naples. I wish we had there a more 
 energetic representative. I do not half like the attitude which France 
 has assumed towards Belgium ; and I fear that country being thrown 
 into confusion by the recent defeat of the Government, again under 
 the parti pretre influence, backed up by France in secret and, indeed, 
 hardly in secret. If France invade Belgium on any quarrel arising 
 out of the liberty of the Press, it is quite clear that we shall have no 
 co-operation from Austria ; and I do not like the tone, upon this sub- 
 ject, of the very last despatches, even from Kussia. The Empire is fast 
 approaching, but I conclude Louis Napoleon will give the assurances 
 
 1 Imprisoned at Florence for proselytism. 
 
270 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1 8.V2 
 
 required by the Northern Powers, that they will recognise him person- 
 ally, and that he will be content, for the present, to drop the question 
 of hereditc. Certainly in his case that question is not as pressing as in 
 the case of Greece, where I certainly think that Adalbert ought at once 
 to declare his acceptance of the succession 011 the condition of his 
 immediate adoption of the Greek faith, for himself, and not only for 
 his unborn children. France, I am afraid, is playing an underhand 
 game in this matter, and intriguing with Bavaria ; though what she 
 has to gain by it is not so apparent. Her language and her actions 
 towards us, so far, have been perfectly friendly ; but I cannot help 
 mistrusting Louis Napoleon's patte de velours, and we must continue to 
 make all ' snug ' at home, in case of a sudden outbreak. On this sub- 
 ject I think it worth while sending you an extract from a letter I 
 received some days ago from Emerson Tennant, who has been at Paris, 
 and has necessarily been brought much into contact with Lord Hert- 
 ford, on account of the borough of Lisburn. He says : ' I have been 
 startled in my conversations with Lord Hertford to find the deep con- 
 viction on his mind of an intention on the part of Louis Napoleon to 
 attempt, ere long, some hostile movement against England. Were it 
 any other Englishman speaking of French politics, I should attach less 
 importance to his repetition of mere obiter dicta ; but Lord Hertford 
 is himself more than half a Frenchman, and his intercourse with the 
 Court here most intimate. He speaks to me, not naming Louis 
 Napoleon himself as his authority, but leaving me to infer that it can 
 be no other ; and he looks to such a movement against England, not 
 only as something longed for by the President, but as a thing that his 
 position is rendering every day more and more inevitable ; and that, 
 once the Empire is constructed, its excitement passed, and the fire- 
 works burnt out, a landing on the shore of England will be forced 
 upon him by the aspirations of the French, the eagerness of the army, 
 and his own emergency.' I should, of course, wish you to keep this 
 opinion of Tennant's secret. The period to which he refers, when ' the 
 fireworks are burnt out,' will certainly have to be looked to with great 
 anxiety, for he will 'then want another coup de theatre ; but if he 
 meditates any such project at present, I must give him credit for the 
 most consummate hypocrisy. 
 
 I think our American affairs look well ; but we have evidently got 
 the Yankees in hand, and the three-mile limit, which is what they 
 really want, is so clearly and absolutely ours, that negotiate they must, 
 sooner or later ; and in the meantime I have no doubt that the part 
 we have taken will do us good in our most important colonies, and will 
 have widened the breach between them and Jonathan, so as to afford 
 
1852 RELATIONS WITH AMERICA. 271 
 
 little apprehension on the annexation question. If we did go to war 
 with them, however, which God forbid, I cannot say that I should look 
 without uneasiness on the state of Canada. We have a large and 
 undefended frontier, and I cannot but fear that recent events have 
 greatly shaken the loyalty, more especially of the West Canadians, the 
 first to be invaded and the most distant to be succoured. On the other 
 hand, I have no doubt whatever of our immense maritime superiority ; 
 and I hope and believe that a large portion of British seamen, 
 now in the United States service, would return to ours if a war were 
 to break out between the two countries. Meanwhile, Crampton should 
 certainly, without showing too great anxiety to effect a treaty which 
 will be fully as beneficial to the United States as to us, manifest every 
 readiness to come to terms which shall be mutually fair ; and though I 
 certainly should have preferred that the negotiations should have been 
 conducted in London, I think you are right in not objecting to Wash- 
 ington, and even in giving Congress a quasi veto upon the terms 
 agreed on. 
 
 I had not had occasion for your reminder on the subject of the 
 Hants Lord- Lieutenancy, but immediately recommended Lord Win- 
 chester to the Queen, who approved of him ; but having written for his 
 direction, I learnt that he had gone to Germany, no one knowing where, 
 and had left orders that all his letters were to be kept till his return, at 
 his lodgings ! I have, therefore, had no opportunity or means of com- 
 municating with him. If, however, he does not accept, you must take 
 it ; it would not do to offer it to Pahnerston. The Queen had expected 
 me to name you. I go to town the 12th or 13th, and we shall probably 
 have a Council on Saturday, 16th. I cannot, therefore, let you remain 
 much longer at Achnacarry, where, I am glad to hear, Lady M. is im- 
 proving, though not, I fear, rapidly. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Derby. 
 
 Achnacarry : October 8, 1852. 
 
 My dear Derby, I was very glad to hear by your letter of the 3rd 
 that you approved of what I had done respecting any interference in 
 the Madiai case, and with regard to the pending negotiation with the 
 United States. In the former matter Prince Albert's letter has already 
 done some good, and moved the Grand Duke of Tuscany to a promise 
 of future mercy. 
 
 I send you to-day a very satisfactory letter from Crampton. We 
 have asserted our rights firmly and moderately, and placed ourselves 
 
272 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. Ib02 
 
 in a much more advantageous position with the United States than we 
 stood in before. 
 
 All you say about the French President's views has been for a long 
 time on my mind. Everybody agrees with you, and the feeling of 
 apprehension is universal. I hear it from various quarters from 
 Brougham and his French correspondents, from my private secre- 
 tary Harris and his French relations, and, in short, from what must 
 be considered the best authority for prophecy. This general terror of 
 what is coming is a presentiment, for none can give any reasons founded 
 on facts to show the sinister feelings and intentions of Louis Napoleon. 
 I believe I stand alone, therefore, in disbelieving them ; and these are 
 my arguments : He has no natural dislike to the English. Ever since 
 I knew him, he courted their society and imitated their habits. Twenty 
 years ago, when he could not have been playing a part with me who 
 had even less chance of being Foreign Secretary than he of being 
 Emperor he always said that his uncle's great mistake was not being 
 friends with England. I never knew him to hint at revenge for his 
 degradation at St. Helena, but it is possible that that sentiment may 
 rankle in his breast. Assuming that it does, and that eventually he 
 intends if possible to indulge it, why should he go such a roundabout 
 way to make war with us as through the Belgian Guarantee ? We are 
 unfortunately bound by treaty and interest to protect Belgium and the 
 Scheldt, and must do it. Russia, Austria, and Prussia are equally 
 bound with us, and may, or may not, do it. Louis Napoleon knows all 
 this, and that he runs the risk of bringing two, three, or four Powers 
 upon him if he invades Belgium for the sa.ke of quarrelling with 
 England ; whereas, if he picked an independent quarrel with us 
 which he might easily do at Newfoundland, in Egypt, or about our 
 Press no Power is obliged by treaty, or likely by affection, to support 
 us against him. It would be a single-handed fight, in which the 
 spectators (with the exception of Eussia and Belgium) would applaud 
 him and pray for his success. Now, since Louis Napoleon has been in 
 power, he has lost no opportunity of showing friendly feeling. If a 
 Consul has been disagreeable, he has had him. trounced ; if we wanted 
 his help, as in Egypt and Cuba, he gave it at once. He has avoided 
 pointedly every subject of dispute, and has with this feeling just ex- 
 pressed a wish again to negotiate for the exchange of the territories of 
 Albreda and Portendie. So with regard to our tariff. If Disraeli was 
 ready, we might now get a quasi free -trade treaty with France. The 
 belief after all this that the President is concocting a great scheme 
 against England can, therefore, only be called a pressentiment ; but it 
 nevertheless does exist throughout his own country and ours. Material 
 
18.52 IMPROBABILITY OF FRENCH INVASION. 273 
 
 circumstances also militate against it. If our informers are correct, 
 the French dockyards never were more sluggish. I write all this to 
 you, not of course to recommend supineness, for I would not reduce a 
 single ship or seaman, and I trust Disraeli's scheme will not require 
 that, but only to give you my opinion of the man's nature, feelings, and 
 intentions at present. I believe that he is convinced that war with 
 England lost his uncle the throne, and that he means to try peace with 
 us. He wants to marry and have heirs, and I do not at present see 
 that the 7,000,000 who have tw r ice elected him, and will do so again, 
 require the ' fireworks.' The first time he was elected he did not know 
 twenty people in all France by sight. The second, he had just com- 
 mitted a gross act of public violence. Neither his obscurity nor 
 notoriety made any difference, and I believe his name to be enough to 
 sustain him among the masses for his life, and I do not foresee the 
 circumstances that are to force him out of his course. Enough, how- 
 ever, of that. 
 
 On Greece. I think the safest way will be to content ourselves with 
 placing the 40th Act of the Constitution and the Treaty in unison, and 
 leaving the rest to death. The Bavarian family then will not commit 
 suicide when the present King dies. Walewski, speaking for his 
 Government, only wants a Kussian kept out. Russia may knoiv that 
 Adalbert will not now renounce his religion, and if so would press the 
 question. My plan would prevent this. 
 
 Yours ever, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 October 14tfA. Arrived in London from Achnacarry. 
 
 October 15/i. Saw Walewski on Greek Succession. 
 
 October IQth. Cabinet. Settled Duke of Wellington's funeral 
 for November 18. Parliament to meet November 4. I hear the 
 enthusiasm shown for the President during his progress in the 
 South of France surpasses that given to him at Strasburg. I 
 heard a characteristic anecdote of him. When at one of the 
 places through which he passed the bishop met and told him that 
 he was adored, and that whereas there were many Socialists in the 
 town who had Louis Blanc's picture in their houses, they now 
 had Louis Napoleon's. ' Croyez-vous, Monseigneur,' replied the 
 President, * que tous ceux qui ont le portrait de la Vierge sus- 
 pendu dans leurs maisons sont de bons Catholiques ?' 
 
 T 
 
274 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MIMSTKU. 
 
 October 17 th. Saw Briinnow on Greek Succession. He was 
 startled at my plan, which he said was new. Would give no 
 answer. Tricoupi of course in favour. Cetto wanted the signa- 
 tures of the Bavarian family compact to be introduced into the 
 new treaty. My projet was intended to avoid this, as it would 
 be self-acting. 
 
 October 18th. Conference on Greek Succession. Briinnow and 
 Walewski both adhered to my projet. After a discussion as to 
 allowing the Bavarian to attend as an equal, Briinnow and I re- 
 fused, as we are the three protecting Powers, and we knew 
 Cetto would try to oppose my projet. 
 
 October \Wi. Macedo, Brazilian Minister, called. I told him 
 the Government was not prepared to- accept his proposed slave 
 treaty yet, but when Brazil had proved a little longer her sincerity 
 to suppress the slave trade we would do so, as I considered Lord 
 Palmerston, in his zeal to destroy slavery, had taken a high- 
 handed line by forcing Brazil to submit to a right of search 
 within her own waters, and that nothing but necessity excused it. 
 Yan cle Weyer and Lavradio came to frighten me as to a 
 French invasion and the annexation of Belgium, whose safety we 
 have guaranteed. 
 
 Bunsen has told his Government an untruth by saying that 
 their condolence for the Duke of Wellington's death was uncivilly 
 received by us. I gave him my mind on this ill-natured fable. 
 
 I refused to join officially with Prussia in a remonstrance to 
 Tuscany about the Madiai, who were imprisoned for proselytising, 
 but we are using our unofficial influence as far as we can, and with 
 success. 
 
 October 2Qth. Cabinet. Disraeli's financial scheme. 
 October 2lst. I^ord Derby inaugurated as Chancellor of 
 Oxford. He made an excellent Latin speech. 
 
 October 22nd. Cabinet. Discussed Highway Bill and trans- 
 portation. Lundy Island suggested for the latter. 
 
 October 23rd. Cetto refuses to adhere to Greek protocol with- 
 out reference to Munich. 
 
 October 24th. Went to St. Leonard's, near Windsor, which 
 Lord Derby has hired. The Queen writes anxiously about the 
 national defences. Universal apprehension of war if the French 
 
1852 APPREHENSIONS OF KING LEOPOLD. 275 
 
 Empire is proclaimed. This panic is spread far and wide by King 
 Leopold, who has spoken to me repeatedly 011 the subject, and will 
 not believe that Louis Napoleon's policy at this time is to gain and 
 secure the alliance with England and consolidate his position with 
 the Great Powers by a pacific policy. An attack on Belgium would 
 have the contrary effect, and I consider it out of the question. 
 
 October 25th. Cabinet from 1 till 5. Subject : national de- 
 fences. Duke of Northumberland asked for 4,000 more seamen. 
 Disraeli's Budget. Nothing settled but the abolition of half the 
 malt tax. 
 
 October 27th. Shooting with the Prince at Bagshot. Queen 
 anxious about the Madiai, and her mind much occupied with 
 Louis Napoleon and the Empire. 
 
 October 28th and 29th. Cabinets. Local taxes discussed. 
 Disraeli wishes to abolish law of Poor Law Settlement, and make 
 county rates managed by a more popular board. 
 
 October 3Qth. Bulwer writes to say Murray's life is saved. 
 He was condemned to death for murder by the Roman Court, 
 and his guilt as an accessory at least is undoubted. Butenval, 
 French Minister at Turin, and Massimo d'Azeglio, Prime Minister, 
 quarrel. Latter resigns. Cavour succeeds. Lavalette overbear- 
 ing in Turkey. I had to complain of him, and he is recalled. 
 
 French agents everywhere assume an arrogant tone. Louis 
 Napoleon to us is all civility. Statements are sent me of a plan 
 to invade England 1 (which Lord Raglan had received), and carry 
 off the Queen from Osborne by a coup de main. Lord Hardinge 
 very anxious about the want of artillery, the gun-carriages being 
 the same as those used at Waterloo, nearly forty years ago. Lord 
 Hardinge is made Commander-in-Chief by the Queen. Saw 
 Mr. Newton, the victim of Yerona, who was imprisoned for a 
 short time for sketching the fortifications. An absurd young man 
 with a beard and a fancy hat, which are now the symbols of the 
 Communists. He seemed to have no idea what compensation or 
 apology he ought to ask for. 
 
 October 3\st. Briinnow called to talk over 'the Empire' and 
 
 1 I received several of these pseudo plans, which were no doubt suggested, but 
 hardly seriously. It is, however, true that Cavaignac believed it feasible in case 
 of a war with England. 
 
 T 2 
 
27G MEMOIRS Ol' 1 AX EX-MINISTEfc. 1852 
 
 Napoleon III. How are we to recognise his title 1 I replied that 
 we should accept the President as Emperor de facto in presents, 
 and would not allude to hereditary chances, retrospective or future, 
 but leave those to the French people ; that I considered it absurd 
 at the moment we broke the treaties of our ancestors of 1815 
 respecting the Bonaparte family, thereby proving the short-sight- 
 edness of mortal prevision, we should again attempt to decide 
 for unborn generations, As to calling him Napoleon III. when 
 we had never recognised Napoleon II., it seemed absurd, inasmuch 
 as we accepted Charles X. and Louis Philippe during the life of 
 the Due de Reichstadt. Russia will not recognise the Empire if 
 Louis Napoleon assumes the title of ' Protector of Eastern 
 Catholics.' 
 
 November 1st. Cabinet upon title of Napoleon III. Massimo 
 d'Azeglio, who had resigned the Premiership of Sardinia, is rein- 
 stated. A. Fitzclarence, from Paris, says the army is peaceably 
 inclined, and that Mrs. Howard, the President's mistress, declares 
 he has no wish for war. 
 
 November 2nd. Briinnow and Coloredo on the title of 
 Napoleon III. Dined at Walewski's. I tried to persuade him 
 what a mistake it was to assume a numeral that would make 
 difficulties. In six months his money, portraits, &c., would bear 
 the style of Napoleon III., and everybody would call him so ; but 
 to force us and the Great Powers to give the lie to history and 
 stultify ourselves as to everything we had done and recognised for 
 thirty-seven years seemed absurd. At first he flared up, said it 
 would be war to refuse it, but ended by admitting * que j'avais 
 raison et qu'il donnerait mes conseils au Prince.' 
 
 November 3rd. Austria declines sending officers to the Duke 
 of Wellington's funeral, so furious are they still at the attack made 
 upon Marshal Haynau in the streets of London. 1 Called on 
 Disraeli, just returned from Windsor. He had had a discussion 
 of two and a half hours with the Prince upon the national defences. 
 Disraeli, in very low spirits, said it would destroy his Budget, and 
 ridiculed the panic. 
 
 1 He was accused of having had women flogged during the rebellion of 1848, 
 which, true or false, the mob in London believed, and when he went to see a brewery 
 he was attacked and insulted. 
 
1852 LORD DERBY'S MEMORANDUM. 277 
 
 November kth. An article in the ' Morning Post ' from its 
 correspondent in Paris on the title of Napoleon III., retailing 
 nearly every word of my last conversation with Walewski. 
 
 November 5th. Sent for Walewski. He confessed that the 
 French Government paid the ' Morning Post,' and that he saw 
 Borthwick, the editor, every day. 
 
 I proposed that when Louis Napoleon announced the title we 
 should recognise it with a ' protest ' against his retrospective right 
 to the throne. 
 
 November 8th. Cabinet. Irish affairs. Tenant Right Bill 
 appears to me to discourage any investment in Ireland. Agree to 
 give back Napoleon's will to the French Government. Lord Derby 
 writes an elaborate Memorandum upon the new titles of Louis 
 Napoleon. One of the best papers I ever read. Addington and 
 Mellish, the oldest and ablest redacteurs at the Foreign Office, said 
 that neither Canning nor Palmerston could have done the like, 
 being written straight off without a single erasure in copper-plate 
 hand. 
 
 November $th. The Queen sent for Lord Derby and me to 
 Windsor, to talk over the Memorandum. Satisfied with it. I 
 persuaded Lord Derby that my plan of the ' protest ' was the best 
 and safest way out of the difficulty now that Napoleon III. was a 
 fait accompli, and that the Senate had declared that he had an 
 hereditary claim to the crown. 
 
 Mr. Newton, the Verona victim, called. He admitted that 
 when he arrived at his own home his hat and his beard had so 
 changed him that his own mother did not know him. No wonder 
 that with these revolutionary appendages the Croatian sentry 
 arrested him. 
 
 November llth. Parliament opened. The Russian Generals 
 Gortschakoff and Benckendorf present. No amendment to the 
 Speech moved in either House. Lord Derby declared his com- 
 pulsory adherence to Free Trade, as did Disraeli in the Commons. 
 Gladstone and the Peelites very bitter. 
 
 November 12th. Heard from Lord Cowley that Louis Napoleon 
 had sent for him, and stated that he did not consider his empire 
 hereditary retrospectively for the following reasons : 
 
 First. If he did, he would have called himself Napoleon V., 
 
278 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 because both his elder uncle Joseph and his father Louis outlived 
 the Due de Reichstadt. 
 
 Secondly. Because, if he had considered himself hereditary, 
 he would not have required an election. 
 
 Thirdly. That, if hereditary, he would have dated his reign 
 from his cousin's or father's death. 
 
 Walewski repeated this argument to me. Disraeli in very 
 low spirits at the demand for additional expenses for army and 
 navy. 
 
 Palmerston supposed to have joined the Peelites. I went to 
 see the Duke of Wellington lie in state at Chelsea. 
 
 November 13th. Cabinet. Colonial affairs. Several persons 
 killed in the crowd at Chelsea. Sent for to Windsor. Lodged 
 in the Bound Tower, next door to Brimnow and Prince Gortscha- 
 koff, who was an inveterate smoker, and was thus kept at a 
 distance. He was dressed, I believe for the first time in his life, 
 en bourgeois, in an evening suit, in which he felt miserable. But 
 Briinnow insisted on it. Not having his jack-boots on, but 
 pumps, he slipped up on his way to dinner, and rolled some way 
 clown the Tower staircase, but without any damage to his gaunt 
 and iron frame. The Duke of Brabant dined ; very uneasy at 
 Louis Napoleon's elevation. Long conversation with the Prince 
 on national defences. Agreed with him we should want 2,000 
 artillerymen, 1,000 horses, and 5,000 seamen, which would be a 
 permanent additional expense of 230,000?. a year. 
 
 November 15th. Saw Disraeli and Lord Derby on national 
 defences. 
 
 A great number of ladies and gentlemen had tickets to view 
 the preparations at St. Paul's for the funeral. Among them were 
 Lady Jersey, Lady Clementina Villiers, Lady V. Talbot, Lady 
 Chesterfield, Mrs. Anson, Lady Derby, Lady E. Stanley, Lady 
 Ailesbury, &c. It was like an evening party. All in black, 
 
 except Lady , who was in pink, and Lady in a yrenat 
 
 velvet and blue bonnet. 
 
 November 16th. Twenty-seven foreign officers are arrived as 
 deputations from all the European Courts. Walewski was coquet- 
 ting about attending the funeral, and asked Briinnow whether he 
 thought that, as a Frenchman, he ought to do so, to which Briinnow 
 
1852 DUKE OF WELLINGTON'S FUNERAL. 279 
 
 replied : ' Mon cher, si nous allions ressusciter ce pauvre due, je 
 comprends que vous pourriez vous dispenser d'assister a cette 
 ceremonie ; mais, puisque nous sommes invites pour Yenterrer, il 
 me semble que vous pouvez, vous, en faire votre deuil.' Walewski 
 had positive orders to attend the funeral from Louis Napoleon, 
 who spoke with great respect of the Duke. 
 
 November Yltli. Nesselrode wrote to Briinnow, proposing 
 exactly what I did to the Cabinet namely, that a protest should 
 be made against the numeral inferring any hereditary right. 
 
 November ]8tk. Duke's funeral. I started for the place of 
 rendezvous, St. James's Park, at 8 A.M. A dreary morning, and 
 raining. The signal-gun fired at a quarter to nine, and at the 
 same moment the sun broke out for the first time since last month. 
 The weather had been awful, and the whole country is deluged. 
 All the Corps Diplomatique present at St. Paul's except Briinnow, 
 who shammed ill for fear of a row. 
 
 The cortege proceeded up the Mall and Constitution Hill 
 through a countless mass of silent people, almost all in deep 
 black, passing Buckingham Palace, where the Queen and Prince 
 stood on the balcony in deep mourning, then turned down 
 Piccadilly, straight to St. Paul's. The Ministers in their car- 
 riages followed. The streets were lined with troops, and no one 
 can forget the solemn silence and unbroken order that prevailed 
 throughout this long route. On arriving at St. Paul's, which was 
 completely full from the pavement to the roof, the same order 
 prevailed. Round the entrance of the vault sat the Corps 
 Diplomatique, the deputations of foreign officers, the Duke's old 
 generals, Lords Anglesea, Hardinge, Napier, and his other 
 companions in arms, also the distinguished officers of the navy, 
 like Sir George Cockburn, and members of Parliament of both 
 Houses and both parties. Anthems by Handel were played, the 
 words of one of which were, ' His body is buried in peace, his 
 soul liveth for evermore,' accompanied, it is said, by 2,000 voices. 
 When they turned over the leaves of their music-books, which 
 they did simultaneously, it sounded like a sudden blast of wind. 
 Lord Douro r as chief mourner, stood at the entrance of the vault, 
 while the guns, fired from different parts of London, saluted the 
 descent of the coffin. The emotion produced upon all was the 
 
280 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18-32 
 
 same, and unchecked tears rolled down the cheeks of the oldest 
 
 veteran. 
 
 Such honours Ilion to her hero paid, 
 
 And peaceful slept the mighty Hector's shade, 
 
 November 20tk. We signed, at my house in Whitehall 
 Gardens, the treaty of the Greek Succession after a tiresome 
 wrangle with Cetto. He signed sub spe rata, and put in a foolish 
 declaration, which Tricoupi answered. Both were added to the 
 documents, and are valueless paper. Briinnow said to me after- 
 wards, * Cetto is so toff/ meaning 'tough.' I received twenty-seven 
 foreign officers at dinner, together with Lord Anglesea, Sir H. 
 Smith, Lord Hardinge, Lord Gough, Lords Derby, Cowley, and 
 Westmoreland, Arc. Three hundred cannon were planted at 
 Cherbourg and thirty at Granville last week. 
 
 November 2lst. Our party alarmed, and, to the amount of 
 seventy, they refused to vote for Disraeli's amendment on Mr. 
 Villiers' l motion (Free Trade). Disraeli's amendment renounces 
 Protection ; but as the first division will be against Villiers' 
 words, and they will stand by us on that, it signifies nothing, 
 provided they do not absent themselves. 
 
 Lord M. to Sir Hamilton Seymour, H.M. Minister at 
 St. Petersburg. 
 
 Foreign Office : November 21, 1852. 
 
 My dear Sir Hamilton, I take this chance opportunity of sending 
 you a line. 
 
 Cowley is come over and considers Louis Napoleon's conversation 
 to him respecting the meaning of the numeral III. as perfectly official. 
 Louis Napoleon twice stated two most important principles 1st. That 
 he acknowledged all 'the acts which had taken place since 1815, such 
 as the reigns of the elder Bourbons and of Louis Philippe ; 2nd. That 
 he laid no claim to "hereditary right to the throne of France, but only 
 to that by election. 
 
 I understand that there will be no special ambassador, but that the 
 notification will be made at the respective Courts. 
 
 1 If any one deserves the credit of ably defending Free Trade in Parliament andj 
 of being the first to agitate for it, it is the Hon. C. Villiers, although Cobden has 
 been somewhat unfairly held up as its first champion. 
 
1852 SIGNING OF GREEK TKEATF. 281 
 
 Briinnow does not like our (nearly) fixed intention of recognising 
 Napoleon III. under this officially declared interpretation of the 
 numeral. Of course it must be more solemnly and officially declared 
 than it has yet been. Our William III. is a case in point ; the third 
 of that name acknowledged by the English, but no descendant of 
 William Rufus. 
 
 Briinnow had a cold in his head on the day of the funeral, and did 
 not attend it. The truth is, he thought there might be a crush, during 
 which some refugee Pole might insult his person. 
 
 We signed the Greek Treaty yesterday. Cetto's nose was brought 
 to the grindstone, "and he was two hours under the operation, la peine 
 forte ct dure, before he released us from a torture worse than his own. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 November 22nd. Went to Windsor. Dined sixty-eight in. 
 Waterloo Gallery. All the foreign officers and the principal 
 English generals. Lord John Russell has sent to Lord Hardinge 
 to say he would support the Government on the subject of na- 
 tional defences. 
 
 November 2kth. Wrote to Lord Derby on national defences. 
 We went to Windsor. Conversation on state of affairs and reform- 
 ing Lord Derby's Cabinet. He was of opinion that he could not do 
 without Palmerston, Gladstone, and Sidney Herbert. Lonsdale 
 and Harclwicke were ready to resign and make room. 
 
 November 25th. Lord Derby had full power from the Queen 
 to arrange a Government and fusion on two conditions namely, 
 that Palmerston was not to lead the Commons. He had been 
 last night with Disraeli and said he had nothing to do with the 
 Peelites. They declare through Lord Jocelyn that they will go 
 with Palmerston if he is leader of the House of Commons. No 
 one to negotiate with. 
 
 November 21th. Privy Council at Windsor. The Queen 
 pleased at our vote of 5,000 seamen, 1,500 marines, 2,000 artillery. 
 Great dinner and party at Lord Derby's for foreign officers. 
 Russian despatches arrive of 20th. They accept the Empire, but 
 reject the numeral. 
 
 November 2$th. Saw Lord Derby. E[e averse to letting 
 
282 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 Palmerston into Cabinet alone. I think him wrong. If he, 
 Gladstone, and Herbert came into it, he would be overwhelmed 
 in the Commons by this portion of the Cabinet. Nor would I 
 object to Palmerston and Herbert. I cannot make out Gladstone, 
 who seems to me a dark horse. 
 
 November 29th. I told Walewski what instructions I had 
 given Cowley about the title of Napoleon III. He said, with 
 much excitement, that the French Government never would give 
 the assurances in writing. Walewski spoke of condescension in 
 their replying. I said we had a right to ask questions, and if 
 they were not answered we should take the same line as the other 
 Powers. He ended by suggesting that either Drouyn de 1'Huys 
 could read my despatch and declare to Lord Cowley that he 
 recognised the verbal assurances there described verbally, or make 
 his (Walewski's) note verbale officielle. I said the first would not 
 do, but the latter might. 
 
 The Russian despatches show that the Emperor Nicholas 
 is very much caught by Louis Napoleon's character, and that 
 Briinnow and Nesselrode have prevented him from recognising 
 him at once. 
 
 A great dinner to the foreign officers given at the United 
 Service Club. Gortschakoff made a racy military speech, which, 
 after a panegyric on the Duke of Wellington, ended thus : ' Vive 
 cette armee qui a combattu avec lui ! Vive cette belle marine 
 qui a nettoye son chemin, et aide ses efforts ! Mais, avant tout, 
 vive la vieille et glorieuse Angleterre ! ' 
 
 This last sentiment, which he declaimed in a voice of thunder, 
 was electrical. 1 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Coivley, H.M. Ambassador at Paris. 
 
 Foreign Office : November 29, 1852. 
 
 My dear Lord Cowley, I have received your note, and, to be as 
 explicit as possible, -I again write to you to say that we must have the 
 explanations in writing. If you find Drouyn de 1'Huys will not give 
 an amplified statement similar to the note verbale, we may, I think, be 
 satisfied by his mere adhesion to the statements made by the President 
 
 1 Just two years after, we were at war with Russia, and that same Gortschakoff 
 was holding Sebastopol against us with the most obstinate courage and skill. 
 
18o2 CORRESPONDENCE ON THE NUMERAL III. 283 
 
 and Walewski, which are recapitulated, or alluded to, in my despatch 
 of this day. These statements you will repeat at length in the note 
 which you will send in to him namely, the three reasons given to you 
 and me, and the words, original and additional, which I quote from 
 the note verbale. 
 
 To your note Drouyn de 1'Huys must reply. He has only to say 
 that he officially confirms the language used to us verbally and cited 
 in your note, and he need make no observation on ours respecting 
 Napoleon III. 
 
 If you tell him this privately before you send the note in, I think 
 they cannot but be satisfied at being let down so easily. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBUEY. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley, H.M. Ambassador at Paris. 
 
 Foreign Office : November 29, 1852. 
 
 My dear Lord Cowley, Walewski, after an unsuccessful attempt 
 to see me, at last waylaid me on my way to the House, so I was obliged 
 to have a conversation with him. It has not been satisfactory, and 
 will be sent to Drouyn de 1'Huys before you see him. Walewski began 
 by saying that K sseleff had seen Drouyn de 1'Huys, and had agreed 
 to everything, although he said he had no instructions respecting the 
 title. Yet, according to Walewski, he did not object to that. This 
 brought on the subject of Napoleon III., and Walewski said we should 
 have the notification here on Thursday morning, that it would be made 
 to you Wednesday evening, and to him by that night's mail. He then 
 urged me to send you instructions accordingly, and asked me what I 
 should say. I stated to him the tenour of my despatch, upon which 
 he declared that he did not believe that Drouyn de 1'Huys would 
 exchange notes formally or even write you an answer to a despatch 
 inquiring of him whether he confirmed officially the substance of the 
 note verbale and the assurances of the Ambassador. He spoke of the 
 explanation as a condescension, and I was obliged to tell him that we 
 had a right to ask the meaning of the cypher, and that we considered 
 it more important than any assurance of peace and order which he 
 might make ; and that, if they meant to be ' loyal,' I could not under- 
 stand their objection to write what they were ready to say. He sug- 
 gested that you should lay my version of our conversation before 
 Drouyn de 1'Huys, and that he should verbally assure you that it was 
 correct and recognised by him, and that your account to me of this 
 transaction would be a voucher sufficient for Parliament. As he found 
 
284 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 I was not satisfied, he ended by stating that he thought Drouyn de 
 1'Huys would consent to making the note verbale an official document 
 (as annexed to this letter). It appears to me that this would be suffi- 
 cient if done in the proper diplomatic form. Walewski evidently 
 seemed to think a formal note almost impossible, because he states we 
 have no right to ask a question which relates to the internal arrange- 
 ments of France as he pretends the title does ! 
 
 If Drouyn de 1'Huys refuses either to write an acknowledgment of 
 the substance of the note verbale, or to endow it bodily with an official 
 character, you will tell him that you must refer to your Court for 
 further instructions ; but that, if he does one of these two things, her 
 Majesty's Government will receive the notification without further 
 remarks than those of cordial amity. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 December \st. Cowley has failed to get a written assurance 
 upon the cypher III. If he does not do so, I shall state the con- 
 versations of the President and Walewski to Parliament. 
 
 Disraeli much annoyed at the panic. Walewski came at one 
 o'clock to notify the Empire. 
 
 December 2nd. Cabinet. Budget settled. Malt duty reduced 
 one-half. Tea duties 4c?. per pound. Light dues and salvage 
 taken off. Income tax extended and modified. House tax 
 doubled and extended. 600,000. to be the supplementary esti- 
 mate for national defences. French Government gives a written 
 assurance of their interpretation of Napoleon III. Emperor 
 repeats it in his speech to the Senate. 
 
 December 3rd. Disraeli moves his Budget. Well received 
 He spoke five hours and a quarter, and brilliantly. 
 
 Lord M. to the Queen. 
 
 Foreign Office : December 3, 1852. 
 
 Lord Malmesbury presents his humble duty to the Queen. Your 
 Majesty will have learnt with satisfaction that Lord Cowley has 
 obtained a formal and written acknowledgment from the French 
 Secretary of State of the explanations given verbally by him and the 
 French Ambassador to your Majesty's servants. This demand on the 
 part of your Majesty's Government having been complied with, they 
 
iS52 OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF* THE EMPIRE. 285 
 
 determined, at a Cabinet Council which they held yesterday, to advise 
 your Majesty to recognise the new Empire and Emperor without 
 further reserve. Count Walewski has brought to Lord Malmesbury 
 the notification of these facts, and Lord Malmesbury respectfully 
 submits to your Majesty two drafts, one being a reply to this notifica- 
 tion, and the other for Lord Cowley's credentials. Should they meet 
 with your Majesty's approbation, both will be forwarded immediately. 
 
 December 4:th. Official recognition of French Empire. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Coivley, H.M. Ambassador at Paris. 
 
 Foreign Office : December 4, 1852. 
 
 My dear Lord Cowley, We are much obliged to you for the manner 
 in which you have brought the thorny question of the numeral to a 
 successful issue. Your conversation with the Emperor was very 
 curious respecting his naval armaments. If we keep 10,000 good 
 seamen always in the Channel I do not care what he does in that line. 
 . . . You may assure the Emperor that we hail with sincere satisfac- 
 tion the language which he and his Ministers have held to us, both as 
 regards the title he has assumed and his future policy, and the Queen 
 expressed herself much pleased at his speech to the legislative 
 bodies. 
 
 The Great Powers seem determined to refuse him the numeral. 
 It is with them, especially with Eussia and Austria, a personal 
 question. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 December 6tk. Debate on Free Trade, and resolutions in 
 House of Lords. Budget in the Commons. I announced the 
 recognition of the Empire, and was attacked by Lord Canning 
 for commenting upon it favourably. Like all Peelites, he is most 
 bitter against me. They have got it into their heads, most 
 absurdly and erroneously, that I was the principal in causing 
 Lord Derby's secession from them in 1846. Nor do they forgive 
 my sudden elevation to Cabinet office without having ever 
 previously laboured as they have done through preparatory 
 grades. 
 
 December Qth. Went to Osborne to present the Walewskis 
 and his new credentials. Prince still very eager on army and 
 navy. 
 
286 . MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18^2 
 
 December \\tli. Lord Derby and Disraeli agreed to resign if 
 beaten on house tax. 
 
 December I2tk. Saw Disraeli. Our opinion is that he must 
 give up doubling the house tax, and halving the malt tax. 
 
 December 13th. Walewski came to ask the hand of the 
 Princess Adelaide of Hohenlohe in marriage for the Emperor. 
 I had foreseen this, and told the Queen. Walewski said the 
 Emperor's marriage with the Princess Wasa was off. He blamed 
 the disputes of France with Russia about the Lieux Saints in 
 Palestine. 
 
 December lith. Debate on Budget still raging in the Com- 
 mons. Lord Derby announces in the House of Lords that he 
 shall resign if beaten. 
 
 Conversation with Walewski about Cuba and American dis- 
 closures thereon. In 1849 they .offered 100,000,000 dollars for it 
 to Spain. We and France have offered to renounce our possession 
 of Cuba for ever if the United States will agree to do likewise. 
 As yet they refuse. 
 
 December \$th. Cariiii, Neapolitan Minister, called about the 
 schoolmaster Hamilton's case, whose school was closed by the 
 Neapolitan Government. He told me to name a sum of compen- 
 sation, and agreed to 100?., which satisfied Mr. Hamilton. Great 
 excitement about the division of to-night, which settles the fate 
 of our Ministry. 
 
 December 17 'th. We are beaten on the Budget by a majority 
 of 19 305 to 286. Disraeli made a magnificent speech. The 
 Peelites number forty-six only in the Commons. Lord Derby 
 went to Osborne to the Queen. I adjourned the House of Lords 
 till Monday. The general conviction is that the Peelites and 
 Whigs have coalesced. 
 
 December 18th. Lord Derby came back from Osborne. The 
 Queen had told him to send Lord Aberdeen as well as Lord Lans- 
 downe, and they went down ; the Prince observing that, constitu- 
 tionally speaking, it was not necessary he should recommend anyj 
 one. The Queen asked who was likely to form a Government, j 
 and Lord Derby told her Lord Aberdeen had, he believed, coalesced 
 with the Whigs and was ready to be Prime Minister. The Queen 
 objected to the idea of Lord Canning being Foreign Secretary, no 
 
18.52 COMPOSITION OF THE HOUSE. OF COMMONS. 287 
 
 doubt partly in consequence of his anti-Bonapartist speech when 
 I announced the Empire, which at this moment would be an 
 awkward introduction. The House of Commons is now composed 
 thus : 
 
 Derbyites . . . . . . ,292 
 Peelites ....... 80 
 
 Whigs 130 
 
 Eadicals ....... 160 
 
 Irish Brigade ...... 50 
 
 In round numbers . , . 662 
 
 December l$th. Briinnow called. Disturbed about the ques- 
 of the Holy Places in Palestine between the Russians and 
 
 ich. Turks in despair between the two combatants. He 
 his farewell compliments and observed, with apparent 
 pleasure, that we had never had a disagreeable discussion. He is 
 undoubtedly the most able of the Diplomatic Corps and a first- 
 rate redacteur. 
 
 Coloredo, who afterwards came, spoke in a similar sense, and 
 I value his remarks, as he is a gentleman in every sense of the 
 word. 
 
 Lord Aberdeen went down alone to the Queen to-day, as Lord 
 Lansdowne was too ill. The coalition is said to be complete. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley, H.M. Ambassador at Paris. 
 
 Foreign Office, December 20, 1852. 
 
 My dear Cowley, The new Government are so much involved in 
 difficulty that I am likely to be Foreign Secretary for a week longer, 
 at least, and under these circumstances I must beg of you to do all you 
 can to show Drouyn de 1'Huys that the Holy Places question, if 
 roughly handled, is one that may bring on trouble and war. It is one 
 of those points upon which the moral power of the Emperor of Russia 
 rests, and I can as much believe that he would give up the despotic 
 principle by having a Russian House of Commons as surrender his 
 prestige over the populations of the Greek faith by any appearance of 
 cession on this claim. It is giving Russia an opportunity of bullying 
 and degrading the Porte, and when she thinks she is losing ground at 
 Jerusalem, she tries de se rattraper in some other place like Monte- 
 
288 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1852 
 
 negro. The Emperor has done quite enough to satisfy the partipretre 
 without taking up the cause of a minority like the Latins in the East. 
 Perhaps at Compiegne you might have an opportunity of giving him 
 my opinion, which is in his interest. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 December 20^. A meeting of the party at Lord Derby's 
 about 150 Lords and Commons. He addressed them with great 
 effect, promising to continue to lead them, deprecating faction, 
 recommending union. Lord Aberdeen has asked for a week to 
 form his Government. 
 
 December 2lst. Great difficulties in forming a Government. 
 Palmerston refused Aberdeen, who went to him. Lord John 
 Russell is to give his conditions to-night. Clarendon to be Foreign 
 Secretary if the coalition succeeds. 
 
 December 22nd. They are much disconcerted at Palmerston's 
 refusal. Walewski, whom I saw at his house, told me the 
 Emperor meant to ask for the Princess Adelaide's hand from her 
 father. 
 
 Everyone must appreciate the pleasure laudari a laudato 
 viro which is my excuse for quoting Lord Derby's speech in my 
 praise in the House of Lords on the 20th : ' My Lords, I have 
 no hesitation in saying with respect to the foreign affairs of the 
 country that we leave them in a much more satisfactory condition 
 than when we acceded to office that our foreign relations are far 
 more friendly and satisfactory than when my noble friend the 
 Foreign Secretary received the charge of his department. I 
 rejoice in having this opportunity of bearing my testimony in 
 reference to one man than whom no person has been more unspar- 
 ingly, and, I will venture to say, more unjustly maligned, and of 
 stating that from the first to the last I have had 110 cause for 
 anything but self -congratulation in having obtained in the Forei^ 
 Department the services of one who, without previous politic 
 experience, has brought to bear a diligence, ability, and 
 judgment on the affairs of that great department which reflec 
 the highest credit on himself, and which, I may venture to sayj 
 without fear of contradiction, have extorted the applause and 
 admiration of old and experienced diplomatists, whose views on' 
 more than one occasion he has combated, and successfully com- 
 
1862 
 
 PRAISE FPxOM LORD DERBY, 
 
 289 
 
 bated.' This generous compliment, so publicly made, more than 
 compensates me for the excessive abuse which I have from first 
 to last received from a ' ribald press.' The expression is not 
 mine, but that of Lord John Russell. 
 
 December 24tth. Cabinet formed as follows : 
 
 Lord Chancellor . . , 
 Prime Minister . . 
 President of the Council 
 Privy Seal .... 
 Foreign Secretary 
 Home Secretary 
 Colonial Secretary 
 Admiralty .... 
 War Secretary 
 Chancellor of the Exchequer 
 Without office 
 Woods and Forests 
 
 Lord Cranworth. 
 Lord Aberdeen. 
 Lord Granville. 
 Duke of Argyll. 
 Lord John Russell. 
 Lord Palmerston. 
 Duke of Newcastle. 
 Sir James Graham. 
 Mr. Sidney Herbert 
 Mr. Gladstone. 
 Lord Lansdowne. 
 Sir W. Molesworth. 
 
 December 2Qlh. It is said that Lord Palmerston joined Lord 
 Aberdeen's Government in consequence of a letter from the Queen 
 asking him to do so. The general opinion is that, without him, 
 the Peelites could not have formed one. 
 
 December 27th. Lord John Russell called on me, as is the 
 custom, in the morning, to know the status quo of our foreign 
 affairs. 
 
 December 2Sth. I went to Windsor with the rest of my 
 colleagues (except Lord Derby, who took leave of the Queen last 
 Sunday) to give up the seals. Her Majesty gave me an audience 
 of half an hour, and was very gracious. Lord John had said to 
 Walewski about Lord Derby : ' C'est une gloire pour Lord Derby 
 cl'avoir gouverne le pays comme il 1'a fait ces derniers dix mois. 
 Nous avons trouve tout en meilleur etat que quaiid nous 1'avons 
 laisseV The Queen told the Chancellor she was sorry to lose his 
 services. When I went into the room her Majesty began 011 the 
 subject of the proposed marriage of her niece. 
 
 The Prince read a letter from Prince Hohenlohe 011 the 
 subject, which amounted to thisj that he was not sure of the 
 settlement being satisfactory, and that there were objections of 
 religion and morals. The Queen and Prince talked of the marriage 
 
 U 
 
290 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18o2 
 
 reasonably, and weighed the pros and cons. Afraid the Princess 
 should be dazzled if she heard of the offer. I said I knew an 
 offer would be made to the father. Walewski would go himself. 
 The Queen alluded to the fate of all the wives of the rulers of 
 France since 1789, 1 but did not positively object to the marriage. 
 
 December 29tk. We went to Heron Court. Whole country 
 under water. Lord Cowley relates a curious anecdote as to the 
 origin of the numeral III. in the Emperor's title. The Prefect of 
 Bourges, where he slept the first night of his progress, had given 
 instructions that the people were to shout ' Vive Napoleon ! ' but 
 he wrote ' Vive Napoleon ! ! ! ' The people took the three notes 
 of interjection as a numeral. The President, on hearing it, sent 
 the Due de Mortemart to the Prefect to know what the cry meant. 
 When the whole thing was explained the President, tapping the 
 Duke on the shoulder, said : ' Je ne savais pas que j'avais un 
 Prefet Machiavelliste.' I hear the new Emperor's civil list is to be 
 25,000,000 francs (1,000,000?.), and all the palaces, which he is to 
 keep up. He now talks of making Jerome Governor of Algeria, 
 but this is opposed by St. Arnaud and the Ministers. 
 
 Some one said to Berryer : ' Louis Napoleon veut faire le lit de 
 Henri IV.' ' Au moins,' replied Berryer, * il ne lui manquera pas 
 de paillasses.' 
 
 From S.E. Baron Briinnow, Russian Ambassador, to Lord M. 
 
 Chesham Place : 30 decenibre, 1852. 
 
 Cher Lord Malmesbury, Je vous ai manque hier matin de cinq 
 minutes en passant chez vous pour vous remercier de votre aimable 
 billet qu'on venait de meremettre de votre part. II a ete pourmoi une 
 nouvelle preuve d'amitie dont je vous suis bien reconnaissant. Per- 
 mettez-moi de saisir encore cette occasion pour vous dire de nouveau 
 combien j'ai eu a me feliciter de nos bons rapports durant votre 
 ministere, dont je garderai le souvenir le plus agreable et le plus 
 reconnaissant. Votre tres-devoue, 
 
 BRUNNOW. 
 
 1 A prophetic presentiment. 
 
COUNT NESSELHODE. 291 
 
 1853 
 
 Count Nesselrode to Sir H. Seymour after Lord Derby's 
 Resignation. 
 
 St.-Pe'tersbourg : 1 Janvier, 1853. 
 
 Voici, mon cher Sir Hamilton, une lettre que je me permets de 
 recommander a vos soins obligeants. C'est une reponse et un adieu 
 que je fais a Lord Derby. Ne m'etant pas trouve dans des relations 
 lersonnelles semblables avec Lord Malmesbury, j'eprouve neanmoins 
 e besoin de lui dire combien j'ai su apprecier les dispositions obligeantes, 
 ainsi que les facilites que nous avons trouvees en lui dans toutes les 
 affaires que nous avons eu a traiter avec votre gouvernement sous son 
 ministere. Veuillez vous charger, mon cher Sir Hamilton, d'etre 
 .'interprete de ces sentiments aupres de Lord Malmesbury. 
 Mille amities et hommages, 
 
 NESSELRODE. 
 
 Sir G. H. Seymour, H.M. Ambassador at St. Petersburg, 
 to Lord M. 
 
 St. Petersburg : January 13, 1853, 
 
 My dear Lord Malmesbury, The enclosed letters will show yon 
 exactly on what terms you part with Count Nesselrode as he writes,, 
 so he always speaks of you. 
 
 If you collect autographs, you may perhaps like to keep the writing 
 of a man who belongs to a class of Ministers becoming, alas ! very 
 scarce. He is about the last of his class. 
 
 Believe me, &c., 
 
 G-. H. SEYMOUR. 
 
 January 3rd, Heron Court. Lords Anson, Tankerville, and 
 Stanley, and Colonel Blair l came. Gladstone standing for 
 Oxford. 
 
 Sir G. H. Seymour to Lord M. 
 
 St. Petersburg : January 7, 1853. 
 
 My dear Lord Malmesbury, I feel very much obliged to you for 
 your letter of December 2G, and for the kind assurance you give me of 
 
 1 Killed at Inkerman. 
 
292 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MJMSTKU. 1.>!i 
 
 my having been one of the number of ' our correspondents ' whose 
 reports were of some use during the time that you directed our 
 Foreign Affairs. 
 
 On my side I can assure you that I am pretty sensible of the 
 attention and kindness which I have met with at your hands, and thai 
 I can well understand your being satisfied with the success of your 
 diplomatic existence. 
 
 Of others I cannot speak of myself I can, and with full con- 
 naissance de cause. Now this much I know, that I have passed 
 thirty-six years in diplomatic exercise, that I am not troubled with 
 weak nerves, and that, notwithstanding these two advantages, I would 
 not undertake the office which you have been conducting no, not for 
 ten days and not for any consideration that could be offered. The 
 reason why, I, perhaps, should do W'ell to withhold, but I like being 
 frank, and here it is. I would not attempt to do what you have been 
 doing, because before the ten days were over other people would 
 discover that of which I am already aware. 
 
 Be you in or be you out of Downing Street, believe me, &c. 
 
 G. H. SEYMOUR. 
 
 January 8th. Gladstone has a majority of 56 at Oxford. 
 
 January ISth. My brother, Captain Harris, has exchanged 
 Lima, to which I had appointed him, for Chili. 
 
 January 19th. I left for London, Hatfield, and Knowsley. 
 Duchess of Sutherland made Mistress of the Robes. 
 
 January 22nd. The Emperor's marriage with Mdlle. de 
 Montijo is quite settled, and is to take place at Notre Dame on 
 the 29th. 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord M. 
 
 G. Gate : January 24, 1853. 
 
 My dear M., It is said that everything depends on a great muste 
 at the Captain's on the morning of the 31st. A great muster will b 
 better for us at this moment than a great division. 
 
 To ensure this, all his men ought to be asked to dine with him 
 He has offered only three dinners ; the cards are out, they will onl 
 include ninety of his followers. There wanted nine dinners. Th 
 cards should all be out ; if the dinners took place a month hence 
 would not matter. What they want is to be asked to their leader' 
 and to have their cards meeting them on their arrival in town. 
 
 You must remember this is a new Parliament, full of new men 
 
18-)3 LETTER FROM NAPOLEON III. 293 
 
 have never entered his house, for last year lie gave no dinners at all, 
 from domestic circumstances. 
 
 Those who understand these things have all heen to me to say, how 
 critical this is ; every man who is not asked is offended. I cannot 
 mention these matters to him ; you are the only person who can. 
 
 Lord Salisbury l also should be asked to invite the men. His 
 dinners last year did great good, when our fortunes were darkest. 
 
 I have given the ' Press ' another 500L, which will keep them till 
 the end of March ; during the interval, we must consult as to the 
 course we ought to pursue. The sale increases greatly, and its in- 
 fluence : but the expenses do not much diminish. You had better 
 keep the subscriptions you have received till we meet and consult over 
 this. 
 
 The enclosed will show you that the actual sale has increased six 
 hundred per week since I left Hughenden in November. 
 
 Yours, 
 
 D. 
 
 January 29 th. Returned to Heron Court. We have had 
 great shooting at Kiiowsley. 
 
 January 31 st. Lord Alison, and Mr. Beiitinck arrived ; we 
 three went out duck-shooting on the Moor's river, and killed 166 
 teal. I record this feat because I believe it to be unequalled with 
 three ordinary guns. They were in thousands after a long flood 
 throughout November and December. 
 
 From the Emperor Napoleon to Lord Malmesbury. 
 
 Aux Tuileries : le 7 fevrier 1853. 
 
 Mon cher Lord Malmesbury, Je ne veux pas laisser partir le 
 Comte Walewski, sans le charger pour vous d'un petit mot pour vous 
 exprimer ma reconnaissance pour tous les bons precedes que vous avez 
 eus pour moi pendant votre passage aux affaires ; combien je vous ai 
 regrette, ainsi que vos collegues. Neanmoins, je pense que tous 
 les homines de bon sens coinprendrout comme vous (et les nouveaux 
 ininistres m'en out deja donne des preuves) que nion desir le plus 
 fervent est de maintenir avec votre pays, que j'ai toujours tant aime, 
 les relations les plus amicales et les plus in times. 
 
 Becevez, mon cher Lord Malmesbury, 1'assurance dc ma sincere 
 amitic. 
 
 NAPOLEON, 
 1 This Marquis of Salisbury died J8G8, 
 
294 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MIMSTEK. 
 
 February 1th. Austria sends Count de Leiningen to the 
 Sultan, to force him to evacuate Montenegro, which he does with 
 great loss. Other humiliating demands are made. The Emperor 
 Nicholas follows in his wake, and sends Prince Menschikoff to 
 claim full authority over the Holy Places, over which Lavalette, 
 the French Ambassador, had assumed partial privileges and pro- 
 tectorship for the Latin Church. 
 
 February \th. I went up for the meeting of Parliament. 
 
 February 11 tli. Parliament met. Lord Aberdeen made a 
 weak speech in the House of Lords, refusing to give any informa- 
 tion as to his future measures. Lord John, in the Commons, 
 announced that Reform was given up for this session, and the 
 income tax would be continued for a year as it is at present. 
 Disraeli gave notice that next Monday he would ask Sir Charles 
 Wood whether the report of his speech at Halifax, so abusive of 
 Louis Napoleon, is correct. 
 
 February I2tk. Yery heavy fall of snow. Returned to 
 Heron Court. 
 
 Lord M. to Louis Napoleon. 
 
 Heron Court : February 15, 1853. 
 
 Sir, I hasten to acknowledge to your Majesty the sincere pleasure 
 with which I received the honour of your Majesty's kind letter. When 
 I left office, the experience I had there gained of foreign affairs had 
 impressed me with the deepest conviction that the respective interests 
 of England and France, and the general happiness of the European 
 populations, depend mainly on the friendly alliance of our two countries, 
 and that as long as such an alliance .exists they are both all-powerful. 
 
 It therefore gave me the greatest satisfaction to learn from Lord 
 John Russell's own lips, that he was most anxious to maintain, as 
 regards your Majesty, the same policy which I had considered it my< 
 duty and a pleasure to follow. 
 
 I have the honour, &c., &c. 
 
 MALMESBUEY. 
 
 February 23rd. Lord Anson arrived. He had scarcely 
 entered the house when an extraordinary tornado suddenly took 
 place, lasting only about five minutes, but its violence was such 
 that I expected the roof to be blown off. The thermometer went 
 
18,53 OUTBREAK AT MILAN. 295 
 
 down ten degrees in that time. The weather had been perfectly 
 calm and mild all day up to the moment when this gust arose. 
 It did great damage, cutting, as it were, a narrow lane through 
 the woods of about fifty yards wide, and destroying everything 
 before it. 
 
 February and. March. An attempt has been made on the 
 Emperor of Austria's life by a refugee, and the Austrians 5 hatred 
 to us has increased to such a degree that Count Buol has been 
 obliged to send a police force to Lord Westmoreland's, our 
 Ambassador's, house to protect him from the mob. 
 
 March 7th. I went to London. An outbreak has taken place 
 at Milan, repressed with great rigour and cruelty. The Ticinese 
 Swiss, to the number of some thousands, are expelled from 
 Lombardy. Mazzini not to be found. His always escaping the 
 foreign police is very suspicious. He left England on January 2, 
 four days after Lord Derby's Government resigned. He is said 
 to be very clever at disguises ; but I can hardly understand it, as 
 I met him at Madame Parodi's, and he is more terribly marked 
 with the smallpox than any one I ever saw, with piercing black 
 eyes, and much resembling Ugolino Foscolo. 
 
 G. Harris to Lord M. 
 
 Vienna : March 14, 1853. 
 
 My dear Fitz, Perhaps you may not dislike to hear a can-can or 
 two from the Chancellerie of H.M. Legation here. 
 
 It appears that Manteuffel made a most insolent demand (insolent 
 aufond, not quant a la forme) viz. that our Foreign Office passports 
 should give the personal description of the bearers. Lord Clarendon, 
 in reply, refuses most peremptorily, amongst many obvious reasons for 
 this one, that we are not to be dictated to by foreign Powers as to the 
 form of our passports or anything else ; the reply in question is evi- 
 dently Mellish's, and is a stinger. 
 
 Lord Westmoreland told me this morning, and I hear the same 
 from everyone else, that the irritation against England is now au 
 comble. The Austrians impute everything outrageous and absurd to 
 us ; and the revolutionary partisans profess to expect everything from 
 England. His lordship said he had received this very day a despatch 
 
296 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18-53 
 
 from Lord Clarendon, authorising him to make use of the very strongest 
 language to express the indignation of her Majesty's Government that 
 the refugees should abuse the hospitality of England, and should direct 
 from London their manifestoes, conspiracies, &c., that (the old, old 
 story) our laws were such and such, and our hands as a Government 
 were tied within those laws ; lastly, and not least, ' that the Imperial 
 Government must not suppose that the sensible and honest portion of 
 the people of England felt anything else but abhorrence and disgust at 
 the conduct of these conspirators and their agents.' 
 
 Several Englishmen have assured me they have been treated 
 lately in travelling in Hungary and Bohemia with marked civility. 
 I can say the same for myself, from the moment I crossed the frontier 
 the other side of Prague. The employes of the rail and Custom House 
 never opened a portmanteau or anything else, and to the natives and 
 other travellers I observed that they did. 
 
 I have not yet obtained my exequatur. Lord Westmoreland says 
 it will be three weeks before it follows me to Venice ; and yet, if he 
 chose to press the matter on Buol, the thing would be done in an 
 instant. Lord Westmoreland is too bon for Buol and Co. I go on to- 
 morrow to Trieste, and shall make myself comfortable at Venice en 
 attendant. 
 
 The Emperor's illness threw all the public business on its beam ends. 
 His Majesty is the War Minister, going through all that frightful 
 routine himself ; the accumulation of papers was such at the end of a 
 week that they invented the alter ego, the Archduke Francis William. 
 On the 12th his Imperial Majesty went in very simple state to the 
 Cathedral. The whole population turned out in holiday clothes, and 
 the line was kept by the burghers ; not a soldier on duty was to be seen, 
 except at the church door, three battalions as a guard of honour. The 
 multitude uttered but one mighty cry of ' Vivat \ ' The day was lovely. 
 After the Duke's funeral it was one of the grandest spectacles I ever 
 beheld. The Emperor was much emu, and his father, who was with 
 him in their little open barouche, roared like a calf. The attentat was 
 110 joking one. Never man had a narrower escape than his Majesty; if 
 the assassin had not weakened the point of his knife by having the 
 back of it sharpened, and changed it into the lancet form, he must have 
 smashed the Emperor's skull ; as it was, the point of the blade bent 
 up two inches. His mother, the Archduchess Sophia, got a setting 
 down by asking him never to ivalk again in Vienna, and to take pre- 
 cautions (as of polics and military folio wing his carriage and his horse). 
 The Emperor, said Lady Westmoreland, was seriously angry with her ; 
 insisted that the subject should never again be mentioned to him. 
 
; ! . :. 
 
 18f>3 AT THE TUILERIES. 297 
 
 * Was he to distrust his good, honest Viennese ? ' This was hi 
 Majesty's first quarrel with his mother. 
 
 Yours affectionately, 
 
 GK HARRIS. 
 
 March 18th. Started for Paris with Frank Mills, in a gale 
 from N.E. and snow. 
 
 March I9th. Arrived at Paris at 11 P.M. Found an invita- 
 tion from the Emperor to dine that day. 
 
 March 20th. Went with Lord Cowley to the Tuileries, he 
 having told me that the Emperor wished to see me immediately. 
 Review in the Place du Carrousel. We met in the great room 
 under the clock tower. The Emperor came in soon after with 
 the Empress. Saw me and received me very heartily. He pre- 
 sented me to the Empress, who said she had often heard him 
 speak of me as an old friend. He then went down to mount his 
 horse, and reviewed his troops, who received him very well. The 
 Ministers Fould, Ducos, and Persigny came up, and began 
 immediately talking on the subject of Rose's summons to our 
 fleet to the Bosphorus. They seemed to think that England had 
 not acted loyally in the matter, as it ought to have been a simul- 
 taneous movement. All I could reply was, that it was the act of 
 Colonel Rose alone, who was a man of great energy ; and that 
 although I owed the Government nothing, I must do Lords J. 
 Russell and Clarendon the justice to say that I believed they 
 were as anxious as I had been for a French alliance, and that 
 they had approved both in Parliament and privately to me of all 
 my French policy. The Emperor had sent off his fleet at once 
 without choosing to wait for an explanation from England and 
 an answer to Admiral Dundas's request for orders. This act, 
 though notified immediately to Lord Cowley and by him to our 
 Government, was not communicated to Walewski in London, and 
 occasioned great confusion. A Cabinet was called, and Walewski 
 was so positive that the French fleet had not sailed that our 
 Government thought Lord Cowley misinformed. This was a 
 trick of the French Foreign Minister, Drouyn de FHuys, to spite 
 >\ o,|ewski, who had, he thought, been intriguing to get his place. 
 
298 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1853 
 
 I dined at the Tuileries this evening, and found a great 
 military banquet of all the marshals, generals, and colonels, who 
 had commanded at the review of this morning. The Emperor 
 again thanked me before everybody ' pour ce que j'avais fait pour 
 lui,' alluding to the recognition of the Empire by England, and 
 with a very frank courage, at such a time and place, mentioned 
 my having visited him in his prison at Ham. 
 
 I sat by the Empress at dinner. She is still very handsome, 
 with a beautiful bust and shoulders, and small hands and feet. 
 Hair auburn. She spoke English easily, and talked to the 
 ' Emperor in that language when they wished not to be understood. 
 They did this two or three times, forgetting my presence, and 
 laughed heartily at the mistake. 
 
 After dinner the etiquette was very stiff, and we stood for 
 two hours. During one of these the Emperor took me to a corner, 
 and spoke on several subjects. He seemed to avoid the details of 
 the Turkish question, which occupied the public mind this day, 
 but did not conceal his ill-humour with our Government, and his 
 suspicions that Hose had been ordered to send for the fleet. I 
 begged him to wait for further information, and at all events not 
 to send his fleet beyond Naples, as ours remained at Malta, but 
 he was silent, as he always is when he disagrees. He then asked 
 very anxiously whether the Queen's feelings had changed towards 
 him, being influenced by Lord Aberdeen. I replied that it was 
 very natural that at first she should feel strongly for her Orleaiiist 
 relations, but that beyond that her Majesty had no sentiments 
 of enmity against him, and that I had always found her Majesty 
 alive to the importance of friendly relations with France. He 
 said that that was his earnest wish, that he had even risked his 
 own popularity by enduring the abuse of the English press for a 
 year ; that this press infuriated the officers of the army, numbers 
 of whom knew English perfectly ; and that it required the whole 
 power ho possessed among the provincial masses to enable him to 
 exercise his own judgment and not to be obliged to kick the 
 newspaper correspondents out of Paris. 
 
 He said he was most anxious to go bras a bras with England 
 on every question, not pour les beaux yeux of one another, but for 
 our solid interest ; that two great subjects were now paramount 
 
1853 NAPOLEON III. ON OUR ALLIANCE. 299 
 
 namely, the maintenance of the Turkish Empire and the new 
 International Code broached by America called the 'Monroe 
 Doctrine ; ' and that these two points comprehended the whole 
 policy of the world, the maintenance of peace, and the advance 
 of human civilisation and improvement. Russia was a barbarous 
 Monarchy, and America a barbarous Republic, but both young, 
 vigorous, et pleines de seve. 
 
 As to Europe, the safety of the West depended 011 the alliance 
 of France and England ; that he had been urged to join in a 
 quadruple alliance against us as a focus of revolutionary doctrines, 
 but he refused, because he knew that if England were to sink, 
 France must be sacrificed to the Northern Powers ; and that if 
 his uncle's prophecy respecting the Cossacks were not physically 
 realised, it would be so morally ; that even now Austria was the 
 Czar's valet, since he had saved her in Hungary ; that, although 
 wearing different forms of government, as different nations wear 
 a different cut of coat England, France, Sardinia, Spain, and 
 Portugal, all had the same foundation for their governments 
 namely, public opinion and the will of the people, more or less 
 developed ; whilst the other great European States and Italy had 
 no law but the fancy of the divine autocrat who ruled them. 
 
 As to himself, his whole power came from the people, and if 
 he lost their confidence he could not exist an hour. The difference 
 of government, therefore, was not so great between France and 
 England as our newspapers said it was. We did not make 
 sufficient allowance for the Revolution of 1848, which prostrated 
 the country and was felt by all France to be only the forerunner 
 of the Reign of Terror prepared for 1852 by Mazzini, Louis 
 Blanc, &c. ; that it was natural for John Bull, who had never 
 seen a drop of blood shed, and read of 1688 as a romance, to enjoy 
 the diatribes of the ' Times ' over his breakfast, and calling him a 
 tyrant, not to perceive that whatever he (Napoleon) was, he was 
 the consequence of the events of 1848. 
 
 He went on to repeat his desire to be inseparable from 
 England, but added : ' The great difficulty is your form of 
 Government, which changes the Queen's Ministers so often and 
 so suddenly. It is such a risk to adopt a line of policy with you, 
 as one may be left in the lurch by a new Administration.' 
 
300 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1853 
 
 I replied that I saw 110 danger in this, as far as France was 
 concerned, because he knew what Lord Derby's had been, that no 
 more Conservative or Tory Administration could ever be in power 
 again, and that the animus of the Radical party was almost 
 hostile to Russia and Austria ; that there was no possibility of 
 any English Ministry joining in a coalition against France, unless 
 he played his uncle's game again. He said ' Bah ! you know my 
 opinion long ago on that subject ! ' He lamented the conduct of 
 Austria in Italy, and said it was impossible it could go on, and 
 that it would be a great advantage if we could agree upon grant- 
 ing her an equivalent somewhere else but where 1 There seemed 
 none but some Turkish province. He said Italy gave him great 
 anxiety, and especially Austria's insolence to Sardinia. The 
 Emperor of Austria was a very energetic and clever man, and 
 would make a figure. I remarked that I believed him to be 
 ambitious, and that Buol did not attempt to control him. He 
 agreed, and abused Buol's character, adding that he had that day 
 received from him a letter full of flattery. I said I thought the 
 Emperor Nicholas loyal and trustworthy. Upon which he 
 observed : ' Plus prudent que loyal.' 
 
 The Emperor then suddenly broke into the question of refugees 
 in England, stating his opinion that sooner or later it would bring 
 us into a quarrel with other States. I answered, that as we knew 
 that half of them were rascals we should be very glad to be rid 
 of them. Every country had its subject on which no cession 
 could be made. The Holy Places in the East was that of Russia, 
 the Refugees was ours, and it was useless to torment us about an 
 impossibility, for 110 English Minister could alter the law at 
 present. He said, ' I do not care about their meetings, speeches, 
 and proclamations, but they are a nest of assassins. You know 
 I am neither fanciful nor timid, but I give you my word of 
 honour that three men have been successively arrested within fifty 
 yards of me armed with daggers and pistols. The last fired at the 
 gendarme and wounded him. I have taken great pains to have 
 these attempts hushed up. These men all came straight from 
 England, and had not been twelve hours in France. Your police 
 should have known it and given me notice.' I reminded him that 
 I had done so. ' Oui, mais pas vos successeurs.' And then he 
 
_l8o:i HEALTH OF THE EMPEROR AND EMPRESS. 301 
 
 added, ' Can I believe their protestations, when Graham and Wood 
 spoke as they did of me at Halifax and Carlisle ? l Their excuses 
 are nonsense. One of three things : either they are fools, which 
 is not the case, or they really felt what they said, which, being 
 Cabinet Ministers, is very serious for me, or they abused me to 
 ]> lease their audience, which is still worse, as it would imply that 
 the English people are hostile to me. However, I shall act in 
 public, as I have always done in private life, treating Governments 
 as they treat me, and I believe what you say of Lord John Rus- 
 sell ; but what of Lord Aberdeen V 
 
 I replied I would only answer for the two I had mentioned, 
 not having had any relations with the others. 
 
 He then spoke of old times and of his mother with great affec- 
 tion, saying the thing he regretted most was her not living to see 
 him where he was. He alluded to the offer he had made to the 
 Princess of Hohenlohe, and asked me what I thought of the 
 Empress. He said he had no time to lose, if he was to leave an. 
 heir grown up. The revenue had increased sixty millions of 
 francs in 1852, and this quarter was already ten millions above 
 the corresponding one of last year. He had greatly improved 
 Paris, and in two years his system of railways would be completed 
 if he could preserve peace. He desired me to thank Lord Derby 
 for his policy, and concluded by saying, ' The English are manly 
 enemies and manly friends, and that is more than I can say for 
 others.' I put the above conversation on paper as soon as I 
 returned to my hotel, so I can answer for its being almost textually 
 correct. 
 
 The Empress asked me a great many questions about the 
 Emperor's former health, whether ' he was subject to headaches.' 
 I suggested that these hot rooms were enough to give headaches 
 to anybody who worked hard, and she said they both suffered from 
 them, but that nothing could cool the Tuileries. She spoke of 
 his assassination as a thing talked of, but to her conviction impos- 
 sible ; that she had not the least fear about it, and that they 
 walked about alone at St. Cloud, and meant to do so. 
 
 1 Their speeches, whether from a moral or political point of view, were perfectly 
 unpardonable, being suggestive of any crime which an ignorant man might mis- 
 take for patriotism. 
 
302 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MLMSTKK, 18.53. 
 
 In a conversation with Marshal Vaillant, who commanded at 
 the siege of Borne, and Marshal Magnan, who carried out the 
 coup d'etat of the 2nd December, they stated that the army would 
 dislike going to war with Russia for the question of the Holy 
 Places. 
 
 Marshal Vaillant showed an evident jealousy and dislike of 
 England. Some of the colonels expressed a contrary feeling, but 
 all are imbued with the idea that any alliance with us must be 
 unstable, in consequence of our constant change of Ministry, and 
 they viewed the organisation of our militia as dangerous to our- 
 selves, misjudging it from their experience of their National 
 Guard. 
 
 Although the banquet and establishment of courtiers and 
 servants was as splendid as possible, there was a feeling in the 
 air which impressed me with the idea that the whole pageant 
 must be ephemeral. I cannot explain this sentiment, unless it 
 was that I observed that the members of the household appeared 
 not to have perfectly* learnt their parts, and also that, having 
 seen and known the Emperor for so many years in such a totally 
 different position, his present one looked like a dream or a play ; 
 but w^heii each actor becomes acclimatised by time, it will be a 
 magnificent Court, with a Sovereign who will command the atten- 
 tion of all Europe. 
 
 March 2 1^. Dined with Frank Mills at the Trois Freres, 1 
 the famous cafe in the Palais Royal, established during the Reign 
 of Terror by three brothers who came from Provence. I had 
 spent the day in leaving cards on the officials. 
 
 March 22nd. Dined with the Cowleys. 
 
 March 23rd. Dined with Nat. Rothschild. Kisseleff there. 2 
 Said to be in great favour with his master, Nicholas. Saw the 
 Due de Guiche, 3 going as Minister to Turin. Has orders to sup- 
 port Sardinia. 
 
 March 26th. Dined at Cowley's. Had a long conversation 
 with Kisseleff. He said that the men in the secret of the coup 
 d'etat were Horny, Magnan, Maupas, Persigny, and a Captain 
 
 1 Closed by the Commune in 1871. 
 
 2 Russian Ambassador at Paris. 
 
 3 Afterwards Due de Gramont and Foreign Minister in 1870. 
 
1858 FRENCH ALLIANCE. 303 
 
 Fleury. 1 Count Flahault (the father of Morny) knew nothing 
 about it, and this Drouyn de 1'Huys assured me was the case. He 
 certainly denied it himself. Morny and the Emperor had secured 
 to themselves a refuge in the event of a failure with a woman 
 devoted to them. 2 At the Prince de Lieven's I met Mole, Ducha- 
 tel, and other Orleanists. 
 
 March 28th. Dined with Persigny, Cowleys, Fould, &c. Long 
 conversation with Persigny on French affairs. He is strong for 
 an English alliance. He opposed the marriage with the Empress, 
 and still says it was a great mistake. This reminds me of a cir- 
 cumstance when the Emperor was an exile in London five years 
 ago. He one day walked me twice round Berkeley Square, in- 
 quiring if I thought he should have any chance of being accepted 
 by Lady Clementina Yilliers if he proposed to her. I could not 
 give him any encouragement, as I knew Lady Jersey had a par- 
 ticular dislike to him, and avoided showing him any civility. 3 
 
 March 2$tJi. Dined with Drouyn de 1'Huys. Fifty-two 
 covers. Deputation from the City recommending peaceful policy 
 were present, with Gurney the Quaker and Sir John Duke. 
 French Ministers and Emperor very much pleased at it. It was 
 got up by De 1'Huys and Mr. Powles, and signed by 4,000 names. 
 The object was to neutralise the effect of Sir Charles Wood's 
 abominable speech at Halifax and the articles in the ' Times ' 
 against the Emperor. That journal has received such representa- 
 tions from its commercial customers at Manchester that it has 
 abated its tone. I sat by Madame de Bourqueney. He is gone 
 as Ambassador to Vienna. Ducos, Minister of Marine, spoke 
 anxiously in favour of an English alliance, but I know him to be 
 naturally hostile, and he and Changarnier concocted a plan in 
 1851 for a piratical descent on England, and for seizing the 
 Queen's person at Osborne, they said, for their amusement only. 
 
 1 Captain, afterwards General, Fleury was a very clever and useful servant to 
 the Emperor, during his reign, and was Ambassador at Petersburg at the time of 
 the fall of the Empire. He died in 1884. 
 
 2 This was Madame Favart de 1'Anglade, a Creole, who lived some time at 
 Kensington Gate, and used to give excellent dinners and whist parties. 
 
 3 A strong trait in the Emperor's character was that he always returned kind- 
 ness and civilities, and vice versa, When Lady Jersey went to Paris he would not 
 invite her to the Tuileries. 
 
304 MEMOIKS OF AX EX-MI NISTKK. 1853 
 
 Lavalette is just recalled from the Embassy at Constantinople, 
 where his zeal involved France in the question of the Holy Places. 
 He intimated to me that he had been ' thrown over.' He is anti- 
 English abused Lord Stratford's temper. The fact is that the 
 Emperor Louis Napoleon, does not realise that upon the subject 
 of the Holy Shrines, Nicholas (who is Pope and Head of the 
 Greek Church) cannot possibly give way, and encouraged Lava- 
 lette in preposterous demands and language to the Sultan, and 
 is now obliged to draw back and recall him. M. de la Tour, 
 a conciliatory man, succeeds him. 
 
 March 30^A. Dined at the Tuileries with the Eglintons and 
 Clanricarde. The ladies seemed to me very provincial, and not 
 at their ease. The Emperor in good spirits and as gay as eti- 
 quette permits. 
 
 March Z\st. Breakfasted with Drouyn de 1'Huys. 
 
 April 1st. I returned to London in a gale of wind. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 St. Leonards : April 5, 1853. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I have no wish whatever that the Canter- 
 bury Election debate should be put off on account of my absence. I 
 assume that the evidence taken before the Commons has been com- 
 municated to us, and that it is of such a character as to form a sufficient 
 primd facie ground for further inquiry. It cannot be our interest to 
 screen cases of notorious corruption, or even to prevent the disfranchise- 
 ment of boroughs notorious for their venalit}'. Whether the case of 
 Canterbury is strong enough for this, I know not. I should rather 
 doubt it. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 St. Leonards : April 7, 1853. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I shall most probably be in the House or 
 this day week, but I shall only just get there, coming from Knowslej 
 that morning, and arriving at Euston Square at four o'clock ; there 
 fore I should not have wished any great debate to stand for that day. 
 have no wish that the discussion on the Canterbury case, as I wrot< 
 you word yesterday, should be put off in consequence of my absence 
 
1853 MR. STAFFORD'S APPOINTMENTS. 305 
 
 I was aware of the technical difficulty which will be raised, but hope 
 it may be got over. It cannot, as I apprehend, be any obstacle to our 
 oining in an Address with the House of Commons, praying that a 
 Commission may be instituted ; but it may raise awkward difficulties 
 with respect to the powers legally vested in that Commission, if not 
 strictly in fulfilment of the Act of last year. I have not the Act before 
 lie, and cannot, therefore, exactly say how far the deviation is fatal. 
 3ut I should think, if there is any doubt, that our best plan would be 
 ,o join in the Address, and at the same time to introduce a bill giving 
 ,he same powers to the Commissioners as would have been given had 
 he Act of last year been strictly followed, reciting the informality 
 which rendered such a course necessary. Perhaps you would suggest 
 liis from me to Lords Lyndhurst and St. Leonards for their considera- 
 ion. Whatever is done, do not let the House of Lords, and especially 
 friends in it, have the appearance of raising technical objections for 
 lie purpose of stifling searching inquiry. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 April I5lh. Government beaten last night on motion for 
 taking tax off advertisements. Disraeli supported it, saying the 
 ate Government had intended to take it off. Gladstone opposed 
 t, and they were beaten by 31. There were two other divisions 
 ;o take off the duty on papers and newspapers which our party 
 )pposecl and supported the Government in defeating the Radicals. 
 
 April IQth. Lord Derby in great spirits, and quite approving 
 of all that Disraeli had done. We gave a party this evening, 
 which was much more crowded than the last. 
 
 April Yltli. Government have Cabinet Councils almost every 
 lay and are in difficulties. 
 
 April 2lst. Budget will probably pass. The extension of 
 egacy duty to real property secures the support of the Radicals. 
 
 April 29th. Jew Bill thrown out by 49 in House of Lords, 
 in spite of Lord Aberdeen changing. 
 
 April 30th. Lord Seymour is made chairman of the Com- 
 nittee to inquire into the navy appointments under the Duke of 
 Northumberland, and he says it is a bad business for Mr. Stafford, 
 
 o was our Secretary for the Admiralty, and the whole of thei 
 late Government ; Mr. Stafford having told Sir Baldwin Walker 
 li:it the appointments complained of had been forced upon hhri 
 
306 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MIXISTKK. 1 S-VJ 
 
 by Lord Derby and Disraeli. Mr. Stafford has behaved foolishly, 
 for he got very well out of the scrape before the House of 
 Commons ; Lord John Russell and others having admitted that 
 he had quite vindicated his character. Instead of being satisfied, 
 he must needs make an attack upon Sir B. Walker, who, having 
 some friends in the House, they asked for a committee, and the 
 result is that Mr. Stafford and Lord Derby's colleagues will be 
 much damaged. 
 
 May 2nd, I attended at the Navy Board Committee. Heard 
 Mr. Stafford's evidence. "Weak and unsatisfactory. Lord Derby 
 has written to offer to be examined before the Committee, if they 
 are not satisfied that he had nothing to do with the appointments 
 of the Admiralty. 
 
 May 3rd Government had a majority of 71 upon the income 
 tax, and of course they will carry the whole Budget. 
 
 May 4:th. Mr. Stafford's evidence tends very much to crimi- 
 nate him and exculpate the Government. It is evident that the 
 Duke of Northumberland gave up to him the whole patronage of 
 the dockyard, and there was a jealous squabble between him, Sir 
 B. Walker, and Admiral Hyde Parker 011 the subject. Disraeli 
 has written to ask to be examined. 
 
 May 20th. Government were beaten yesterday in the House 
 of Commons, on the motion of Mr. Spooner to refuse 1,2351. for 
 the repairs of Maynooth College. Lord John Russell supported 
 the grant, and was beaten by 74 to 54, 
 
 I hear that Mrs. Sidney Herbert has had herself and two 
 children painted as a Holy Family. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 St. Leonards : May 22, 1853. 
 
 My dear Malmesbnry, I do dine at Pembroke College on Thursday 
 the 9th, and hope you will be able to meet me there. By all means 
 execute your purpose of taking Lady Malmesbury over to Germany on 
 the llth. We shall miss you in the House of Lords, but that is a 
 secondary consideration, and it would neither do for her to give up her 
 journey nor to undertake so long a one without an escort. I suppose 
 you will be back before the end of the session. I shall be in town to- 
 night, as I have to attend at the Trinity House at ten to-morrow niorn- 
 
1853 THE TURKISH DIFFICULTY. 307 
 
 ing. I shall, however, be in the House, as the usual dinner is postponed. 
 I think you should ask a question as to the affairs of Turkey, but with- 
 out entering on any discussion, or making more of a speech than to 
 refer to the reports prevalent and ask what foundation there is for them 
 and what line the Government have adopted. I think matters look 
 very threatening. I congratulate you on the Paraguay treaty, for to 
 you belongs the merit of it, though I suppose the present men will 
 claim it. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DEKBY. 
 
 May '23rd. Went to Lady Breadalbaiie's ball ; 1,500 people 
 there. Lord Breadalbaiie bought a house in Grosvenor Street, 
 through which an entrance was made expressly for the cloaks and 
 hats, and built two rooms of zinc for the dancing and supper. 
 
 There is no longer any doubt that Lords Aberdeen and 
 Clarendon "have been completely deceived by Briinnow. The 
 news from the East is very alarming, and still they will not 
 believe that the Emperor has played them false. 
 
 Prince Menschikoff only gives the Sultan to the 16th proximo 
 to decide whether he accepts or refuses his ultimatum. Lord 
 Stratford having no instructions, has referred to the Government 
 at home. 
 
 May 27 'th. Telegraphic despatch says that relations have 
 ceased between the Turkish Government and Prince Menschikoff. 
 This ought tp open Lord Aberdeen's eyes. 
 
 May 2Sth. I spoke yesterday on the Turkish difficulty. 
 Lord Clarendon's reply was feeble, and he evidently spoke against 
 the grain when he assured the House that the Government meant 
 to support Turkey, and that our Ambassador at Constantinople 
 was acting cordially with that of France. 
 
 May 29th. Prince Menschikoff, it is said, has left Constanti- 
 nople. Lord Clarendon is very uneasy, but Lord Aberdeen, with 
 childish obstinacy, refuses to believe that Russia intends any 
 aggression, and will not send our fleet to Constantinople. 
 
 I met Lord Palmerstoii in Pall Mall this afternoon ; he stop- 
 ped me to speak to him, and began at once upon the departure of 
 Prince Menschikoff. He walked his horse by me till we got to 
 Waterloo Place, where we stopped and talked for a quarter of an 
 
 x 2 
 
308 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1853 
 
 hour. Lord Palmerston spoke very openly on the subject, on 
 which his policy quite agrees with ours. He is for decided 
 measures against Russia, so that between him and Lord Aberdeen 
 there is a complete difference of opinion. 
 
 May 30^. Lord Hardwicke asked whether any orders had 
 been sent to the English fleet to move. Lord Clarendon refused 
 to give any answer. Disraeli put same question in Commons, and 
 Lord John Russell angrily refused all information. The question 
 is to be decided to-morrow at the Cabinet. It is well known they 
 are divided on the subject. 
 
 June 2nd. It is reported that the English fleet is sent to 
 Constantinople. Lord Hardwicke, who knows Prince Menschikoff, 
 says that he was in the navy, and that in some engagement a 
 cannon ball passed between his legs without injuring him. 
 
 June 3rd. Walewski and Briinnow are naturally in a state 
 of great anxiety as to whether the Government will go to war. 
 The former, who constantly sees Palmerston, hopes and believes 
 they will, but Briinnow is sanguine that Aberdeen will not do so, 
 and they respectively are constantly applying to me for an opinion. 
 I always give them the same answer namely, that ' the strongest 
 character of the two, which, undoubtedly is Palmerston's, will pre- 
 vail/ 
 
 There is a circumstance which I think must strongly influence 
 Lord Aberdeen at this moment ; which is, that when the Emperor 
 "Nicholas came to England in 1844, he, Sir Robert Peel (then 
 Prime Minister), the Duke of Wellington, and Lord Aberdeen 
 (then Foreign Secretary), drew up and signed a memorandum, the 
 spirit and scope of which was to support Russia in her legitimate 
 protectorship of the Greek religion and the Holy Shrines, and to 
 do so without consulting France. 
 
 When Lord Derby's Government came in, at first I was unable 
 to understand the mysterious allusions which Briinnow made now 
 and then, and which he retracted when he saw that either I knew 
 nothing of this paper or that I desired to ignore it. Since it was \ 
 composed and written, the position of affairs in Europe has totally : 
 changed, and is even reversed. In 1840 the events in the East 
 had then totally estranged England and France from one another, 
 u-iid Louis N;i])<>]fru did not exist as a factor in European polic-yj 
 
1853 THE TURKISH DIFFICULTY. 309 
 
 Now he is Emperor of the French, and the Duke and Peel are 
 dead, yet it is not unnatural to believe that Nicholas, finding 
 Lord Aberdeen Prime Minister, and the sole survivor of the 
 three English statesmen, should feel that the moment had arrived, 
 so long wished for by Russia, to fall upon Turkey. His menacing 
 conversations with Sir Hamilton Seymour began the moment Lord 
 Derby resigned and not before, and at the same time MenschikofFs 
 arrogant demands were made. 1 He believes that Lord Aberdeen 
 never will join France against him, and probably thinks Palmer- 
 ston stultified by the drudgery of the Home Office to which he is 
 relegated. It is now quite certain that the Government cannot 
 make up their minds what to do about Turkey, and that when 
 Lord Aberdeen affirmed in the House that the only question 
 between Russia and Turkey was that of the Holy Shrines, he was 
 quite aware that a note had been presented by Menschikoff on 
 March 2, making much more exorbitant demands. 
 
 It was refused at once by the Porte, and from the length of 
 time that elapsed before any new proposal, it is clear that 
 Menschikoff sent to his Court for instructions. Lord Clarendon's 
 speech expressing ' perfect confidence ' in the Emperor of Russia 
 was made on April 25, so neither he nor Lord Aberdeen could be 
 ignorant of the note of March 22. 
 
 June 8th. Saw Clarendon and Briinnow ; both very low. 
 
 June 9th. I returned from Oxford, where I attended Lord 
 Derby's installation as Chancellor. Nothing could exceed the 
 enthusiasm. He spoke magnificently, and did the whole thing 
 with great dignity and grace, looking very distingue in his Chan- 
 cellor's robes. He delivered his Latin oration without notes, and 
 the learned critics agreed that they could only find two trifling 
 faults in it. The two Ministers who were best received by the 
 undergraduates were Lord Eglinton. and Disraeli. 
 
 June 1 3th. Lady M. and I started for Germany, and reached 
 Ghent that day. 
 
 June 15th. Left Lady M. at Cologne on her way to Carlsbad, 
 and returned to London. 
 
 1 All the actors are now (1884) dead, and as all the events connected with them 
 have passed away for ever, I see no reason against publishing the above facts from 
 my journal. 
 
310 MEMOIKS OF AX EX-MINLSTJill. 1803 
 
 June 25th. Found things looking very warlike, Government 
 quarrelling among themselves ; but, as we are doing the same, the 
 India Bill will pass. Our party are angry with Disraeli, which 
 is constantly the case ; and they are also displeased with Lord 
 Stanley, suspecting him to be coquetting with the Manchester 
 party. 
 
 June 30tk. Lord Clanricarde brought forward the whole 
 Turkish question. Dinner at Lady Jersey's, and a party at the 
 Palace for the young Prince's christening. 
 
 August 2nd. Queen returns to London to give a ball to the 
 Grand Duchess Olga, who has arrived in England and has been 
 recommended to her Majesty's protection by an autograph letter 
 from her father the Emperor an odd proceeding at this moment, 
 unless he has sent her Imperial Highness on a sort of mission, 
 which is possible and quite in accordance with Russian policy ; 
 but, to use Lord Clarendon's phrase, ' We are drifting into a war/ 
 
 August IGth. Left London, and reached Achnacarry the 
 following day. 
 
 August 20th. It is announced by Lord J. Russell to the 
 House of Commons that the note agreed upon at Vienna by the 
 four Powers had been agreed to by Russia, but it was still un- 
 known what answer the Porte will give. It is a most disgraceful 
 business for this country, for it appears by his own showing that 
 the note above mentioned is a French one, altered by Austria, 
 and submitted to the Emperor of Russia without Turkey having 
 been consulted ; and not only is there no mention made of the 
 evacuation of the Danubian. Provinces, but there is every reason 
 to believe that the note is, with a slight modification, virtually the 
 same as that which England and France advised Turkey to reject 
 a short time ago. 
 
 September llth. Still at Achnacarry, with a party deer- stalk- 
 ing and fishing. Government in great difficulties, as they are 
 divided into a peace and war party ; but from what I know of 
 Palmerston, and from the conversation I had with him in London, 
 I feel certain that the latter will prevail The ' Times ' writes 
 very gloomily. It publishes Rescind Pasha's note to the four 
 Powers, by which it appears that, though in the note agreed upon 
 at Vienna nothing was said about the evacuation by Russia of 
 
.53 SPORT AT ACHNACAHRY. 311 
 
 the Danubian Provinces, the Porte makes that the first condition 
 of accepting the note, and insists on a guarantee against any 
 future invasion of these provinces, so the question seems as far 
 from being settled as ever. 
 
 September 23rd. A very warlike article in the ' Morning Post,' 
 evidently written by order of Walewski, saying that the Em- 
 peror of Russia does not interpret the Vienna note in the sense 
 of the four Powers, but as granting him all that Menschikoff's 
 ultimatum demanded. The hesitations and equivocations of our 
 Government lower England in the eyes of Europe. 
 
 October 8th. The papers say that the Turks have declared 
 war against the Russians, and that Lord Westmoreland told the 
 Emperor at Olmiitz that England would not support Turkey, if 
 he would not consider the entrance of the combined fleets into 
 the Dardanelles a casus belli. This is incredible, for Lord Aber- 
 deen would never have sent instructions to that effect. The 
 feeling for the Turks is increasing in England, and several meet- 
 ings have been held, at which addresses have been agreed upon 
 urging the Government to interfere more vigorously in their 
 behalf. 
 
 October 12th. I believe it has been decided at the last Cabinet 
 to support the Turks by force of arms in case of a war between 
 them and Russia, and to withdraw the note agreed upon at the 
 Vienna Conference. 
 
 The return of Captain Inglefield is announced from the Arctic 
 regions with the intelligence of the safety of Captain McClure, 
 who started four years ago to look for Franklin. His ship, the 
 * Investigator,' had been frozen up nine months, and he was just 
 preparing to desert her and attempt the journey south on foot, 
 when his party met one from Captain Kellett's ship, which was 
 sent in search of him. They came by Baffin's Bay, Captain 
 McClure by Behring's Straits. So the North- West Passage has 
 been discovered at last, and Captain McClure has the credit of it. 
 His despatches are very interesting, and show him to be a man of 
 indomitable courage and energy. 
 
 October 20th. Grantley Berkeley arrived (at Achnacarry), 
 and was as agreeable as he always is ; but considering his great 
 reputation as a sportsman, he did nothing in deer-stalking, being 
 
312 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1853 
 
 past the age for walking over Lochiel's mountains. The Emperor 
 Nicholas, when he heard that the Turks had declared war against 
 him, swore it should be one of extermination. 
 
 October 21th. The only news to-day is the recall of the French 
 Minister from Naples, in consequence of an offence given him by 
 the King. The Emperor had sent three French officers to assist 
 at the review as a compliment to the King, but one of them being 
 suspected of having written a pamphlet which displeased him, lie 
 had them all put under quarantine to prevent their attending the 
 review. They returned immediately to France in a fury, and the 
 Emperor recalled his Ambassador at once. The Princess Ester- 
 hazy, Lady Jersey's daughter, is said to be dying ; she is gone to 
 Torquay. 
 
 October %&th. I killed a good stag, at 168 yards a running 
 shot through the head (luck, of course) yet he recovered by the 
 time the dogs and men got up to him and made a good fight, 
 shaking off the hounds several times, charging one of the gillies, 
 and tearing his clothes with his antlers. Berkeley killed a salmo 
 ferox weighing 18 Ibs. in Loch Arkaig. No news, but the Go- 
 vernment is trying to persuade Prussia to be ' bond fide neutral,' 
 as she is sending arms to Russia. 
 
 November <kth. A large detachment of the Turkish army has 
 crossed the Danube, and it was expected that they would attack 
 the Russians the following day, 28th ult. There has been a 
 battle between the latter and the Circassians, in which the Russians 
 were at first beaten, but were reinforced, and the Circassians re- 
 treated with the loss of two thousand men. 
 
 November 5th. Went to the forest of Gerraran (a primaeval 
 wood, stretching along the shores of Loch Arkaig) and killed a 
 magnificent stag with twelve points, a cup on each horn, and 
 double brow antlers. This wood and that of Gusach, lining the 
 shore of Loch Arkaig, are certainly primaeval. The hill is clothed 
 with immense pines, and with almost impenetrable heather. 
 Among the debris of centuries and in an older stratum lie many 
 gigantic oaks ; one I measured was sixty feet long and perfectly 
 sound. They were evidently the ancient possessors of the 
 mountain, before the younger generation of the red pine usurped 
 their place. 
 
18.33 SIR CHAIILES HOTHAM, 313 
 
 November Qth. Left Aclmacarry l>y Speaii Bridge and Loch 
 Laggan. Slept at Perth. Reached Chillingham next day. . 
 
 November lltk. It is evident from Vienna news that the 
 Turks have gained a victory near Giurgevo. 
 
 Sir Charles HotJiam to Lord M. 
 
 St. James's Hotel : November 11, 1853. 
 
 Dear Lord Malmesbury, I scarcely had returned to England when 
 the Duke of Newcastle proposed that I should accept the Government 
 of Victoria. My previous habits in no way qualified me for such 
 employment, and I endeavoured to convince both his Grace and the 
 Prime Minister that a better selection might without any difficulty be 
 made. Failing in those quarters, I sought assistance from Lord 
 Clarendon, and prayed to be sent back to the Kiver Plate, in the same 
 rank I before held, assigning as my reason that the French had already 
 a Minister Plenipotentiary there. Here also I failed, and notwith- 
 standing my entire conviction that the Government were mistaken, I 
 had either to decline serving the public or comply with their wishes. 
 Thus placed, I accepted the latter alternative, and with a sorrowful 
 heart go to Victoria. 
 
 For whatever little reputation I may have recently gained I am 
 indebted to your lordship, and, anxious that you should understand my 
 sudden change of profession, I have ventured to communicate these 
 particulars to your lordship. 
 
 I have the honour to be, &c. &c. 
 
 CHAS. HoTHAM. 1 
 
 November \'2tli. I killed a wild bull in Chillingham Park. 
 He staggered a few paces and then fell, stone dead, shot through 
 the heart. Lady Olivia Ossulston made a very good sketch of 
 him. 
 
 The ' Times ' says that the Russians lost fourteen superior 
 officers, killed. This last battle was fought between Omar Pasha 
 and General Dannenberg. 
 
 1 In 1852 I had sent Captain Sir Charles Hothain to carry out negotiations for 
 opening up the River Plate, in which he was entirely successful. He was a most 
 intelligent man, devoted to his profession, in which he bore a very high character 
 a.s an officer and a seaman, and it is impossible to understand why the Duke of 
 Newcastle should have thus acted against his inclinations and have forced him to 
 leave it. He did not long survive hi.s colonial appointment. 
 
314 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTEK. 1833 
 
 November I5tk. I went to London 011 my way to Paris. 
 There is no doubt that the Russians were repulsed again at 
 Oltenitza. 
 
 November 22nd. The Duke of Beaufort is dead, and also 
 Princess Sarah Esterhazy, and also the young and beautiful 
 Queen of Portugal, on the 16th, in her confinement. I went to 
 Paris. 
 
 November 23rd. Paris. Dinner at Persigny's, who is married 
 to Marshal Key's grand-daughter. She is handsome and lively ; 
 he, very uxorious. He is uneasy about Aberdeen, whom all the 
 Bonapartists know to be hostile to Louis Napoleon. They are all 
 very anxious that Palmerston. should counteract this feeling. I 
 reassured them as well as I could by a comparison with respect 
 to the character of the two men. I am going to Fontainebleau 
 to-morrow, where I am invited till the 30th. 
 
 November 24:th. Suffered so severely with toothache all night 
 that I thought I could not go, and, not knowing any dentist 
 at Paris, and my train starting at 10 A.M., I went to the Palais 
 Royal and found the charlatan as usual carrying on his trade 
 of tooth-drawer, dressed in his scarlet coat. He operated on me 
 most successfully, and, on my giving him five francs, called me 
 ' Mon prince.' Went to Fontainebleau in the same compartment 
 as Marshal St. Arnaud and General Niel. The former was one 
 of the conspirators for the coup d'etat. He was said to be a brave 
 but unscrupulous soldier, and one of Louis Napoleon's most use- 
 ful partisans. He distinguished himself in the African wars, 
 and was in the armies of the First Empire. He is an active and 
 good-looking man, with a strong ton de garnison and a good deal 
 of ready wit. It is said he will command the French army in the 
 coming war. He amused me with several stories of the camp, 
 the following among others. An old general, a friend of his, came 
 to him after the battle of Bautzen, saying that his soldier servant 
 was killed, and commanding him to get him another ' Pas de ces 
 vieux grognards, mais un gen til petit conscrit, bien compris.' St. 
 Arnaud found him a raw recruit. The general had lost an arm 
 and a leg, which he had replaced artificially, and when he un- 
 dressed he told his new valet to pull off his coat. The lad obeyed, 
 and pulled at the stuffed arm, and the general unhooking the 
 
18-33 MARSHAL ST. ARNAUD GENERAL NIEL. 315 
 
 apparatus, the young soldier went reeling into the corner. But 
 though much frightened, he said nothing. ' A present, mon 
 pantalon, mon ami,' when the same thing occurred ; the stuffed 
 leg coming off in the boy's hand, sending him flat on his back at 
 the end of the apartment. Still he said nothing, but when the 
 general told him, ' Maintenant, ma perruque,' he could stand it no 
 longer, exclaiming, ' Le plus souvent, mon general, pour que votre 
 sacree tete me reste dans les mains.' General Niel, a distinguished 
 engineer officer, was quite of another stamp, and appeared to me 
 superior to his comrade, though very stiff and pompous. They 
 neither of them seemed to have much heart in the Avork that was 
 before them, openly expressing their opinions that France could 
 gain nothing by a war with Russia, and that the Turks would be 
 very disagreeable allies. They were very complimentary to me 
 as to our army ; the principal fault of their own, they said, was a 
 want of good non-commissioned officers. 
 
 The Court at Fontainebleau is magnificent. A servant in the 
 royal livery sat all day outside my door. And the palace is so 
 immense that it is quite a journey from one part to another. The 
 dinner was on the same scale. After it was finished, I had a 
 long conversation with the Emperor, and I was rather surprised 
 to hear him repeatedly calling the Turks 'Betes des amis si 
 betes que cela ! ' He expressed again his wish for Palmerston at 
 the head of our Government. 
 
 November 25th. Rode in the forest with Madame de Pierre, 
 an American, Lady in-waiting to the Empress, Lord Cowley, and 
 M. de Toulangeon. Disappointed in the forest, excepting in that 
 part called ' Le Bosquet du Roi,' where the trees and rocks are 
 very fine. 
 
 Lord Henry Lennox arrived, said by the French to have come 
 on a mission to propose a marriage between young Jerdme and 
 Princess Mary of Cambridge. I hope this is not true for the sake 
 of her Royal Highness, for whom I have great respect and 
 admiration. 
 
 November 26th. A grand shooting party in an enclosed space 
 of ground. A squadron of Hussars inarched up when we arrived 
 and dismounted to act as beaters. Sky-blue uniform and red 
 trousers. As they wore spurs they were constantly tripping up. 
 
316 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1863 
 
 There were a great number of pheasants and some roe-deer ; 
 the latter unable to escape, being fenced in. The guns were the 
 Emperor, Chaumont, Toulangeon, Edgar Ney, Colonel Fleury, 
 Prince Napoleon, Marshal Magnan, Lord Cowley, and myself. 
 We bagged 210 head. More than one Hussar was peppered, 
 upon which his comrades cried out, ' Tiens, tu as de la chance, 
 toi ! tu seras decore.' The Emperor shot very well, and was most 
 civil to Lord Cowley and me. 
 
 Conversations in the evenings with Drouyn, Persigny, and the 
 Emperor. Speaking of our Government and their delays, he said, 
 ' Why does this drag on so long ? why is it not settled ? Your 
 Government first would not go to Besika, then would not go to the 
 Dardanelles. When you were at Malta you should have been at 
 Besika ; at Besika when you should have been at Constantinople ; 
 and at the latter when you should have been in the Black Sea. 
 The Turkish fleet is bad, and incapable of fighting alone. Your 
 Admiral Dundas threatened to retire if they attempted to fight 
 alone in the Black Sea. The Russians have fourteen sail of the 
 line, and have sent their Baltic sailors right through Russia to 
 Sebastopol.' 
 
 I combated his idea of the weakness of naval operations, and 
 instanced our war in Spain when we were masters of the sea. 
 Magnan was of the same opinion. 
 
 November 27th. Returned to Paris with Jerome. No one 
 could be more friendly and kind to me than the Emperor during 
 this visit ; but he is evidently very nervous as to the heartiness 
 of Lord Aberdeen's Government, as he has good reason for know- 
 ing his personal and political dislike of him. But what makes 
 the most impression on me is the undisguised indifference, if not 
 distaste, of the French people and army to the impending war. 
 
 The officers were constantly ridiculing the Turks, and would 
 hardly give them credit for their victories at Citate and Olten- 
 itza ; but this is very French. 
 
 The Empress looked handsomer than ever, and her manner of 
 receiving her guests and visitors was perfection. She spoke to 
 me a great deal about the Pope at Rome, and the state of the 
 Roman Catholics there and in Ireland. On the question of the 
 excesses of the English Press and its, to her, apparent indifference 
 
1853 DESTRUCTION OF THE TURKISH FLEET. 317 
 
 to assassination, I found it hopeless to explain this abuse of our 
 liberty, although T did not tell her the publications in Switzerland 
 against the Emperor are far worse than anything that could be 
 written or tolerated in England, being full of lies and obscenity 
 with regard to him. 
 
 December 3rd. I returned to London. Went with Lady 
 Malmesbury to Knowsley ; found Lord Derby laid up with the 
 gout. He amused himself during his confinement by translating 
 the ' Iliad ' and fugitive pieces from foreign languages. 1 The 
 last are beautiful, especially Manzoni's ' Ode to Napoleon.' 
 
 December 9th. Disraeli arrived, at which our host seems 
 much bored, because he is obliged to discuss politics with him. 
 Disraeli came into our room and had a conversation before dinner. 
 
 December Wth. Yery cold. We went out shooting, and on 
 our return a Cabinet Council was held in Lady Malmesbury 's 
 room, which she gave up to us, between Lord Hardwicke, Lord 
 Derby, Mr. Disraeli, and myself. We played at race-horses 
 after dinner, and Lord Derby is as much amused and as eager to 
 win the few shillings of which the pool consists as if it was a real 
 race and heavy stake. 
 
 December 12th. Lady Malmesbury left Knowsley, and Disraeli 
 accompanied her to London. He told her that Lord Derby was 
 extremely anxious to come in again, and full of fight. There is a 
 report of an engagement in the Black Sea between the Russians 
 and Turks, in which the latter have had their fleet utterly 
 destroyed in the harbour of Sinope, and Osmaii Pasha, their 
 admiral, taken prisoner, to Sebastopol. 
 
 December 13th. The French papers seem to doubt the truth 
 of the destruction of the Turkish fleet, as it was safe in the 
 Bosphorus on November 28, and the battle is said to have been 
 fought on the 30th ; and it is also suggested that, as a convoy of 
 5,000 troops had left for Asia on the 26th, this may be the fleet 
 the Russians boast of having destroyed. 
 
 December lith. Disraeli called on Lady Malmesbury, and 
 told her the new Reform Bill was to be a slashing one fifty-three 
 boroughs disfranchised and members divided between the great 
 towns and counties, the latter being swamped by a ten-pound 
 1 these were only printed for L^rd Derby's friends, and lie gave me a copj% 
 
318 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. IS-',:; 
 
 franchise. Dizzy added in his satirical way that he believed that 
 every town in which there was a statue of Peel was to have a 
 member. He also said that it was entirely a Peelite bill, and had 
 been opposed by all the Whig portion of the Cabinet, that private 
 orders had been given by the Emperor of Russia to Briinnow and 
 Kisseleffto leave London and Paris the moment the allied fleets 
 entered the Black Sea. He seemed to think that this disaster of 
 the Turks would complicate matters very much. Lord Clanricarde 
 has returned from Paris. He declares that Lord Aberdeen has 
 written to the Princess de Lieven, saying that nothing will 
 persuade him to make war against the Emperor of Russia. At 
 all events she says so. 
 
 December 15th. Palmerston has resigned 1 an event of the 
 utmost importance at this moment, for though the motive assigned 
 for his retirement is his disapproval of the Reform Bill, the 
 public will of course suspect the Eastern Question has more to do 
 with it, and will lose all confidence with regard to the way our 
 foreign relations are likely to be conducted. 
 
 December IQth. Lord Aberdeen went to Osborne yesterday 
 to announce the resignation of his colleague to the Queen. Heavy 
 fall of snow. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : December 18, 1853. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, Your intelligence turned out quite correct 
 as far as Palmerston was concerned, but not so, as it appears, as to 
 Lansdowne, who ' objects to the bill, but will not break up the Govern- 
 ment at this moment ' at least so says Jocelyn, who, I presume, was 
 your informant, but who also wrote to me by the same post. His 
 letter, however, did not reach me till the following morning, and yours 
 arrived only a few minutes before I read in the ' Times,' not only the 
 announcement, but two elaborate articles upon the event, one evidently 
 official, and at which Jocelyn farther tells me that Palmerston is much, 
 and justly, annoyed. As his lips are sealed, Aberdeen has no business 
 to speak through his newspapers. Palmerston .will' be, individually, 
 a loss to the Government ; but as Lansdowne holds on, I doubt if he 
 will have any following ; and on the ground on which his resignation 
 
 1 He returned in ten days, when the Cabinet had sent the fleet into the Black 
 Sea. 
 
1853 DESTRUCTION OF THE TURKISH FLEET. 319 
 
 is placed, I am not so sure that it will not give them more numerical 
 support than it will lose them. Jocelyii has proposed to come here 
 about the 28th, and I have charged him to bring me down any details 
 he can, without a breach of confidence. "On my part I have had no 
 hesitation in telling Jocelyn in confidence, that my strongest objection 
 is to the assimilation of the county and borough franchise by swamping 
 the former with ten pounders, and that a different arrangement might 
 at the same time give votes to these last if desirable, and supersede the 
 necessity, on the plea for the disfranchisement by wholesale of the 
 small boroughs. 
 
 Foreign affairs look worse and worse. Can you find out what 
 Palmerston says to them ? 
 
 I am mending and well in myself, but my ankle is still very weak 
 and I am hardly allowed to use it. I have not been out of the house 
 since you left it. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DEKBY. 
 
 December 2lst. It appears that the Turkish ships destroyed 
 at Sinope were men-of-war, not transports. They were detained 
 in the harbour by a strong N.E. wind, and were at anchor ; the 
 Russian fleet, having been informed of this by an Austrian vessel, 
 approached under cover of a thick fog, and when it cleared off 
 the unfortunate Turks saw an overpowering Russian force at the 
 entrance of the bay. They would not, however, surrender, but 
 fought with such bravery and desperation that every one of their 
 ships was destroyed, and the Russians had not a single prize to 
 carry into Sebastopol. The Government is much exercised at the 
 loss of Palmerston. Lord Aberdeen is said to have offered his 
 place (the Home Office) to Sir George Grey or Sir James Graham. 
 Sir George Bowles arrived at Heron. Court, and said Lord Pal- 
 merstoii will resume office if his alterations in the Reform Bill 
 are agreed to, and that Lord Aberdeen never returned any answer 
 to Lord Palmerston's letter announcing his resignation. 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord M. 
 
 Coventry : December 24, 1850. 
 
 My dear M., I have waited to the last moment to give you the 
 best information I could gather. So far as I can learn or judge, P. has 
 
320 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER, 1,s:>:j 
 
 not yet surrendered, notwithstanding the rumours to that effect 
 yesterday terribly rife. 
 
 If he be obdurate, the Cabinet, I still think, will break up. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 D. 
 
 December 25th, Heron Court. I got a letter this morning 
 from Disraeli, saying that Palnierston. had resumed office without 
 conditions and that the Peelites were triumphant, saj ing he had 
 ' done for himself.' Several Cabinet Councils lately lasted above 
 five hours, and it is supposed that Lord Lansdowne is only waiting 
 for the Reform Bill to be laid before the Cabinet to resign, as he 
 did not attend any of them. 
 
 December 26tk. Mr. and Mrs. Disraeli, Mr. and Lady Augusta 
 Sturt, and Lord Anson. arrived at Heron Court. Disraeli very 
 low at Palmerston's resuming office, as he thinks the Government 
 are now safe. He is very much occupied and pleased with my 
 library, which was compiled by three generations of men of totally 
 different literary tastes. The first, my great-grandfather, usually 
 called ' Hermes,' was a great Grecian and classical scholar, and 
 collected all the most perfect editions of the ancient writers. 
 The second, my grandfather, a diplomatist and politician, added 
 all the best specimens of European authors of the last two cen- 
 turies, and my father all the most modern literature of his time. 
 What seemed, however, to strike Disraeli more than anything 
 was an autograph journal by my father, recording his sporting 
 pursuits daily for forty years, in which is noted every shot he 
 fired, killed or missed, with a careful memorandum of the weather 
 day by day. Disraeli did not show to advantage, as he is not in 
 spirits, and, the party not being all of one mind upon politics, 
 which is the subject which now absorbs him, he never alluded to 
 them except in quiet conversation with Lady Malmesbury or 
 myself. 
 
 December 2Stk. It is affirmed that Aberdeen and Gladstone 
 have implored Lord Palmerston to return to them ; the other 
 Peelites declare that he begged to be let in again. 
 
1854 WAELIKE FEELING AT ST. PETEBSBURG. 321 
 
 18S4 
 
 January 1st. I went to Broadlands after luncheon Nobody 
 there except Lady Shaftesbury, Mr. Milnes, Lord Harry Vane, 1 
 and Count Bethmann. Lady Palmerston. is much aged falling 
 asleep at dinner and sitting the whole evening wrapped in a shawl. 
 She had a long conversation with me about Turkey, and we agreed 
 very well on that subject. 
 
 Lord Lonsdale to Lord M. 
 
 January 2, 1854. 
 
 Dear MalmesLury, I hear all the Government think war in- 
 evitable except Aberdeen. Briiiinow wound np his Government's 
 account with the Bank three weeks since. I told you of it at the time. 
 Briinnow had some Consols of his own, 6,000 ('?), and an account at 
 ;he Bank of England. He settled this on Saturday last, which, I 
 believe, was the cause of the funds going down on that day. There is 
 a man, a shipbuilder at Eotherhithe, who is building the screw frigate 
 steamers for the Emperor of Eussia; he received a letter from 
 Palmerston, last Saturday, of warning, upon which the builder went to 
 Briinnow, who saw him, and said he would be prepared to give him an 
 answer to-day. I know a man who has a nephew just come from 
 St. Petersburg ; he says there is the greatest enthusiasm amongst all 
 classes for war, which, from my knowledge of the place, I can easily 
 conceive, and that they press all the fine-looking fellows in the country 
 into the army, having no regard for the ladies' coachmen and fine- 
 looking footmen. 
 
 I have seen also the uncle of the officer who brought over the de- 
 spatches a few days since from Admiral Dundas. He fears the Turks will 
 very soon be short of money : that at present the war is supported by 
 the Church and private subscription. This must end soon. The Turks are 
 willing and good soldiers, and individually better than the Russians, 
 but the Eussians will outnumber them. It is not thought at Con- 
 stantinople that Sebastopol can be attacked with success. The French 
 great ship, the ' Napoleon,' of which so much was expected, proved not 
 to be seaworthy, and she is gone home. They would not let a single 
 Englishman on board of her. The Eussians have an annoying fort at 
 
 i Afterwards Duke of Cleveland, 
 
322 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1854 
 
 the entrance of the Danube. I hope our fleet will destroy this. I 
 believe the French will have to send at last an army to defend 
 Constantinople. The opportunity of catching the Kussian fleet is lost 
 no such opportunity can ever occur again. The ships at Sinope had 
 on board 45,000 stand of arms and a great quantity of ammunition, 
 destined for Circassia and Asia Minor. 
 
 A Whig, who sometimes speaks confidentially, and whom I gene- 
 rally find about the mark, tells me that the quarrel with Palmerston 
 was this : He (Palmerston) differed from Graham and J. Russell upon 
 some portions of the Reform, and he wrote and spoke to Aberdeen, who 
 spoke to Russell and Graham, who adhered to their scheme. Aberdeen 
 then wrote to Palmerston a snubbing letter, saying he had spoken to 
 Graham and Russell, and he agreed with them, upon which Palmerston 
 writes a long letter giving all his reasons against this part of the 
 measure, and concluded by resigning. This created consternation, and 
 Clarendon, Granville, and Gladstone, aided by Charles Greville, and 
 Ned Ellice in fact, the steam was put on in every way to recover the 
 lost sheep. At first Palmerston was obdurate, but kept mollifying, and 
 I believe Sir George Grey was never offered the Home Secretaryship, 
 except on the condition Palmerston would not come back, and Sir 
 George Grey professed great patriotism, that he would not think of it 
 as long as there was any hope of Palmerston. 
 
 This Whig told me that the only consolation was, of the present 
 aspect of affairs, that the Eastern Question would shelve the Reform 
 Bill for the present session; that no one wanted it, and, with the 
 exception of one or two in the Cabinet, they wished to get rid of it. 
 He thinks the Government will go to war in earnest and raise a large 
 force. 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 LONSDALE. 
 
 January 3rd. Returned to Heron Court. Lord Clanwilliam 
 arrived from Wilton very much changed in his feelings toAvards 
 the Government, as he was a strong Peelite, and now he says 
 there is 110 doubt that Lord Aberdeen's timid policy is the cause i 
 of the war with which we are threatened, and that a little deter- i 
 miiiation at first would have stopped the Czar. All the newspapers 
 except the Government organs are making furious attacks uponi 
 Prince Albert for interfering in the Government of the country, 
 especially in foreign affairs. I believe he wrote a very elaborate j 
 paper respecting our position with Turkey, and leaning rather to| 
 
1854 PRESS ATTACKS UPON PRINCE ALBERT. 323 
 
 Lord Aberdeen's view of our policy than to Palmerston's. This 
 must have somehow come out. 
 
 January 6th. I stalked a flock of wild geese behind my pony 
 nd got within thirty yards of them, killing five. Very severe 
 weather, with a gale from S.W. and snow. 
 
 January \\th. The combined fleets entered the Black Sea, 
 n the 3rd it is said. 
 
 January I4th. Rumours of a Russian defeat at Citate fully 
 onfirmed. It appears that 15,000 Turks attacked a Russian in- 
 renched position in front of Kalifat and took it by storm. The 
 lussiaus tried to retake it, and were beaten off, losing 3,000 men. 
 
 January I5tk. The most absurd reports are rife concerning 
 'rince Albert, and are believed by the public, even to that of his 
 eing sent to the Tower for unconstitutional practices. He is 
 ccused of writing letters to turn out Lord Hardinge and take 
 is place as Commander-in- Chief, or at least to share his power 
 nd patronage ; of giving audiences to the Ministers privately, 
 nd thus substituting himself for the Queen. Time will soon do 
 im justice, and convince the world that 110 sovereign could have 
 t his side a better counsellor, removed as he is from all personal 
 isputes of parties. 
 
 My own experience would testify to the fact that on no single 
 ccasion did I have any audience upon matters of State except 
 rith the Queen in person, the Prince standing 011 her right hand ; 
 nd if he wrote to me, it was in her Majesty's name that the 
 pinions or criticisms were given. His information on the wheels 
 rithin wheels which revolved in the Northern Courts of Europe 
 as invaluable, as being out of the reach of our diplomatists. 
 
 His heart is naturally German. 
 
 The ' Morning Herald ' has an article on the inconsistency of 
 lie late Sir Robert Peel, who, while he constantly in public re- 
 ommended to the capitalists of England to employ their money 
 i Ireland, where they would find the safest security and very 
 rofitable investment, had forbidden in his will any portion of 
 is own great wealth to be invested in Irish securities. 
 
 January 2\st. Public indignation has been so universally 
 roused by the manner in which the Russians behaved at Sinope 
 lat war has become inevitable, and I have no doubt that the country 
 
 T2 
 
324 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1854 
 
 will carry it on nobly. Nothing can exceed the spirit and patriot- 
 ism shown by all classes. None seem to have a shadow of fear 
 as to tli.- iv , nit. Austria has refused positively to listen to Count 
 OrlofTs proposals, and the tone of Prussia is so decided that he 
 will probably not go to Berlin as was at first intended. Omar 
 Pasha is so ill that the Sultan has sent the physician of the French 
 
 Kliibassv to lliin. 
 
 January 2Mi. Went to London to see Lord Derby before he 
 goes to Windsor. The Czar has instructed his Ambassadors to 
 demand whether by the entry of the combined fleets into the 
 Black Sea it is intended to take part with Turkey or remain 
 neutral. In the former case the Russian Ambassadors in London 
 and Paris must demand their passports. 
 January 25th. Invited to Windsor. 
 
 January 26th. Had a very pleasant day's shooting in Wind- 
 sor Park and an amusing play in the evening. The Queen very 
 gracious, speaking to me for some time on the coming war. The 
 Argylls, Bruces, and Palmerstons were there. 
 
 January 2$th. Went up to London for the meeting of Parlia- 
 ment, which takes place the 31st. 
 
 February \st. Parliament met yesterday. Lord Aberdeen 
 made an angry speech on the war, ending by a vindication of 
 Prince Albert, and trying to throw the blame of the attacks 
 (which originated with the Radical Press) upon the Conservative 
 party. Lord Derby made a fine speech upon Turkey, and also 
 exonerated the Prince most completely as well as his own party. 
 
 February 8th. The conditions on which Count Orloff offered 
 to treat were four in number : 
 
 1st. That a Turkish Plenipotentiary should proceed to the 
 h< ^id-quarters of the army, or to St. Petersburg, to open direct 
 negotiations with 'Russia, with liberty to refer to the Four 
 Powers. 
 
 2nd. That the former treaties between Russia and the Porte 
 should be renewed. 
 
 .'il That Turkey should enter into an engagement not to 
 an asylum to political refugees ; and 
 
 1th. That the Porte should recognise by a declaration the 
 Russian protectorate of the Greek Christians, which was the 
 
1854 THE KEFORM BILL. 325 
 
 origin of the quarrel. Of course, Lord Clarendon might well say 
 that these proposals are inadmissible, as they amount, in fact, to 
 a considerable increase of Prince Menschikoff's formal demands. 
 Baron Briinnow left London yesterday, so the die is cast. 
 
 Kisseleff is also gone from Paris. General Schilder, who has 
 been sent to the Danubian Provinces by the Czar, reports that 
 the Russian army is in a pitiable condition. 
 
 February Wi. Government beaten in the House of Commons 
 on a motion of Mr. Chambers to investigate the claims of an 
 English company at Madeira against the Portuguese Government. 
 I fear Disraeli voted against the Government, as it is his policy to 
 join with anybody in order to defeat them. Sailors are coming 
 in very fast. The rapidity with which our ships are equipped ex- 
 cites the astonishment of the French, and now that we fight with 
 them they are quite enthusiastic about us. 
 
 February \'3th. Three battalions of the Guards and other 
 troops to the number of 10,000 go immediately to the East. The 
 Duke of Cambridge, Lord Cardigan, and General Brotherton are all 
 mentioned as having commands, and Lord Raglan is to be Com- 
 mander-in- Chief. London is very sad. The papers bluster a 
 good deal for war, but it is still very doubtful whether Lord 
 Aberdeen is in earnest. 
 
 The Reform Bill is considered a revolutionary measure, and 
 has created great alarm. Louis Napoleon has written to the 
 Czar without any previous communication with the English 
 Government. When a battalion of the Guards left London 
 yesterday amidst the acclamations of the people, they bought up 
 all the oranges at the stalls along their line of march to give to 
 the soldiers. 
 
 February 21st. Disraeli made a beautiful speech yesterday 
 on the Eastern Question. I hear that at a dinner at the Palmer- 
 stons, Lord Aberdeen, the Duke of Newcastle, Molesworth, &c., 
 were pictures of woe, and neither ate, talked, nor smiled. There 
 was a party in the evening, and Disraeli came in radiant. 
 
 February 22nd. The Czar's answer to the French Emperor is 
 said to be very uiicourteous. This passage amongst others is 
 quoted : * I have the firm confidence that my troops will reply in 
 the same manner as in 1812.' 
 
326 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 185-1 
 
 February 25th. Lord Bath has come back from Constanti- 
 nople, and says that Lord Stratford openly boasts having got his 
 personal revenge against the Czar l by fomenting the war. He 
 told Lord Bath so. 
 
 February 26th. Lord Harry Vane will bring forward a 
 motion to postpone the Reform Bill. 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord M. 
 
 House of Commons: February 28, 185J. 
 
 My dear M., They say that the Sunday Council was positively on 
 Eeform ; Palmerston on the Saturday previous having declared that 
 the withdrawal of the Eeform Bill was indispensable ; Eussell, Aberdeen, 
 Graham, and Newcastle thereon threatening resignation. They say 
 that Palmerston is ' firm,' but that the break-up will not occur till the 
 estimates are past. 
 
 One apparent proof of this latter theory is that Lord John has 
 proposed to continue the estimates to-morrow (Wednesday) very 
 unusual and has given notice of the Budget for next Monday 
 only a week's notice, and a very sudden and precipitate financial 
 exposition. 
 
 My conclusion is that the Cabinet is in convulsions ; whether it 
 may be soothed by any Daffy's Elixir remains to be proved, but, at the 
 best, it's a poisonous remedy. 
 
 D. 
 
 March 10th. The Queen reviewed the fleet at Spithead, pre- 
 vious to their departure for the Baltic. The French fleet is not 
 ready, neither are their transports for the troops. Sir Charles 
 Hotham, who is appointed Governor of Victoria, told me that he 
 had asked the Duke of Newcastle to allow him to exchange his 
 appointment for a shjp. The Duke answered that ' if he did not 
 take what had been given him he should have nothing,' that the 
 Government hung together in every respect, so there was no use 
 in his applying to Sir James Graham. He did, however, do so, 
 and met with a flat refusal. Nothing can exceed their jealousy 
 of Sir Charles Hotham's success in negotiating the treaty with 
 South America, where I sent him. They have packed him off to 
 Australia, evidently to get him out of the way. 
 
 1 For refusing to receive him as Ambassador at St. Petersburg. 
 
1851 ALLEGED BREACH OF CONFIDENCE. 327 
 
 March 1 4th. Lord Aberdeen and I have had a quarrel on the 
 subject of an alleged breach of confidence on the part of a clerk 
 appointed by me in the Foreign Office, and whom Lord Aberdeen 
 publicly in the House of Lords accused of having ' scandalously 
 betrayed his trust by divulging some matter connected with a 
 secret correspondence 011 Russian affairs/ I asked him to name 
 the person, and he said he did not know who it was, as if it was 
 likely that he should not have asked, or taken pains to find out 
 the name. I was taken by surprise and hampered by my utter 
 ignorance of who was the accused and the evidence against him, 
 but I soon ascertained that it was a Mr. Astley, whom I appointed 
 and who left the office some time ago to marry a lady of fortune. 
 The accusation is, that since he left the office he spoke of a secret 
 correspondence at a dinner at Lord Ashburton's, that Lord Stanley 
 of Alderley gave Lord Aberdeen the information upon which he 
 so rashly acted last night. 
 
 The discussion was renewed this afternoon, and I completely 
 set down Lord Aberdeen amidst the cheers of my party. 
 
 The Government were silent, and not a soul said a word for 
 their chief. 
 
 Lords Fitzwilliam and Grey spoke against him. Lord Cla- 
 rendon, who was present, never said a word, so Lord Aberdeen 
 was quite deserted, and must have seen what a strong feeling he 
 had roused against himself by his unjustifiable accusation, made 
 without any proof to sustain it. 
 
 The ' Morning Herald ' and ' Morning Post/ in their report of 
 the first night's discussion, mentioned Mr. Byng 1 as the person 
 suspected, though no name whatever had been mentioned. This 
 produced a great commotion among the whole Byng family, and 
 old ' Poodle ' Byng came up to me at White's, saying he heard his 
 name had been mentioned as being suspected of giving informa- 
 tion to the ' Times,' &c. I replied that that was quite absurd, as 
 it was well known that he had resigned his post at the Foreign 
 Office immediately after the battle of Waterloo. 
 
 March 17<7i. I got a letter from Mr. Astley indignantly 
 denying the charge against him, and which I read to the House. 
 
 1 A gentleman formerly a clerk in the F. 0., and very well known in society as 
 ' Poodle Byng,' a nickname given him by Mr. Canning owing to his curly hair. 
 
328 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTEK. 1854 
 
 Lord Aberdeen of course had nothing to do but to apologise, which 
 he did in the fullest and handsomest manner, expressing his belief 
 in Mr. Astley's innocence. He afterwards told me privately who 
 his authority was, which enabled me to remind him of Sancho 
 Panza's proverb, ' That the cask as often leaks from the top as 
 from the bottom.' 
 
 March 18th. Lord Lichfield died to-day, .and Lady John 
 Manners is dying of scarlet fever. 
 
 March 20th. Returned from Farnham, Lord Manners's place. 
 Read the secret correspondence published in the morning papers, 
 which quite confirms what we have always suspected namely, 
 that the Czar was convinced the English Government under Lord 
 Aberdeen would not object to his demands upon Turkey, telling 
 them honestly what his intentions were, and offering them Egypt 
 and Candia as a bribe. 
 
 March 23rd. Colonel Rose l called. He tells me that we 
 have lost the alliance of Prussia, chiefly through Bunsen, who 
 frightened his master out of his wits by sending him a plan for 
 the partition of Prussia, which he gave him to understand had 
 been arranged between France and England. The first step the 
 King took was to recall Bunsen, who, not liking to leave his com- 
 fortable house and good income in London, set about thinking 
 how he should retrieve his character as a zealous Prussian. The 
 expedient he fixed on was to make a violent scene with Lord Cla- 
 rendon. He accordingly went to the Foreign Office, and com- 
 plained bitterly of the articles against Prussia in the English 
 newspapers, and worked himself up into such a passion, using 
 such intemperate language, that Lord Clarendon, not seeing 
 through his real motive for picking a quarrel, lost his temper, and 
 told him never to set fyis foot again in his house. This was just 
 what Bunsen wanted. He immediately wrote off to the King, 
 giving a naming account of the gallant way in which he had taken 
 the part of his country, and the order for his recall was cancelled. 
 
 It is now known through the telegraph that the ultimatum is 
 refused, but the formal declaration of war cannot take place till 
 tie despatch has been received. Lady Palmerston told me that 
 Prussia is quite on the side of the Czar. 
 
 1 Now Field-Marshal Lord Strathnairn. 
 
1854 ASSASSINATION OF DUKE OF PARMA. 329 
 
 March 26th. The messenger returned last night from St. 
 Petersburg. The Emperor was absent, but Count Nesselrode kept 
 him for six days and then sent him away, saying the Emperor 
 would not send any answer. 
 
 March 27th. Both Houses of Parliament were crammed to- 
 day to hear the Queen's Message read by the Chancellor and Lord 
 John Russell, stating that her Majesty feels bound to afford 
 active assistance to her ally the Sultan against unprovoked 
 aggression. 
 
 April 1st. The Duke of Parma's assassination is supposed to 
 have been from revenge and jealousy. He had gone to see some 
 woman at a disreputable house. Her husband or lover concealed 
 himself near the door, and when he came out stabbed him and 
 made his escape. He was found dead by the police in the morn- 
 ing, the body already cold. It is, however, possible that the 
 murder may have been political, and that the murderer knew his 
 habits. The dismissal of Baron Ward from his Government and 
 his exile from the country rather countenance this last supposition. 
 
 April 3rd. News from Vienna of yesterday says the for- 
 tresses of Hirsova, Metchin, and Baberdagh were taken by the 
 Russians on the 28th. They have now possession of a large tract 
 of marshy country called the Dobrudscha ; but the French think 
 this a bad move, as the Russians are without resources or com- 
 munications, with the Turkish army behind them. 
 
 April 4^. Lord Mahon tells me there is bad news ; the 
 Turkish and Greek Ministers have been mutually withdrawn from 
 Constantinople and Athens, so the two countries are at war. 
 Until our troops arrive at Constantinople, with the French, the 
 fleets cannot leave the Bosphorus ; and, in the meantime, it is 
 feared the Russians will take Yarna. This comes of the delays 
 of our Government, who detained our troops for no purpose what- 
 ever at Malta. The fleets could have left the Bosphorus long ago, 
 and Varna have been safe. 
 
 It appears that the King of Greece favours the insurrection 
 against the Turks ; and Lord Clarendon told Baron Cetto the 
 other day that if the King did not behave better we should 
 dethrone him. 
 
 April 8th, Left London for Paris. 
 
330 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1851 
 
 April IQth. I hear that 200,000 Austrians, under Archduke 
 Albert, have been ordered to enter Servia with the consent of 
 the Porte. It is further stated that the representatives of the 
 four Powers signed a Protocol on the 9th containing a recapitula- 
 tion of the principle of the integrity of the Ottoman Empire, 
 and comprising the evacuation of the Principalities. The Turks 
 have gained a victory in the Dobrudscha, on the road to Silistria. 
 The combined fleets are stationed, partly at Varna and partly 
 opposite Sebastopol. 
 
 April 12th. I hear Lord John Russell announced last night 
 that the Reform Bill is given up for the present ; and that he wae 
 so annoyed that he sent in his resignation, but has since been 
 persuaded to resume his seat in the Cabinet. His secession would 
 have broken up the Government, which all parties would regret 
 at the present moment. There is no precedent for a Prime 
 Minister resigning when the country is engaged in war. Bunsen 
 is recalled. 
 
 April \4cth. The Porte has ordered the expulsion of the Greeks 
 from Constantinople within fifteen days. The Duke of Cambridge 
 has been well received at Paris, but I think the Emperor was 
 rather hurt at his not going to the Tuileries. 
 
 April I5th. Sir Charles Napier has left Kioje Bay for the 
 eastward, towards the Gulf of Finland, with his whole fleet. The 
 insurgents in Greece have been defeated in spite of all the exer- 
 tions made by the King and Queen of Greece to encourage the 
 movement. They deserve to lose their throne. I dined to-day at 
 the English Embassy to meet the Duke of Cambridge. To the 
 great amusement of the company the party got so jumbled up at 
 dinner that Jem Macdonalcl, Aide-de-Camp to his Royal High- 
 ness, sat on the right . hand of Lady Cowley, the place of honour, 
 though, besides his chief, there were two Dukes and other 
 Peers. Everything in Paris is enormously dear, especially ladies' 
 dresses. I called on Madame cle Bonneval, who, I fear, is danger- 
 ously ill. 
 
 April IQth. No news from the Danube in confirmation of the 
 fall of Odessa. It would be most important, as General Liiders' 
 army in the Dobrudscha receives its supplies from there. It is, 
 however, blockaded. 
 
1854 BOMBARDMENT OF ODESSA. 331 
 
 April 2lst. The war is decidedly unpopular here in Paris, as 
 the French think they have no direct interest in it, and care little 
 for being our allies. A war against Prussia would be popular, as 
 they have still a great hankering after the frontier of the Rhine. 
 The splendour and extravagance of the style of living in Paris 
 far surpasses anything in London. I only saw the Emperor at 
 his ball at the Elysee. 
 
 April 22nd. The Duke of Cambridge is gone to Vienna on 
 his way to Constantinople. I arrived in London from Paris with 
 a total extinction de voix. 
 
 April 23rd. Went to Heron Court. 
 
 April 25th. The Convention between England and France 
 was signed in London on the 10th inst. It disclaims all idea of 
 conquest, and leaves it open for every other Power to join. The 
 * Fury ' was fired upon by the Russians at Odessa, in spite of her 
 flag of truce. She captured a Russian schooner ; but, being 
 chased by five men-of-war from Sebastopol, was obliged to leave 
 her prize, which she had cut out under the guns of Sebastopol ; 
 but she escaped with her prisoners, although she did not sink her 
 prize from motives of humanity, one man having been left on 
 board by mistake. 
 
 May 1st. Odessa was bombarded for an hour on the 18th, 
 and for the whole day on the 22nd. Four gun batteries were 
 destroyed, one Austrian and eight Russian ships burnt. This is 
 our revenge for the cowardly attack of the Russians on the boat 
 we sent for the Consuls. 
 
 May 3rd. I had a long and confidential conversation yester- 
 day with Palmerston, whom I met at dinner at the Walewskis, 
 and we agreed perfectly on all points of foreign policy. He said 
 the Government had information that the fleets had left Odessa 
 on the 26th, so they had done all they intended. The Greeks 
 have been defeated in two engagements by the Turks, but the 
 King is obstinate in spite of our remonstrances. 
 
 May \\tli. In the House of Lords I asked the Government 
 whether the attack on Odessa was in violation of the flag of 
 truce, or whether Admiral Dundas's orders justified him in bom- 
 barding the town the moment war was declared. The Duke of 
 Newcastle refused to answer the question. 
 
332 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MlNlSTfiR. 18o4 
 
 May \%th. Admiral Hamelin's report of the bombardment of 
 Odessa quite agrees with what we have heard already. 
 
 The Russian magazines were burnt, but he does not mention 
 any ships of war being destroyed. The conflagration lasted 
 twenty-four hours after the cannonade ceased. All accounts 
 agree in saying that the ' Terrible ' had the honours of the day ; 
 she had twelve shots in. her hull, and ten men killed and wounded. 
 Government were beaten last night on a clause of the University 
 Bill ; this is the second important defeat they have sustained ; 
 they have failed in every bill they have brought forward this 
 session the Scotch Education Bill, their Reform Bill, the Oaths 
 Bill, and the Poor Law Settlement Bill yet they call themselves 
 a strong Government ! 
 
 The ' Gazette ' of last night publishes the despatches of Admiral 
 Duiidas on the bombardment of Odessa. They are abominably 
 written, give no details, and have not even the merit of being 
 concise. The French Admiral's report is very superior. Madame 
 Walewska's fancy ball last night was very pretty. I saw Lord 
 Derby to-day ; he looks very weak and low, and is annoyed at 
 my going abroad for so long as three weeks, which I am obliged 
 to do in order to take Lady Malmesbury to Carlsbad, which her 
 doctors say is indispensable, as she has been very ill. The life 
 Lord Derby leads in London must be very unwholesome; he 
 never walks or rides, but sits all day in a back room, without 
 taking any exercise, until he goes to the House of Lords from 
 St. James's Square. I call 011 him very often, and he seems 
 always pleased to see me. Disraeli is furious with the war, which 
 he thinks keeps Government in. 
 
 May \Wi. There is a report, I fear too true, that the English 
 war steamer, the ' Tiger,' has gone ashore near Odessa, her captain 
 wounded and her crew taken prisoners. 
 
 May 23rd. Lord Durham and Lady Beatrix Hamilton were 
 married this morning, and are to spend the honeymoon at Woburn, 
 which place the Duke of Bedford lent, adding that he hoped 
 they would not stay very long. His son, Lord Cosmo Russell, 
 observed that they were better off than a couple he knew, who, 
 not having any place whatever where they could go for their 
 honeymoon, were reduced to call a hack cab, and desire the 
 
1854 CAPTURE OF THE 'TIGER.' 333 
 
 driver to drive them three times very slowly round the Regent's 
 Park. 
 
 May 24:th. The news of the capture of the { Tiger ' is con- 
 firmed. She was chasing a Russian ship when she grounded. 
 
 May 26th. Left London with Lady Malmesbury for Carls- 
 bad. Left Calais at three and reached Ghent at eight. 
 
 May 27th. Left Ghent at ten and reached Cologne at six P.M. 
 
 May 28th. Sleep has been impossible, from the noise that 
 lasted all night at the hotel. 
 
 May 2Sth. Reached Magdeburg. 
 
 May 30th. Here we parted. I went to Dresden and Lady 
 Malmesbury to Zwickau on her road to Carlsbad. 
 
 I went to Augsburg and returned to London, reaching it on 
 June 10. It is said the Duke of Newcastle is to be War Secre- 
 tary, at which Lord Palmerston is furious, because he wanted it, 
 and certainly would have been the fittest person. The King of 
 Greece has given in and sent for the English and French Ministers, 
 promising to observe strict neutrality, but he is not to be trusted. 
 The following changes have taken place in our Government : Duke 
 of Newcastle, Secretary for War ; Sir George Grey, Colonies ; 
 Lord John Russell, President of the Council; Lord Granville, 
 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in the place of Mr. Strutt 
 who resigns. 
 
 June 18th. The Russians have been attacking Silistria for 
 three days, and have been repulsed each time. Captain Gifford, 
 of the ' Tiger,' is dead of his wounds, and the first lieutenant has 
 been sent for by the Emperor to St. Petersburg ; the rest of the 
 crew are sent to Moscow. 
 
 June \Wi. Dreadful to say, the 'Europa,' a transport carry- 
 ing seventy men and horses of the Inniskilling Dragoons, has 
 been burnt at sea. The captain of the 'Europa' publishes an 
 account of the burning of his ship. Colonel Moore of the Innis- 
 killings, the surgeon, and twelve privates, were burnt. The colonel 
 might have saved himself, and was repeatedly pressed by his men 
 to do so, but finding he could not save all his soldiers, he chose to 
 
334 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1851 
 
 die with them a magnificent example of heroic devotion. The 
 rest of the crew and soldiers escaped in boats. The ' Tribune ' 
 came up too late to be of any use, and found the * Europa ' burnt 
 to the water's edge, and not a living human being to be seen. 
 
 We had a great debate on the war to-day. Lords Derby and 
 Lyndhurst made splendid speeches. 
 
 Lord Aberdeen deprecated anger against Russia, &c. 
 
 A desperate battle took place on the 1 4th under Silistria. Gene- 
 rals Schilder and Gortschakoff both wounded ; Orloff badly so. 
 
 June 25tk. A telegraphic despatch from Copenhagen gives 
 an account of our disaster at Gumba Kusleby. The ' Odin J and 
 ' Vulture ' landed 150 men. These were attacked by sharpshooters 
 in ambuscade and by a masked battery of five guns. Lieutenant 
 Barringtoii and five men were killed and sixteen wounded, the 
 rest being taken prisoners. The Convention between Austria and 
 the Porte was signed at Constantinople on. the 1 4th ; it assures 
 the occupation by Austria of the Daiiubiaii Principalities. The 
 siege of Silistria has been raised, and the Russians have re-crossed 
 the Danube. 
 
 July Qth. News has arrived that Nicholas has refused all 
 negotiation, and will make war to the last man and rouble. Six 
 more regiments of infantry and two of cavalry are to sail this 
 week for the Black Sea, which will give us altogether 33,000 men. 
 The 10th Hussars are to go from India. This decision of Nicholas 
 removes all possibility of disputes about places in the Cabinet. 
 The House of Commons has become quite unmanageable showing 
 utter want of confidence in the Government and a determination 
 to support nothing but the war. 
 
 July \tli. Lady Malmesbury arrived in London from Carls- 
 bad. She describes politics as running very high there. When 
 she first arrived, Madame Coloredo, whom she had known as 
 Ambassadress in London, was very friendly, and constantly with 
 her, the Duchess of Grafton, Mr. Hope, and other English ; but 
 as transactions of a doubtful nature took place with Austria, and 
 it appeared uncertain what line that Government would take with 
 respect to the war, Madame Coloredo and many other Germans 
 gradually cooled towards the English category at Carlsbad, and 
 finally cut them. 
 
185 i ALLIED FORCES IN THE CRIMEA. 335 
 
 The progress or failure of a national dispute may easily be 
 judged of by the spectators from the manner and behaviour of 
 diplomatic personages, who think it right to make a personal 
 demonstration of what is going on. 
 
 Jidy 20th. Admiral Napier, after making a great demonstra- 
 tion before Cronstadt, has retired without firing a shot, to the 
 disgust of the whole fleet. The English have driven the Russians 
 out of the forts at the Sulina mouth of the Danube. The 
 ' Furious ' has gone to Odessa with Russian prisoners, to exchange 
 them against the crew of the ' Tiger.' The Circassian hero, 
 Schamyl, refuses the assistance of English officers ; all he requires 
 is ammunition. 
 
 July 30th. ' The Press ' says that Admiral Stopford is gone 
 or going to the Black Sea, as it is said that Admiral Dundas does 
 nothing but pray. It is singular that, of the two admirals in com- 
 mand of the Black Sea and the Baltic fleets, one is always praying 
 and the other always swearing ; but they, however, seem to agree 
 on one point namely, in not fighting. 
 
 August 3rd. The cholera has broken out among the French 
 troops at Varna. There is a report that the allied fleets have 
 taken Bomarsund. Admiral Corry, second in command, has come 
 home invalided. It is generally supposed that he has quarrelled 
 with Napier in consequence of his inactivity, and come back to 
 England in disgust. Affairs at home are not more flourishing, as 
 the Government gets beaten almost every night in the House of 
 Commons. 
 
 August 4:th. We went to Chillingham. 
 
 August 7th. Left Chillingham for Achnacarry. 
 
 September 21st, Achnacarry. A private letter says that the 
 French force does not exceed 23,000 men, which is a thousand 
 less than the English. However, we shall, I trust, be strong 
 enough not to be beaten in the field, even if we cannot take 
 Sebastopol, for which there is hardly time at this advanced 
 season. 
 
 September 23rd. I went out fishing on Loch Arkaig and 
 caught a bull trout of 18 lb., and Lord Edward Thynne a salmo 
 ferox of 13 lb. 
 
 September 27th. A telegram from Lord Raglan, dated Sep- 
 
336 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18ol 
 
 tember 16, announces the disembarkation of the allied armies near 
 the Old Fort. The swell had impeded the operations, and the 
 exertions of the fleet under Rear- Admiral Lyons excited the 
 admiration of the whole army, which, with artillery and baggage, 
 has now begun its march upon Sebastopol. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : October 2, 1854. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, Urgently as Disraeli pressed it, I will not 
 allow myself to contemplate the possibility of anything so horrible as 
 
 a November session, and consequently put no faith in Lady 's 
 
 facts. If such a fatality should occur, I should probably have a 
 meeting to discuss our course of policy ; but that must be in a great 
 measure guided by the success or reverses of the war. In the Baltic 
 we have made a failure, though Russia has proved herself a far less 
 formidable enemy than was expected. I am looking with anxiety for 
 to-day's papers, as I received yesterday a telegraphic notice of a 
 Gazette Extraordinary having been published late on Saturday night, 
 giving an account of a very severe action, fought on the 20th, in which 
 the Russian entrenched camp was carried at the point of the bayonet 
 after three hours' hard fighting, and with heavy loss to the Allies. If 
 this be true, the affair of Sebastopol may take up less time than was 
 expected ; and the capture of that fortress will make amends for much 
 previous remissiiess ; but if we should fail there, the country would be 
 greatly and justly dissatisfied at the disproportion between our pre- 
 parations and our performances. 
 
 I am sorry to hear that you have had such bad weather and sport. 
 Our weather has been magnificent. I hardly ever remember so fine a 
 month of September, and we have in most places plenty of birds. I 
 had not been shooting well till the last day, but am improving in that 
 and in walking ; and, thanks to Dr. Ferguson and Providence, I am 
 considerably a better man than I was this time last year. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 October 3rd. News has arrived of a battle fought 011 Sep- 
 tember 20 between the Allies and the Russians. The latter had 
 entrenched themselves on the heights above the Alma, where 
 they had a force of 50,000 men with numerous cavalry and 
 artillery. The attack began at one o'clock, and by half-past four 
 
1854 MAftCH ON BALACLAVA. 337 
 
 the Allies had possession of the enemy's camp, which they took 
 at the point of the bayonet. The English lost 1,400 men killed 
 and wounded, and the French about the same. Lord Raglan has 
 written to say that no words can give any idea of the admirable 
 behaviour of the fleet under Lyons, both officers and men having 
 exerted themselves most nobly, and been of the greatest use to 
 the army, sparing themselves neither trouble nor fatigue. 
 
 October IQth. Lord Burghersh has arrived with despatches 
 announcing the death of Marshal St. Arnaud, Commander-in- 
 chief of the French army. His body has been sent to Con- 
 stantinople. The French, who were on the right of the allied 
 army, were close to the sea and protected by the fire of the 
 steamers, which kept close along shore. The sailors behaved 
 with their usual humanity and kindness, carrying the wounded 
 to the ships with the greatest care. 
 
 October 13th. The English army began its march upon Sebas- 
 topol the 23rd, bivouacked two nights on the Katchka and on the 
 Baalbec, both strong positions, which would have given us great 
 trouble had the Russians defended them ; but they were so 
 demoralised by their defeat on the Alma that they never stopped 
 till they got to Sebastopol. We did not pursue them, for as it 
 was important to reach the Tchernaya, where the army was to 
 encamp, this was effected by an easy march the following- 
 day, the 26th, and brought the army in safety to Balaclava. 
 Captain Maxse, who had come up with the army, volunteered to 
 return alone to the coast, with a message to Lyons, asking him to 
 come on to Balaclava. This perilous undertaking was so happily 
 accomplished by Captain Maxse, that when the English arrived at 
 Balaclava they found the ' Agamemnon ' already there, and Lyons 
 came immediately to meet Lord Raglan. 
 
 October 25th. No news from the Crimea, except in private 
 letters. All these speak of the dreadful mortality amongst our 
 troops from cholera, arising from the want of tents ; all our men 
 having slept on the bare ground since they landed, whilst the 
 French and Turks have had tents the whole time. 
 
 News has at last been received through Dr. Rae of the fate of 
 poor Franklin and his companions ; it is even worse than was 
 anticipated. They all perished from hunger in the spring of 
 
 Z 
 
338 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTEK. 1854 
 
 1850. Dr. Rae heard it from a tribe of Esquimaux, who saw 
 forty white men four years ago, who told them that their ships 
 had been crushed by the ice, and they were trying to find their 
 way back to North America. Some time after, the Esquimaux 
 found the bodies of thirty men lying dead, about a day's journey 
 from Bach's river, and five more on an island. They had tents, 
 guns, and ammunition, and from the mutilated state of some of 
 the bodies, and the contents of the kettles, it is supposed that 
 they had been driven to eat each other. 
 
 October 2Qth. Mrs. Alison, whose husband has been appointed 
 Commander- in- Chief in India, has sailed. She embarked at 
 Southampton, and the whole of her friends went to take leave 
 of her. 
 
 October 30th. A letter from Louis Napoleon to Madame St. 
 Ariiaud is published, in which is the following passage : ' Your 
 husband has united his name to the military glories of France 
 from the time when, deciding on landing in the Crimea, in spite 
 of timid counsels, he gained with Lord Raglan, the battle of the 
 Alma, and opened to our army the road to Sebastopol.' 
 
 October 31 st. The bombardment of Sebastopol began on the 
 17th by sea and land. The fleet attacked Fort Constantino and 
 sustained great loss 90 killed and 300 wounded. The ' Aga- 
 memnon J suffered most. Not much damage was done to the 
 fortifications, and the fleet had not renewed the attack. 
 
 November 2nd. A despatch says that a sortie against the 
 French batteries had been completely successful, and that eleven 
 guns and eight mortars had been spiked. It adds that Lord 
 Dunkellin has been taken prisoner. 
 
 November 6th. A despatch from Lord Stratford from Con- 
 stantinople, dated Qctober 28th, confirms MenschikofFs an- 
 nouncement of a successful attack being made by a force of 
 30,000 men upon Balaclava. The Turks fled, but the High- 
 landers stood their ground, and gave time for reinforcements to 
 arrive. The light cavalry regiments suffered dreadfully. 
 
 November 8th. Left Achnacarry at 7.30 A.M., and reached 
 Dunkeld at 10.30 P.M. ; the whole country is under snow, and 
 has been so for a fortnight. It looks as if \ve were to have a 
 very severe winter, and I fear that our army in the Crimea will 
 
1854 CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE. 339 
 
 suffer dreadfully, the Duke of Newcastle having shown hitherto 
 110 power of organisation. 
 
 November 14^, Chillingkam. The account of the affair of 
 October 25th at Balaclava is very sad, although most glorious to 
 our arms, rivalling the most heroic deeds of antiquity. Six hun- 
 dred cavalry charged the whole' Russian army down a valley of a 
 mile long, defended by artillery and infantry along the heights on 
 both sides, and a battery of nine cannon in front supported by 
 numerous cavalry. Our small force cut its way through all these 
 obstacles, and then cut its way back, but with the loss of two- 
 thirds of their men. 
 
 Nothing could be done to save them. The French did their 
 best by taking a battery, but the whole army and the Light 
 Division itself when it started knew they were going to certain 
 destruction. It is not known who gave the fatal order, for 
 Captain Nolan, who delivered the message to Lord Lucan, was 
 one of the first to fall, killed by a shell ; but it is supposed that 
 Lord Raglan, sent an order for the light cavalry to charge to get 
 back the captured guns if practicable, and that Lord Lucan 
 understood it as a positive order, leaving him 110 discretion. He 
 therefore ordered the charge, which was led by Lord Cardigan 
 with the greatest gallantry. There is a telegraphic despatch of 
 November 6 from General Canrobert, saying that on the 5th the 
 English positions were attacked by the whole Russian army in 
 the presence of the Grand Dukes Nicholas and Michael, and 
 sorties made at the same time on the English and French lines, 
 all of which were repulsed. Canrobert speaks of the solidity of 
 the English, who, as usual, bore the brunt of the battle, which 
 lasted all day. The French supported us gallantly with the divi- 
 sion of General Bosquet. Our loss is said to be severe, especially 
 in the Guards, who fought desperately ; five generals wounded, 
 amongst whom were two of our best, Bentinck and Brown. It 
 is, however, a glorious victory, and the more satisfactory as it was 
 gained in the presence of the Grand Dukes, who will, of course 
 tell the truth to the Emperor. 1 
 
 Captain and Mrs. Burrell are here. The former related an 
 amusing adventure which happened to him at Newcastle, where 
 
 1 This AV.IS the famous battle of Inkerman. 
 
 z 2 
 
340 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1854 
 
 he was quartered. He had a severe attack of small-pox, and was 
 confined to his bed at the hotel. During his illness a young 
 lady Avith her carriage and servants, of fashionable appearance, 
 arrived there, intending to stay for one night only but on 
 hearing that a young officer was dangerously ill in the same 
 house, she expressed great interest, and instead of leaving next 
 morning she announced her intention of remaining a few days, 
 constantly repeating her inquiries as to the state of the sick man. 
 Captain Burrell was extremely touched at her romantic conduct, 
 which he took as a personal compliment, but when recovering, 
 the doctors announcing that he was safe, and the lady being 
 informed of the fact, she ordered her carriage, after telling the 
 waiter that she was ' much disappointed, as her object in stopping 
 was to see a military funeral.' 
 
 Lord Raglan to Lord M. 
 
 Before Sebastopol : November 14, 1854. 
 
 My clear Lord Malmesbury, I have had the pleasure of perusing 
 your letter of October 15 from the Highlands, and am very much 
 flattered and obliged by your sincere and hearty congratulations on the 
 victory of the Alma. Let me take this opportunity of saying that I 
 shall ever retain a grateful sense of your kindness and confidence when 
 you were at the Foreign Office. 
 
 Poor St. Arnaud ! He went off very suddenly. He was ill in 
 several instances at Varna, and worse on the transit from thence to 
 the Crimea, but he rallied afterwards, and it was only on the 25th, the 
 day before he resigned the command, that I saw he was very ill. We 
 have had some very rough work since we sacked Balaclava on Sep- 
 tember 26, and now we have the most violent gale of wind, which 
 impedes operations for the moment. 1 
 
 , Yours very sincerely, 
 
 RAGLAN. 
 
 November Vtth. I hear that Jem Macdonald, the Duke of 
 Cambridge's aide-de-camp, has had two horses shot under him and 
 his cocked hat knocked off. 2 He is the life and soul of the army 
 
 1 The gale here alluded to became a perfect hurricane, and destroyed a great 
 number of our ships and many hundred lives. 
 
 2 When his second horse was killed under him he only laughed and said : 
 1 This sort of thing only happens to younger brothers I ' 
 
1854 TERRIFIC STORM IN THE BLACK SEA. 341 
 
 and invaluable to the Duke. Lady Durham is here, quite charm- 
 ing, very pretty, and so unaffected, never apparently thinking of 
 her beauty or dress, and full of spirits and gaiety. 
 
 November 23rd, Knowsley. I arrived with Lord Derby at 
 Knowsley. The state of affairs in the Crimea is very alarming, 
 but nothing remains to us but to take Sebastopol or perish. I 
 hear that Prince Edward of Saxe- Weimar writes that all the 
 officers and men are in tatters like so many beggars, and all from 
 the highest to the lowest covered with vermin. They have neither 
 clothes to change nor water to wash with, having barely sufficient 
 to drink. 
 
 November 24th. There has been a violent hurricane in the 
 Black Sea on the 14th, and four transports were wrecked. 
 
 November 29th. Left Knowsley for London. The storm on 
 the 14th in the Black Sea was terrific ; above thirty transports 
 were wrecked. The ' Prince,' a large Government screw steamer, 
 was lost with all on board. The ' Agamemnon ' went on shore, but 
 was got off without damage. The French lost a ship of 100 guns 
 and a war steamer, the ' Henri IV.,' but the crews were saved. 
 
 December 5th. Our losses in the Black Sea are confirmed. 
 The ' Prince,' screw steamer, had landed the 46th Regiment, but 
 none of their stores. The storm came 011 so suddenly that none 
 of the ships except Admiral Dundas's, off the Katchka, had time 
 to get an offing. Fortunately their anchors and cables held, and 
 they rode out the gale, but all the transports were driven on 
 shore. The Russians came down to the beach, and one gentleman 
 in a carriage drawn by four horses addressed our sailors in very 
 good English, assuring them that they would be well treated if 
 they came on shore ; but they refused, and they proved to be 
 right, for the next day the gale abated and the boats from our 
 men-of-war took them off in safety. The French were less fortu- 
 nate ; their transports, being smaller, were thrown on the beach 
 and all the crews taken prisoners, among them the crew of the 
 Henri IV.,' a 100-gun ship. 
 
 The ' Prince ' was lost owing to the carelessness of the crew in 
 not clinching the cables, which ran out with the two largest 
 anchors. There was only one small one, therefore, to hold that 
 immense ship, which was clashed upon the rocks near Balaclava, 
 
342 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1854 
 
 and reduced to splinters in ten minutes. Only six men out of 150 
 saved, and the whole cargo, consisting of the warm clothing for 
 the troops, the medical stores, and a large quantity of ammuni- 
 tion, was lost. Their value is estimated at 500,000. 
 
 December 6th, Heron Court. The Due de Richelieu and 
 General Sir George Bowles arrived. The latter says that the 
 ' Prince ' steamer was left seven days outside the harbour of 
 Balaclava, although the authorities there must have known the 
 importance of her freight to the army. 
 
 December Itli. We have made a treaty with Austria. I 
 asked Lord Granville if it was satisfactory, but he said it was only 
 a step in the right direction. He also said that Lord Raglan had 
 written to the Government that he had ascertained the Russian 
 loss at Inkerman was 25,000 men. The destruction at the pas- 
 sage of the bridge was tremendous. Our guns had got the exact 
 range and swept away masses at every discharge, the Russians hav- 
 ing only one bridge across the river. It was there the two Grand 
 Dukes were seen trampling over their own men in their haste to 
 escape. They left the army that very evening. MenschikofF sent 
 a messenger to the Emperor to announce his defeat, but had not 
 time to write a despatch. The plan of the attack had been 
 arranged by the Emperor himself, who thought success was cer- 
 tain ; and, when the messenger arrived he said, ' Well, we have 
 gained the victory 1 ' The messenger replied that, on the contrary, 
 the Russians were defeated, upon which the Emperor in a fury 
 cried, * Vous mentez ! Sortez ! ' He sent again for him and 
 insisted upon particulars, which only redoubled his rage, and lie 
 again dismissed him in. the same insulting way, refusing positively 
 to believe in the defeat of his army. This he did three times. 
 The officer is said to have told the exact truth namely, that 
 there were 60,000 Russians against 15,000 English and French. 
 The intention of this great attack upon the Allies was well known 
 among the Russians at home, as Briimiow told Madame de Lieven 
 three days before that he knew that within that time they would 
 be driven into the sea. 
 
 December 9th. The 'Standard' of this morning gives the 
 treaty with Austria. It is so far satisfactory that, although it 
 contains no declaration against Russia, it shows such a decided 
 
1854 PARLIAMENT OPENED BY THE QUEEN. 343 
 
 adhesion to our policy, and wish to give the Allies every passive 
 assistance to make war against Russia, that it is pretty evident 
 that, if a durable peace cannot be made soon, Austria will join us 
 openly. The treaty now published must be so offensive to Russia, 
 that Austria must be aware she has forfeited all claim to her 
 friendship. (Query, Is there any secret article as to our guaran- 
 teeing the integrity of the Austrian dominions, in case of her 
 joining us in making war against Russia ?) 
 
 December \\th. Left Heron Court. The deplorable state of 
 our troops in the Crimea is described and repeated in all the 
 private letters that arrive. It is impossible for this country to 
 bear these accounts with patience, for every kind of negligence is 
 attributed to the management of those responsible. 
 
 December 12th, London. Parliament was opened by the Queen. 
 There was a large attendance of Peers, and the ladies' gallery was 
 quite filled. Lord Derby spoke first and made a very fine speech, 
 though not quite so fluent as usual. The Duke of Newcastle 
 answered, and defended himself in a prosy speech of three hours, 
 delivered in a most monotonous, melancholy, hesitating tone. 
 The House went to sleep after the first half -hour ; at least I sup- 
 pose the Government bench did so, as they none of them cheered 
 him at all. He spoke like a man who knows he is in a scrape and 
 cannot get out of it, but hopes to make the matter better by the 
 length of his explanations. 
 
 December \3th. I hear that the Duke of Cambridge is deeply 
 affected at the losses which his brigade (the Guards) suffered at 
 the last battle, and especially at the death of Colonel Blair, whom 
 he went to see after the action, before he died of his wounds. 
 
 His Royal Highness was on board the ' Retribution ' on the 
 1 4th, during the great storm, when she was all but lost, as she 
 held on by a single anchor only, her engines going at full speed to 
 east the strain. 
 
 Dined with the Cannings, where we met Lord Dunkellin, who 
 seems to have seen nothing during his passage as a prisoner 
 through Russia, at least he can give no account of it. Perhaps he 
 thought he was not justified in doing so. 
 
 December 15th. Thanks to the army and navy voted, the 
 Foreign Enlistment Bill came on. Lord Ellenborough made a 
 
344 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1854 
 
 splendid speech, most damaging to the Government. They carried 
 the bill by a majority of 12 in the Lords, which is considered 
 almost a defeat. I trust, however, they will not go out. 
 
 December 19^A. Lord Hardinge, who is Commander-in- Chief, 
 told me there are very bad accounts from the Crimea. The 
 weather is horrid, the troops cannot keep dry in their tents, and 
 they have not the ingenuity of the French in making huts. Their 
 officers employ the Zouaves to build them huts, and pay them very 
 highly for it. The soldiers are on half-rations, as provisions are 
 failing. The horses had been eighteen hours without any food, and 
 numbers are dead. Sir John Burgoyne writes to his daughter, 
 Mrs. Wrottesley, that the state of the ground is such that, wish- 
 ing to send a message to another part of the camp by a mounted 
 orderly, the man could not get there. Quantities of hay floated 
 in the sea after the wrecks, and could have been fished out with 
 perfect ease, and enough wood to build huts for the whole army ; 
 but all was left to rot. It is probable all they can do is to get 
 food. The distance from Balaclava is seven miles, uphill the 
 whole way. 
 
 December 23rd, Heron Court. The Foreign Enlistment Bill 
 has passed the third reading in the Commons by 38, 
 
 1855 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord M. 
 
 Carlton : January 6, 1855. 
 
 My dear M., I found your note on our arrival in town to-day 
 from Hughenden en route for Wynyard. I do not think, however, 
 that I shall be able to depart for that latter place before Wednesday 
 morning ; so if you have anything to say, I shall have a London post 
 Monday and Tuesday ; after that, Wynyard, Stockton-on-Tees. 
 
 Notwithstanding all that has happened, and the no longer mis- 
 takable disgust and indignation of the country with the present 
 Ministry, I think it will last. The House of Commons is determined 
 not to turn them out until their successors are indicated. Waiting 
 for a strong Government, the weak one will proceed. 
 
 I fear that Seymour will be going to the House of Lords, which I 
 
1855 EESIGNATION OF LOED JOHN RUSSELL. 345 
 
 regret, as I always looked to the possibility of his taking a leading part 
 in the reconstruction of parties. 
 
 The Duke of Bucks has just told me that Glengall is dying at 
 Bretby. This is sad; and that poor, dear Lord Ponsonby is in a 
 hopeless state. 
 
 The Court will not break up the Government in order that a pure 
 Whig Ministry may be formed. Yours ever, 
 
 D. 
 
 January 9th. Lord Hardinge tells me that the Duke of 
 Newcastle had never consulted him on any subject connected 
 with the war ; and that he had never seen a single despatch 
 except those that had been published in the newspapers. As 
 he is Commander-in- Chief and a great soldier, this appears in- 
 credible ; but no one can doubt his word for a moment, and his 
 uncontrolled anger confirms his account. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M, 
 
 St. James's Square : January 23, 1855. 
 My dear Mahnesbury, 
 
 Great rumours of the Government breaking up, great indignation 
 at their conduct, and great and reasonable alarm for the fate of our 
 army. Disraeli agrees with me as to the patience policy indeed, he 
 wishes to carry it even further than I do. Our people, however, will 
 be very hard to hold. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, DERBY. 
 
 January 26th. A letter this morning from Lord Lonsdale, 1 
 telling me that Lord John Russell had resigned, as he w r ould not 
 oppose Mr. Roebuck's motion for an inquiry into the way in 
 which the war had been conducted. Lord Aberdeen went to 
 Windsor immediately after the Cabinet Council, and yesterday 
 Lord John's resignation was announced in both Houses. 
 
 January 27th. Lord Lonsdale again writes that Lord John 
 
 1 Lord Lonsdale had held the office of Postmaster-General under Sir K. Peel. 
 He had a very large fortune and great Parliamentary influence in Cumberland and 
 Westmoreland, returning five members in these districts, and he owed it as much 
 to his natural shrewdness and sagacity as to his wealth. He died in 1874, nged 
 eighty-fpur, 
 
346 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1855 
 
 has resigned 011 account of the mismanagement of the war. He 
 gave this explanation himself last night in the Commons, and 
 Lord Aberdeen read a letter to the same effect in the Lords 
 and seemed very angry, but announced that the Government 
 would await the result of Mr. Roebuck's motion before deciding 
 what course they would pursue. Damaging as Lord John's 
 speech explaining his conduct is to the Government, it is much 
 more so to himself, for his reasons appear quite insufficient to 
 justify his deserting his colleagues and risking to throw the 
 whole country into confusion at such a crisis as this. He says 
 that on November 17 he suggested to Lord Aberdeen that it 
 would be advisable that the office of Secretary for the War 
 Department and that of Secretary at War should be held by the 
 same person, and that it should be given to Palmerston. Lord 
 Aberdeen objected, on the ground of its being unfair and unjust 
 to the Duke of Newcastle to remove him from his post without 
 strong grounds for doing so. Lord John, upon this refusal of 
 Lord Aberdeen, threatened to resign. Being, however, urged by 
 Lord Palmerston and others of his friends not to press the 
 matter further, he consented to give it up, and the' subject was 
 not again named by him till Saturday, January 20, when, a 
 proposal being made in the Cabinet which he thought incomplete 
 and insufficient, he gave Lord Aberdeen a paper containing his 
 own views on the subject. 
 
 To this f it appears he received 110 answer, and thinking it 
 unlikely that his views would be adopted, he determined on 
 Tuesday night, January 23, to read his resignation to Lord 
 Aberdeen, to whom he wrote the following letter : 
 
 Chesham Place : January 23, 1855. 
 
 My dear Lord Aberdeen, Mr. Roebuck has given notice of a- 
 motion to inquire into the conduct of the War. I do not see how 
 this motion is to be resisted, as it involves a censure upon the War 
 Department, with which some of my colleagues are connected. My 
 only course is to tender my resignation. I therefore have to request 
 you will lay my humble resignation of the office which I have the 
 honour to hold, before the Queen, with the expression of my gratitude 
 for her Majesty's kindness for many years. 
 
 I remain, &c. &c. JOHN RUSSELL. 
 
1855 MR. ROEBUCK'S MOTION. 347 
 
 Lord Jolin at the beginning of his speech explained the 
 reason he could not resist. Mr. Roebuck's motion was such as 
 could only be opposed on two grounds : 
 
 1st. That no evils existed of sufficient magnitude to call for 
 inquiry. 
 
 2nd. That if such did exist they would be best cured by 
 other means, and that, being unable to say ' It is true evils do 
 exist, but such arrangements have been made that all deficiencies 
 and abuses will be immediately remedied/ he could only come to 
 one conclusion, that as he was unable to give the only answer 
 that would stop inquiry, it was his duty not to remain a member 
 of the Government. 
 
 Lord Palmerston, in reply to this speech, said { he admitted 
 Lord John might have a difficulty in meeting Mr. Roebuck's 
 motion, but it was evident he thought that there were in his 
 mind sufficient constitutional objections to that motion, and if 
 he was decidedly of opinion that a different person ought to 
 be at the head of the War Department, he should have given 
 the Government an opportunity before Parliament met of saying 
 whether the proposal should be adopted. The course he had 
 taken was not in accordance with the usual practice of public 
 men, and was calculated to* place the Government in a position 
 of embarrassment.' 
 
 After these explanations, Mr. Roebuck brought on his motion 
 for a Select Committee ' to inquire into the condition of our 
 army before Sebastopol, and into the conduct of those depart- 
 ments of the Government whose duty it has been to minister to 
 the wants of that army.' 
 
 Mr. Sidney Herbert, Sir George Grey, Mr. Moncktoii Milnes, 
 and Mr. Yernon Smith spoke against the motion, Mr. Layard, 
 Mr. Walpole, &c., for it. Lord Palmerston agreed to the adjourn- 
 ment, upon the distinct understanding that there should be no 
 further one upon this question. 
 
 January 3Qth. It is expected that Government will go 
 out whether they are beaten on Mr. Roebuck's motion or not, 
 and that they will reform under Lord Palmerston, Gladstone and 
 Sidney Herbert to stay in. The general opinion about Lord 
 John is that he resigned in the hopes of being called upon to 
 
348 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1865 
 
 form a new Government, but he has lost himself by this move. 
 The accounts from the Crimea are dreadful. Only 18,000 
 effective men; 14,000 are dead and 22,000 sick. The same 
 neglect which has hitherto prevailed continues, and is shown 
 in everything. ~No precaution is taken at Balaclava about the 
 ammunition, of which there are three or four thousand tons. 
 Officers and soldiers are allowed to smoke pipes and cigars in 
 the midst of these stores. 
 
 February Ind, Heron Court. Lord Aberdeen has resigned. 
 I came down here yesterday, but before I left London Lord 
 Derby sent for me, to tell me that he had been summoned by 
 the Queen, and entrusted with the formation of a new Govern- 
 ment, the present one having resigned. He added that her 
 Majesty, of her own accord, has expressed a wish that I should 
 return to the Foreign Office, to which I agreed. He then 
 stated he had afterwards seen Lord Palmerston, who seemed 
 inclined to join us, and that Lord Ellenborough would be War 
 Minister. Lord Derby appeared in high spirits and confident 
 of success, and when I told him I should like to go to Heron 
 Court for forty-eight hours to settle my private affairs, he 
 consented, saying, 'Make haste back, you will find everything 
 settled by that time.' 
 
 Mr. George Bentinck aroused us at four in the morning, 
 arriving from London, to say that Lord Derby had failed in 
 forming a Government, Lord Palmerston having thrown him 
 over, and giving as a reason the immense majority against him 
 and his colleagues ; that Lord Derby went immediately to 
 Windsor and told the Queen he was unable under present cir- 
 cumstances to undertake the Government, and that he advised 
 her Majesty to form, one in the best way she could. If it failed, 
 he would then try with his own friends. Nothing could be 
 more marked than her Majesty's cordiality. Disraeli told all 
 this to Mr. Bentinck, in order that he should repeat it to me. 
 
 February 4tk. Lord John Russell is trying to form a 
 
 Government, but the Peelites } will not join him, and no 
 
 wonder, after his conduct to his late colleagues. His own 
 
 party is too weak to stand alone, so that if her Majesty will 
 
 J Gladstone. Graham, and Sidney Herbert, 
 
1855 LORD DERBY SENT FOR. 349 
 
 not have Lord Palmerston, it is probable that she will send 
 again for Lord Derby, who has promised then to undertake the 
 task. I put no faith in this speculation, as, however much 
 she may dislike a Minister, she will always do what she believes 
 to be her duty to the country, and sacrifice her private feelings 
 to her patriotism. 
 
 I returned to London with Mr. Bentinck. 
 
 February 5th. Lord John having failed, Lord Palmerston 
 is entrusted by the Queen to form a Government. 
 
 February 6th. Lord Derby tells me that he had hopes of 
 Lord Palmerston at one time, and if he had joined, Lord 
 Clarendon would have taken the Foreign Office, in which case 
 he would have asked me to give it up to him ; to which I replied 
 with perfect truth, that I should have been delighted to do 
 so, as my health had suffered the last time I was at the Foreign 
 Office from the anxiety and fatigue of such a laborious place. 
 
 Palmerston has succeeded, and his Government will be com- 
 posed of all the 'old lot,' except Lord Aberdeen, the Duke of 
 Newcastle, and Lord John Russell. 
 
 Lord Derby's refusal to undertake the Government has been 
 a great disappointment and great offence to his party. When I 
 left him on the 1st, I never saw him more determined, and I do 
 not know what suddenly discouraged him and made him throw 
 up the game. The declaration of the new Government and Lord 
 Derby's explanation come on to-morrow, so I cannot leave London. 
 
 February Sth. Lord Panmure is War Minister. Snow con- 
 tinues, with a north-east wind and hard frost. 
 
 February 9th. Lord Derby in his explanation last night re- 
 peated what he said four years ago as an excuse for refusing to 
 take the Government namely, ' that he could not govern with 
 his own party without extraneous aid.' He praised the Peelites, 
 talked disparagingly of his own friends, and of course his speech 
 this time is much more damaging to them than the former one in 
 1852, for then they were untried, and the worst that could be said 
 was that they were inexperienced ; but now he says (at least his 
 words may be so interpreted) that they have been tried and have 
 failed. Disraeli went the morning of his explanation, and begged 
 of him to say nothing against his party. In. spite of this warning 
 
350 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1855 
 
 he makes a long speech praising his opponents and disparaging his 
 friends. There is no doubt in my mind that his bad health during 
 the last two years, and his physical sufferings from gout, which 
 have been excessive, have shaken his nerve and robbed him of 
 much of his former courage and energy. Disraeli is in a state of 
 disgust beyond all control ; he told me he had spoken his mind to 
 Lord Derby, and told him some very disagreeable truths. He 
 charges me, most absurdly, with being to blame for this fiasco by 
 leaving Lord Derby at the critical moment when he required 
 support and encouragement. There can be no doubt, if the Russian 
 War ends successfully and we take Sebastopol, that Lord Derby 
 will have missed a great opportunity, and lost the glory and 
 prestige of the Minister (whoever he may be) who brings the war 
 to a successful end. 
 
 That is what I would certainly have told him, had 1 been 
 present, and no more. 
 
 It seems that Lord Ellenborough was quite ready to join us, 
 and would have been a great addition as a colleague. When Lord 
 Aberdeen resigned Lord Ellenborough came up to Lord Derby in 
 the House of Lords and said the Queen was sure to send for him. 
 Lord Derby replied, Well, if so, I hope you will help me.' ' Help 
 you ! ' said Lord Ellenborough, I will carry a musket for you ! ' 
 and then added, 'But mind one thing. When you go to the 
 Queen, do not leave the room without kissing hands/ His master- 
 mind saw the necessity for firmness. I think it was more error 
 of judgment than timidity in Lord Derby, for he thought that no 
 one but himself could form a Government after Lord John and 
 Lord Palmerstoii had failed, and that he would come in on his 
 own terms. He said to me, ' I shall then be a most powerful 
 Minister.' 
 
 February llth, Heron Court. The thermometer went down 
 to 12 last night, twenty degrees of frost. We cannot help think- 
 ing of our poor soldiers in the Crimea in this desperate "weather. 
 
 February IWi. Lord Derby and Mr. Beiitinck arrived from 
 London. The former said that if the Conservatives would only 
 be patient, we should certainly be in office before long. I forgot 
 to mention that he had invited Gladstone to join him, who had 
 refused. 
 
1855 DIFFICULTY IN FORMING A GOVERNMENT. 351 
 
 February 13th. Lord Derby, Mr. Bentinck, and I went out 
 shooting wild-fowl. No boy of sixteen could have enjoyed it more 
 than Lord Derby. Eager as everybody is for this peculiar sport, 
 I never saw any one so keen. We killed six or seven varieties, 
 among which were three white-fronted geese. 
 
 February 18th. It appears, from Lord Palmerston's speech 
 on the 16th, that when Lord Derby asked him to join in forming 
 a Government and proposed to admit Messrs. Gladstone and 
 Herbert into his Cabinet, he also insisted upon having Lord 
 Clarendon as Foreign Secretary. If he had agreed to this, Lord 
 Palmerston, with these three men and the leadership in the House 
 of Commons, would have been the real Premier and omnipotent 
 in the Cabinet. Last Friday, when Palmerston tried to persuade 
 the House to allow the inquiry into the state of the army to be 
 conducted by the Government instead of a committee of the 
 Commons, it laughed in his face, and men of all parties, some his 
 own friends, declared they would vote for the committee. The 
 navvies have arrived at Balaclava and have begun the railroad. 
 
 February 21st. Lord Derby had a meeting of his party, which, 
 after passing a vote of confidence in him, went away quite satisfied. 
 
 February 22nd. Another heavy fall of snow. When is this 
 terrible winter coming to an end ? The papers to-day announce 
 the resignation of Sir James Graham, Gladstone, and Herbert. 
 The motives are supposed to be their unwillingness to face the 
 committee of inquiry into the state of the army. This conduct 
 will, I should think, lower them in the opinion of the country. 
 They first refused to join Lord Derby, and stopped Lord Pal- 
 merston, who was ready to do so, by promising to take office under 
 him. They thus prevented a strong Government from being 
 formed, and, having induced Lord Palmerston to accept the Pre- 
 miership, on the understanding that he would have their assist- 
 ance, they now leave him in the lurch at a moment of great danger 
 and difficulty. 1 
 
 1 Since the issue of my third edition, I received from Mr. Gladstone a courteous 
 letter denying the justice of this statement, as not borne out by the facts, which, he 
 says, were that he had no written or oral communication from Lord Derby, but only 
 a message from Lord Palmerston, expressing a desire that if Lord Palmerston joined 
 Lord Derby's Government, he (Mr. Gladstone) should do the same, and, with Lord 
 
352 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 February 25th. The three Peelite ex-Ministers Gladstone, 
 Graham, and Herbert have made their explanation in the House 
 of Commons. 1 Lord Palmerston slept through Gladstone's speech, 
 and nearly broke down in his own. He appears to be failing 
 under the fatigue and difficulty of his position. 
 
 There is no doubt that Louis Napoleon is going to the Crimea, 
 in spite of the entreaties of all his Ministers and of Lord John 
 Russell, who is passing through Paris on his way to Berlin and 
 Vienna. The Russians have attacked Eupatoria, and been re- 
 pulsed by Omar Pasha and his Turks. The Russians, commanded 
 by Liprandi, lost 500 killed and wounded. 
 
 February 11th. Lord Palmerston has patched up his Cabinet, 
 by admitting Lord John to the Colonies and Sir Charles Wood to 
 the Admiralty. 
 
 March 3rd. The Emperor Nicholas died yesterday between 
 twelve and one o'clock, at St. Petersburg, of pulmonary apoplexy 
 (query, a broken heart ?) ; it was announced in both Houses, 
 and received with solemn silence. This event may be of immense 
 advantage to us, if our rulers have the talent to profit by it, 
 otherwise it may only serve for a dishonourable peace. 
 
 Lord Stanley writes that Louis Napoleon objects strongly to 
 the committee of inquiry into the war ; and says, if it takes place, 
 though his army will still act on the same side as ours, it can 110 
 longer do so along with it. He is evidently alarmed at the laches 
 of his own Ministers and Generals being shown up to Europe, 
 and endangering his position. Palmerston is much perplexed, 
 and will probably dissolve Parliament as the only means of 
 getting himself out of the scrape of the committee of inquiry, to 
 which he has been forced to consent. 
 
 Palmerston's refusal, this conditional offer fell to the ground. Mr. Gladstone had 
 no share in bringing about that refusal. He further says that he, Sir J. Graham, 
 and Mr. Herbert, joined in the full belief that Lord Palmerston would resist the 
 Committee on the war as they had all done under Lord Aberdeen, and that his sub- 
 mission to it drove them out. Such is, no doubt, the truth of a transaction which 
 the public could not understand. The ' Quarterly Review ' of the year believes that 
 both Lord Derby and the trio who left Lord Palmerston in ten days, were all out- 
 manoeuvred by the latter, and it is not impossible that Lord Derby foresaw this, 
 and suddenly threw up the cards. 
 
 1 Vide ' Hansard,' vol. cxxxvi. p. 1822, 
 
1855 CANROBERT'S OPINION OF THE ENGLISH TROOPS. 353 
 
 March llth. I saw Walewski yesterday, who had received a 
 letter from General Canrobert, saying that the English had 20,000 
 effective bayonets in the Crimea, and that they were men whose 
 equals did not exist on the face of the earth ; men whose iron 
 frames had resisted every fatigue and privation, and whose 
 courage was such that they were invincible. He added that 
 if those 20,000 men were his, he would not exchange them for 
 double the number of any troops of any nation, not even ex- 
 cepting his own. He also said that our newspapers did a great 
 deal of harm by all the accounts given of the misery of our 
 troops, which are translated and read to the Russian army, and, 
 of course, encourage them to persevere in resisting us. Prince 
 Albert told me yesterday that it was quite true that, when the 
 French came to our assistance at Inkerman, they were staggered 
 by the Russian fire, and their officers asked to have the remnant 
 of the Guards brought up for them to form upon, as they could 
 not otherwise get their men to advance. The Prince praised our 
 officers in the most enthusiastic manner. 
 
 The Queen most kindly sent Lady Canning this morning to 
 inquire after Lady Malmesbury, who had been taken ill during 
 dinner at the Palace yesterday. 
 
 March 23rc?. I have positive proof that the French Ambas- 
 sador, Walewski, throughout the late events, has been most active 
 in the intrigue which placed and kept Lord Palmer ston in office, 
 both as against Lord John and Lord Derby. 
 
 The Emperor has a great admiration for him, and told me 
 once, ' Avec Palmerston, on peut faire de grandes choses.' 
 
 March 25th. We went to Lady Palmerston's party; there 
 was a great crowd. The Walewskis were there ; both very re- 
 served and awkward in their manner, which makes me think that 
 .they are aware we know of their intrigues against us. 
 
 March 31st. Left London. The English and French H-ovPvn- 
 ments have prevailed upon Louis Napoleon to pay a visit to 
 England, the main object being to prevent his going to the Crimea, 
 which he was bent upon. The Queen has in consequence given 
 them an invitation, which has been accepted. Lady Tankerville 
 called and told me she asked Lady Palmerston yesterday whether 
 it was true that M, Drouyn de FHuys's mission here was to get 
 
 A A 
 
354 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18-35 
 
 Lord John recalled from Vienna. She denied it positively, say- 
 ing he had come to discuss the third point of the treaty with 
 Austria with the English Government, about which there are 
 some difficulties. 
 
 Lady Palmerston complains of Count Walewski's pomposity ; 
 she says that the airs he gives himself are quite ridiculous, and 
 that he was much displeased at the arrival of M. Drouyn de 
 1'Huys, 1 being also extremely hurt when Prince Albert went to 
 Boulogne to meet the Emperor. 
 
 April \Wi t London. I arrived from Paris, where I had been 
 for a week with Lord Hardwicke. Lord Lansdowne called and 
 told me that the members of the Conference at Vienna smoked a 
 good deal, and one day M. de Bourqueney, the French Minister, pro- 
 posed to adjourn for an hour for that purpose, upon which the 
 Turkish Ambassador, who had not yet opened his mouth, jumped 
 up and supported M. de Bourqueney's proposal. Everybody was 
 extremely civil to me at Paris. The Emperor as friendly as ever. 
 Madame Walewska called 011 Lady Malmesbury, and said she 
 should not have a moment's peace till the Emperor left England, 
 as she fears some attempt on his life from the * Rouges ; ' but she 
 told her that the Government had sent word to the principal 
 leaders that, in the event of any attempt being made, they would 
 all be expelled from England. This has frightened them so much 
 that Ledru Rollin and others have left London for Edinburgh, to 
 be out of the way. 
 
 When at Paris, I dined with Persigny, and had a long con- 
 versation with him to the following effect : 
 
 He said : ' The Emperor consults no one ; that he is incapable 
 of seeing different sides of a question; that his judgment is good 
 when he does hear ,them. The war began without any plan; 
 everything done by himself. His Cabinet was astonished at his 
 first announcement of an army going to Gallipoli.' 
 
 Persigny pressed a coup de main, but the Emperor went to 
 Varna and Adrianople instead. 
 
 ' The Emperor is surrounded by flatterers. Fould, &c., rogues, 
 and robbers. Present negotiations ill-conducted. Second point 
 
 1 Drouyn de 1'Huys was recalled by the Emperor, who was dissatisfied with the 
 result of his mission to Vienna. 
 
FRENCH IGNORANCE AND CARELESSNESS. 355 
 
 (Danube) should have been discussed the last, to keep Austria 
 favourable. Persigny strongly for peace, and says France is all 
 for it. Proposes we should return to first objects, the safety 
 of the Provinces and Turkey, and fortify Constantinople. He 
 says that, according to his suggestion, Kamiesh is to be fortified 
 and a garrison left there ; the army withdrawn either to Eupatoria 
 or Constantinople. Orders have been sent for this. He says 
 that if the Emperor is to go to the Crimea, there must be peace 
 at any price to prevent it. If not, the war might go on, but if 
 the French army is lost, then there will be a revolution.' 
 ' Canrobert a very undecided man.' 
 
 'Refused to act on December 2, but obeyed orders. Could 
 not make up his mind which party to join.' 
 
 Persigny said that they should threaten Austria and Prussia 
 on the west, to push them on in a crusade against Russia. Raise 
 Poland and Hungary ; nothing but a crusade could stop the destiny 
 of Russia. If we cannot have one, we must patch it up as he 
 proposes for the present. 
 
 1 The Empress objects to vulgar people, and prevents access to 
 the Emperor.' 
 
 At the Council last year, announced attack on the Baltic. 
 Persigny asked if he meant Cronstadt. 'No, of course not; it 
 would require 100,000 men, cavalry included.' ' But Cronstadt 
 is an island.' ' No, it is not,' &c., and the Emperor sent for a 
 map. Everything done with same ignorance and carelessness. 
 The Emperor does not work two hours a day, and yet will order 
 everything. Occupied with such things as his journey to England 
 and his Exhibition. 
 
 This conversation is characteristic of the reckless way in 
 which Persigny formed his opinions, and the blunt honesty with 
 which he expresses them. 
 
 Madame Walewska especially dreads the Emperor's visits to 
 the City, the Crystal Palace, and the Opera. The Emperor and 
 Empress arrive at Windsor next Monday. 
 
 AA2 
 
356 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER; 1855 
 
 Lord Malmesbury to Lord Derby* 
 
 London : April 14, 1855. 
 
 My dear Derby, I returned yesterday from Paris, where I saw the 
 three 1 persons most interested and most actively employed in the 
 events of the day. I had long conversations with them ; their infor- 
 mation was spontaneous ; and as I heard them separately and they did 
 not differ, I believe it to be correct and worth relating. 
 
 First, then, for Vienna. 
 
 The Allies signed a note last year pledging themselves to the per- 
 manent dismantling of Sebastopol. 
 
 The campaign has not been such as to justify this demand. 
 
 Other alternatives, with the same objects, were to be found. 
 
 Lord John Russell was sent to Vienna to discover what these 
 might be. 
 
 On the 12th inst. he wrote to her Majesty's. Government, stating 
 that the Allies must make great modifications in then.' demands if they 
 desired to meet the 'prejudices of Austria' ('preconcerted opinions'). 
 Russia positively refused to pledge herself even to limit the number 
 of her ships in the Euxine, stating that Turkey might build ships and 
 fortresses on her coast ad libitum, both claiming the right of inde- 
 pendent nations. She admitted the general Protectorate of the Five 
 Powers and the freedom of the Danube. She denied that we had 
 gained any advantages for the redemption of which she should make 
 any sacrifice of power or dignity. 
 
 Austria so far supported this statement that she advised the Allies 
 to make a peace, provided Russia would agree to limit her fleet to its 
 present number, Turkey doing the same in the Black Sea ; Turkey to 
 fortify Constantinople or other places, Russia to admit Consuls at 
 Sebastopol and elsewhere. 
 
 Lord John heard all this without at once replying that to allow 
 Turkey to fortify her own coast was no favour, seeing she had a natural 
 right to do so, and that, although we had failed to take Sebastopol, 
 the Black Sea was de facto absolutely in the power of the Allies so 
 long as they chose to keep it, and that this was practically the total 
 annihilation of Russian Supremacy in that Sea. We had, therefore, a 
 material advantage, which must be paid for. 
 
 The Allied Governments were much dissatisfied with Lord John's 
 silence, and Drouyn de 1'Huys was sent to England to settle an ulti- 
 matum. All this time the French Ministers, alarmed at the failures of 
 the siege, were completely panic-struck by the idea of the Emperor's 
 i The Emperor, Persigny, and Fould, 
 
1855 PREPARING TO WITHDRAW THE ARMY. 357 
 
 journey to the Crimea. They openly stated, and now state, that the 
 great Russian Question is a trifle to this catastrophe, and that anything 
 is preferable to it. To prevent it any peace must be made. When 
 Drouyn came over, Palmerston remained firm, and was, I have no 
 doubt, supported by the Emperor. 
 
 What the exact ultimatum is, I do not know, but it is certainly 
 one which Eussia will not accept, and which Austria will not openly 
 support. 
 
 I believe another campaign is inevitable. The Emperor's argument 
 is that, even should it be unsuccessful, we can retire upon a plan of 
 warfare which would have been, perhaps, the best at first namely, to 
 withdraw our armies, have an allied force of 20,000 or 30,000^pen at 
 Constantinople, and close the Baltic and the Euxine hermetically with 
 our fleets. The cost would be comparatively small, the pressure, 
 physical and moral, upon Eussia immense, and we could hold on at 
 this for any time. 
 
 I told the Emperor that while we were negotiating at Vienna our 
 Admirals ought to be shelling Odessa ; but he said the war must be 
 carried on according to the ' civilised ideas of 1855.' I observed that 
 if that system was to be followed, at least we ought to resort most 
 implacably to real and universal blockade, for we had now followed 
 neither principle. He means to jurge the establishment of a Council 
 of War at Paris, without which no ensemble can be obtained in any 
 plans which the Allies are to carry out. Hence, he said, our mis- 
 fortunes. 
 
 Now as to the theatre of war in the East. The impression is 
 that Sebastopol is stronger than ever on the south side, and that our 
 bombardment will be like the first ; but we must fire off the material 
 we have brought up, as it cannot be left there or carried off. Canrobert 
 has been ready to begin for some time, but Eaglan refuses, and will 
 give no reason, at which both Governments are much incensed. They 
 suppose that he wishes to avoid a great slaughter until he sees that the 
 Vienna negotiations are fruitless. 
 
 Preparations are made to withdraw the army and re -embark it, so 
 as to throw it upon another point, either of Asia or Europe, if desir- 
 able. To effect this it has been found feasible to so entrench Kamiesh 
 as to render it impregnable. Through it the armies may defile to the 
 ships, and re-embark safely, and leave 10,000 men to hold it as a key 
 to Sebastopol. This may or may not be done under the thunder of the 
 general bombardment. 
 
 The Emperor told me he should certainly go out to see with his own 
 eyes. He will have 45,000 men and the Sardinians there in May, 
 
358 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1855 
 
 The Sebastopol armies are now 20,000 effective English and 70,000 
 French. The latter have lost 50,000 since the war. 
 
 The Emperor stays till this clay week, and is very anxious that he 
 may be seen as much as possible in public. He is very angry at 
 Walewski's fright about attempts on his person. 
 
 Your reply to his paper and Ellenborough's plan have never reached 
 him, and he begged me to obtain a duplicate for him. Will you ask 
 Ellenborough to draw up another ? As I don't know what you sent, 
 and how it went, I cannot act. 
 
 Pray keep this letter confidentially to yourself, Stanley excepted. 
 
 Yours, &c. 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 April IQth. Lady Ossulston, Lady Manners, my wife and I, 
 went to Lord Carrington's house in Whitehall to see the Emperor 
 of the French pass. The weather was beautiful and bright, the 
 streets were choked with people. The cortege made its appearance 
 at 6.15 P.M. ; there were six open carriages, four of them escorted 
 by a squadron of Life Guards, and a good many outriders in. 
 scarlet liveries. They passed very slowly at a walk, and were 
 enthusiastically cheered the whole way from the South-Eastern 
 to the Great Western terminus. They went along Parliament 
 Street, Pall Mall, St. James's Street, Piccadilly, into Hyde Park, 
 round by the Serpentine and out by the Bayswater Gate, thou- 
 sands of people lining the road for the whole distance. On going 
 up St. James's Street, the Emperor was seen to point out to the 
 Empress the house where he formerly lived in King Street. This 
 was at once understood by the crowd, who cheered louder than 
 ever. On passing the Horse Guards, which were exactly opposite 
 our window, the Emperor stood up in his carriage and saluted the 
 colours, and was of course immensely cheered. His reception 
 was certainly a triumphant one. 
 
 April 17th. The Emperor's passage across the Channel 
 yesterday, though very smooth, was not a safe one, owing to the 
 dense fog, and they were near running on shore on the South Fore- 
 land. Captain Smithett fortunately piloted the * Pelican,' which 
 conveyed them, and got her safe alongside the new pier ; but the 
 French man-of-war, the * Austerlitz/ went ashore three miles east 
 of Dover. 
 
1855 QUEEN, EMPEROR AND EMPRESS. 359 
 
 It is reported that Russia refuses our propositions. 
 
 April 18th. "We are invited to Windsor, and, after dining at 
 my brother's, started for the Castle at nine. The special train 
 with the London party had not yet arrived. "We all waited in 
 the Waterloo Chamber, which was prepared for music. The 
 Queen, Emperor, and Empress, with the royal family, their suites, 
 and those invited to the banquet, entered soon after ten, and 
 seated themselves without speaking to anyone. As soon as the 
 music was over, the company passed before the Queen and 
 Emperor. Lady Malmesbury was afterwards presented by Ma- 
 dame Walewska to the Empress, who spoke to her very kindly. 
 The fatigue of the journey, and all she had gone through since, 
 made her look very delicate, and yesterday she was unable to 
 appear at dinner in St. George's Hall. 
 
 We left at twelve ; found the special train ready at the sta- 
 tion, and reached home at half-past one. The Queen had arranged 
 everything herself made out the lists of invitations for both 
 parties at Windsor and the concert for to-morrow at Bucking- 
 ham Palace. Very few, except Cabinet Ministers, are asked 
 twice. Even Lady Breadalbane, who is one of the Court, was 
 invited only for the evening party last night, and had to sleep at 
 a pastrycook's, there being no room at the Castle. 
 
 April 19th. We went at five o'clock to the French Embassy, 
 where Lady Malmesbury was presented to the Emperor ; the 
 Avhole Corps Diplomatique were there, and in the state of fuss 
 they always exhibit whenever any function is going on, each one 
 being apparently afraid of his precedence being usurped. The 
 Emperor and Empress received us very cordially. Both looked 
 tired with their day's work, having come in the morning from 
 Windsor, gone to the Mansion House, then to this reception 
 and to-night a great dinner at the Palace, and the Opera to go 
 through. 
 
 April 21st. We gave a dinner to Lady Ailesbury, Lady 
 Glengall, Lord and Lady Lyiidhurst, the Ossulstons, Lord Bath, 
 Lord Somerton, Lord A. FitzClarence, and Colonel Macdonald. 
 I suppose they were amused, as they stayed till twelve o'clock. 
 Lord Adolphus told me that the leave-taking this morning, when 
 the Emperor and Empress left, was most touching. Everybody 
 
360 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1855 
 
 cried, even the suite. The Queen's children began, as the Empress 
 had been very kind to them and they were sorry to lose her, and 
 this set off the Empress and maids of honour. 
 
 April 24:th. The Conferences at Vienna are broken off, and 
 Lord John Russell and M. Drouyn de 1'Huys have left on their 
 return home. It is surprising that the Russians should have 
 refused the last proposition, which was to exclude all ships of 
 war from the Black Sea ; as they might have built any number 
 of ships and collected a force there without anyone knowing it. 
 
 April 25th. Lord Palmerston announced last night that Lord 
 John had left Vienna, and that M. Drouyn de 1'Huys remained 
 there only for another day. I spoke in the House of Lords, dis- 
 approving the terms offered to Russia, and saying that I could 
 not believe the first alternative offered, that the ' Russian naval 
 force in the Black Sea should henceforth be limited by treaty,' 
 had proceeded from Lord Clarendon or Palmerston, but that I 
 imagined it to be an Austrian proposition. Lord Clarendon did 
 not deny this in his reply, or attempt in any way to vindicate the 
 proposals, but declined a discussion, as the only information the 
 Government possessed had come by telegraph ; but he added that 
 negotiations were adjourned sine die, which sounds like a complete 
 failure. 
 
 April 27th. Lord Derby returned to-day from Newmarket, 
 so full of his racing that he could think and talk of nothing 
 else, and knew nothing of the last week's events ; and when 
 I alluded to our propositions at the Vienna Conference having 
 been rejected by Russia, asked, ' What propositions ? ' evidently 
 not having looked at a newspaper for the whole week. Such is 
 the character of this remarkable man, who has the habit and 
 power of concentrating his w^hole mind upon the subject which 
 occupies him at the moment, and dismissing it totally, with 
 equal facility. He is very fond of using the expression * One 
 thing at a time.' 
 
 April 29th. The Emperor Louis Napoleon has been shot at 
 whilst riding in the Champs Elysees. The assassin approached 
 quite close to him, but missed, and was immediately arrested. 
 
 May 1st. I never recollect such a bitter 1st of May ; even 
 the sweeps could not stand it, 
 
18.55 ADDRESS TO THE QUEEN. 361 
 
 May 6th. Lord Seymour, who is on the Sebastopol Com- 
 mittee, says it will last another fortnight. They are to examine 
 Lord Hardinge and Mr. Sidney Herbert, and the Duke of New- 
 castle is going to the Crimea. I should have thought it the last 
 place he would have chosen for a tour of pleasure, considering 
 the obloquy with which his name is mentioned there. I went 
 this morning to Lord Derby's to meet Lord Ellenborough, and we 
 settled to make an attack upon the Government to-morrow week, 
 in the form of an Address to the Queen, praying her Majesty to 
 dismiss her Ministers in consequence of our want of confidence 
 in their policy. 
 
 I did not myself approve of it, for I think Lord Derby ought 
 either to have taken the Government last February, or, having 
 refused to do so, he ought not to try to turn out the present one, 
 which, under great difficulties, has not held office long enough 
 to justify a judgment being passed upon their conduct of the war. 
 
 May 8tk. Count Walewski is made Minister for Foreign 
 Affairs, and M. de Persigny comes to England as Ambassador. 
 
 May \\th. It has been decided to give Madame Walewska 
 a bracelet, and the four following ladies are to choose it : Shel- 
 burne, Mandeville, Sydney, and Malmesbury. Norman Mac- 
 clonald is to manage the whole thing. He was rather offended at 
 my saying that he was to be ' foreman of a jury of matrons.' 
 
 May I2tk. Lord Palmerstoii has tried to parry Lord Ellen- 
 borough's motion in the House of Lords by promising reforms in 
 the Ordnance, Commissariat, and Medical departments of the 
 army. A sham attack on the Government by Major Reed was 
 made, to enable him to do so ; but Disraeli's clever reply showed 
 them both up. At the same time, I think that the result of his 
 speech will be to induce all connected with the army to vote 
 against Lord Ellenborough, as they will be pleased at Lord 
 Palmerston's statement, that for the patronage of the army to be 
 dispensed by a member of the Government of the day would be 
 an arrangement open to serious objections. 
 
 A subscription to Madame Walewska's bracelet has raised a 
 sum of 13(M., which is sufficient to get a tolerably handsome one ; 
 and the committee meets to-morrow at Lansdowiie House to 
 choose one from Emanuel's, 
 
362 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18.35 
 
 I went to the House of Lords. The Peeresses' Gallery was 
 quite full. Before the debate began every seat was taken by 
 ladies. Lord Ellenborough's speech was below the expectation, 
 and fell flat. Lord Panmure spoke well, but did not answer a 
 single point of Lord Ellenborough's speech. Lord Granville's 
 contained little worthy of notice, except the assertion that the 
 Howards had such wonderful faculties of increase that they were 
 as numerous as the Smiths. Lord Elgin's was remarkable for its 
 spitefulness, and Lord Winchilsea's for its injudiciousness. Lord 
 Derby's was excellent. But throughout the whole debate it 
 struck me that we had no case, and that the attack was not on 
 the present Government but on the last. We were beaten by a 
 majority of 110. The Government had 115 present and 66 
 proxies ; we 71 present and no proxies, our men not having 
 understood that the Government meant to call them. The num- 
 ber of ladies who attended the debate created great displeasure 
 among the Peers. Lord Ellenborough said it had made him 
 nervous ; and Lord Lyndhurst positively refused to speak, saying 
 that the House looked like a casino and not like a place where 
 business is transacted. Lord Redesdale was also very angry, as 
 the ladies overflowed from the gallery into the House ; this 
 invasion will, I fear, lead to more stringent and less agreeable 
 arrangements in future. We went to Madame Walewska's fare- 
 well party. 
 
 May ].&tk. We went to see the presentation of the medals to 
 the officers and men who have served in the Crimea and are 
 invalided or wounded, Lord Panmure sent us tickets for the 
 Ministers' stand. The weather was beautiful. It was really a 
 most glorious and touching sight. The Queen arrived exactly at 
 eleven, and took her place on a platform raised three steps, in the 
 centre of the Parade ; and the officers and soldiers, headed by the 
 Duke of Cambridge, Lords Lucan and Cardigan, passed in single 
 file, each receiving a medal from her own hands as he went by. I 
 never saw finer looking men, which was the more remarkable as 
 they were not picked men. Many had lost an arm, and some 
 were still lame from their wounds. I now understand how seven 
 or eight thousand of these men could resist the whole Russian 
 army at Inkerman. Sir Thomas Troubridge was drawn past the 
 
1855 CONFERENCES AT VIENNA CLOSED. 363 
 
 Queen in a Bath-chair, having lost both his feet ; and I hear that 
 she appointed him her aide-de-camp herself, as she gave him the 
 medal. 
 
 After the ceremony, Lady Seymour, whom I met, told me that 
 Mrs. Norton, talking about it to Lord Panmure, asked ' Was the 
 Queen touched 1 ' ' Bless my soul, no ! ' was the reply. { She had 
 a brass railing before her, and no one could touch her.' Mrs. 
 Norton then said, ' I mean, was she moved ?' ' Moved ! ' answered 
 Lord Panmure, ' she had no occasion to move ! ' Mrs. Norton 
 then gave it up in despair. 
 
 May 2Qth. The Emperor Napoleon has superseded General 
 Canrobert, and appointed General Pelissier as Commander-in- 
 Chief. He has begun well by storming the entrenched Russian 
 camp near the Quarantine Bastion. 
 
 May 27th. Went to Heron Court, Parliament having ad- 
 journed to June 4. 
 
 May 29th, Heron Court. Kertch was taken on May 24, by 
 General Sir George Brown. The Russians destroyed three 
 steamers, thirty transports, and 620,000 sacks of grain. We 
 took thirty transports with their cargoes, and the whole loss of 
 the Russians is calculated at a million sacks of corn, which is 
 almost irreparable to them, as we possess the undisputed com- 
 mand of the Sea of Azof and of the mouths of the Don, down 
 which the greatest part of the produce of the interior is carried. 
 
 June Qth. Lords Clarendon and Palmerston have announced 
 that the Conferences at Vienna are closed. 
 
 June 8th. I went to the annual Eton dinner, being chair- 
 man. 
 
 June $th. Sir Francis Baring's motion, assuring the Queen of 
 the support of Parliament during the war, was carried unanimously. 
 In the debate, Lord Palmerston did not spare Gladstone, Sidney 
 Herbert, and Sir James Graham, and said that when in the Cabinet 
 they had approved of the very conditions of peace which they now 
 denounced namely, the * limitation of the Russian fleet in the 
 Black Sea.' To this they made no answer. 
 
 June \2th. The London bank of Paul and Co. has failed, and 
 many people in society have lost large sums. 
 
 June \3tli. Our losses in the attack upon the Gravel Pits at 
 
364 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1855 
 
 Sebastopol, June 7, are very severe eleven officers killed and 
 forty wounded, 730 men killed and wounded. 
 
 June 15th. We dined with the Elys. Young Lady Ely was 
 sent for unexpectedly by the Queen, so the Dowager did the 
 honours. The party consisted of the Derbys, Clarendons, Lon- 
 desboroughs, Lyndhursts, Persigny, and Colonel Forester. Lord 
 Clarendon and Lord Derby chaffed each other all through dinner, 
 which made it very lively for everybody except poor Persigny, 
 who does not understand English. 
 
 June 16th. A most atrocious act has been committed by the 
 Russians at Hango, in the Baltic. A boat from her Majesty's 
 ship ' Cossack,' with three officers and twelve men, landed under a 
 flag of truce with some Russian prisoners. The Russians fired 
 upon them, killing all except one man, their own countrymen in- 
 cluded. This is of a piece with their shooting their wounded 
 enemies, which many did at Inkerman. 
 
 June 19th. Mr. Layard's motion on administrative reform 
 was rejected last night by a majority of 313. Lord Palmerston 
 adopted Sir Edward Lytton's amendment, by which he probably 
 saved the Government from defeat. Sir Charles Wood gave an 
 account in the House of Commons of the massacre of the ' Cossack's ' 
 boat's crew by the Russians. Two officers and fourteen men landed 
 at Hango with seven Finnish prisoners ; the flag of truce was 
 hoisted and must have been visible long before the boat reached 
 shore, but the Russians allowed her to approach without any 
 warning, and the officers landed with the flag and the prisoners. 
 The Russians, who were concealed behind rocks, suddenly came 
 out, to the number of three or four hundred, and surrounded our 
 men. The officer who commanded them spoke in English, and in 
 reply to Lieutenant Geneste, said he did not care for the flag of 
 truce, and immediately gave orders for his men to fire, which they 
 did, killing with the first volley our two officers and the seven 
 prisoners. They then fired into the boat, killing everybody except 
 two men, one of whom shammed dead and by that means escaped 
 to tell the tale. The other, who was slightly wounded, they 
 dragged out and bayonetted on the pier. The commander of the 
 ' Cossack,' finding the cutter did not return, sent the gig in search 
 of her, and found her moored close to the jetty with some dead 
 
1855 SAD NEWS F&OM T&E CRtMEA, 
 
 bodies in her, and some people on shore making signs to them to 
 land. Had they done so they would have shared the same fate 
 as their comrades. 
 
 June 2Qth. The report of the Sebastopol Committee was 
 brought up and read in the House of Commons. It is in some 
 respects very fair, though evidently making the best of the case for 
 the late Government. Severe censure is passed upon Lord Raglan, 
 for continuing Mr. Ward in his office of purveyor for the hospitals 
 at Scutari after he had been pronounced unfit for his post. This 
 is very unfair, when many others in responsible situations have 
 been left in the exercise of their duties without any such censure 
 being passed upon those who ought to have dismissed them and 
 did not do so. 
 
 June 22nd. Very bad news from the Crimea. The French 
 and English attacked the Malakoff Tower and the E/edan on the 
 18th, and were repulsed with great loss. No particulars are yet 
 known. The Russian account of the Hango massacre confirms 
 ours in some degree, saying that the officers are alive, though 
 wounded and prisoners. 
 
 June 25th. A list is published of the officers killed on June 
 18, or who died of their wounds. It amounts to nineteen names. 
 The principal officers killed are General Sir John Campbell ; 
 Colonel Yea, 7th Regiment ; Colonel Shadforth, 57th. Among 
 the captains is Lord Somerton's brother, Captain Agar. It ap- 
 pears that Strahan and Paul's bank has been insolvent for the 
 last six years, that they have been trading upon the capital of 
 their customers, and kept up appearances so well that no suspicion 
 was entertained of the state of their affairs, and when the crash 
 came it took everybody by surprise and has ruined hundreds. I 
 hear that Mrs. Gore has lost 20,000/., but I hope the rumour is 
 untrue, for she is a very generous woman. 
 
 June 26th. It was almost decided at a meeting last Satur- 
 day at Disraeli's to support Mr. Roebuck's motion censuring 
 the late Government. Disraeli, of course, takes this view ; and 
 Sir John Pakington, though not for it himself, says that the great 
 majority of the party are so. It was decided to consult Lord 
 Derby. 
 
 June 29th. Sickness in the army is increasing. Generals 
 
366 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTEK. 
 
 Pennefather, Codrington, and Brown are all ill ; and Lord Raglan, 
 himself has been attacked by cholera. 
 
 June 30th. The evening papers announce the sad news of the 
 death of Lord Raglan, which took place on the 28th ; the failure 
 of the attack on the Malakoff had such an effect upon him that 
 it increased his malady, and certainly contributed to its fatal issue. 
 He was unconscious for the last four hours. I knew him well, and 
 cannot recollect a finer character. He was the Duke's right-hand 
 man through the Peninsular war, and was greatly esteemed by him. 
 Handsome and high-bred in person, and charming in society, he 
 was one of the most popular of its members. He was remarkable 
 for his coolness under fire, and St. Arnaud, in his famous despatch 
 after the battle of the Alma, says of him : * II avait toujours ce 
 meme calme qui ne le quitte jamais.' I never saw anything like 
 the grief and consternation amongst military men. 
 
 July 1st. General Simpson is appointed in Lord Raglan's 
 place. He served in the Peninsula and in India ; but he in- 
 spires no confidence, as he is old and broken. 
 
 July 7th, Heron Court. Lord John Russell made a curious 
 statement in the House of Commons, saying plainly that his 
 opinions were quite at variance with those of the rest of the 
 Cabinet respecting the war, and yet he keeps his place. He 
 seems to be conducting himself in the same manner he did last 
 Christmas ; for now that he has returned from Vienna, and 
 found the Government would not support his views, he evidently 
 gave way, as he said nothing in Parliament to induce anyone 
 to believe that his opinions respecting the war were not in 
 accordance with theirs, and apparently acted in perfect harmony 
 with his colleagues. At that time our prospects in the Crimea 
 were favourable, and the Government and the war popular. 
 Now, we have had a reverse ; the Government is in some degree 
 shaken by it, and he chooses this moment to make an explana- 
 tion respecting the Vienna Conference, and the part he took in 
 favour of peace a statement which must damage the Govern- 
 ment in public opinion, by showing that upon such an important 
 question as peace or war the Cabinet is not united. His object 
 is of course perfectly clear namely, to turn them out and come 
 in himself as a peace Minister. All parties are abusing him at 
 
186-5 A MOST RUDE AND ABUSIVE LETTER. 367 
 
 the clubs for his speech, the object of which is evident to 
 everybody. 
 
 July I2tk. Lord Derby, before he left London, settled with 
 Disraeli, without any communication with the rest of his party, 
 to turn out the Government. Many of them would have 
 disapproved of it under present circumstances. Sir Edward 
 Lyttoii's motion is to be against Lord John Russell, and is 
 fixed for next Monday. 
 
 After the way in which he has shown himself up, declaring 
 first for war, then for peace, then again for war, our party is 
 forced to bring forward a motion of censure on him and want 
 of confidence in him, or else they must abdicate their position. 
 If the Government chooses to sacrifice Lord John, they may 
 retain office, but if they take the high line and support him, 
 and Sir Edward Lytton carries his motion, they must of course 
 resign ; arid then there is no one left but Lord Derby for Prime 
 Minister. There is, however, little doubt that Lord Palmerston 
 has secured the Irish Brigade by promising to vote for the 
 fourteenth clause of the Tenants' Bights Bill (which was re- 
 jected by the House of Commons) if anyone proposes its 
 reinsertion. A deputation waited upon him to ask him to do 
 so. Mr. Malins introduced the subject on Friday in the House. 
 Lord Palmerston could not deny the fact of a deputation having 
 waited upon him, and of his having promised them his vote, 
 but he of course denied having received any promise from 
 them in return, and refused even to mention their names. The 
 feeling of the House was strongly against his explanation. 
 Lord Hardinge told me that Lord Panmure, soon after he took 
 office as War Minister, wrote the most rude and abusive letter 
 to Lord Raglan. He showed a copy of it to the Cabinet and 
 to Lord Hardinge, who told him he had never seen such a 
 letter written to an officer of Lord Raglan's rank ; indeed, that 
 it was quite unfit to be sent to any officer in her Majesty's 
 service. Lord Panmure wanted him to keep a copy at the 
 Horse Guards, but Lord Hardinge refused, and added, that he 
 would not even have it said that he had ever put such a letter 
 in his pocket. Lord Raglan never sent any reply. The Duke 
 of Newcastle had also written him a very sharp reprimand ; and 
 
368 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MlNiSTER. 
 
 when the Duke left office and was preparing to go to the Crimea, 
 he wrote Lord Raglan an apology, saying he hoped he would 
 forgive the letter which he had previously written, as it had not 
 been dictated by any hostile feeling, but entirely from a sense 
 of the duties of his position. Lord Raglan returned no answer, 
 but it is well known that he felt deeply the way in which he 
 was treated by the Government and the Press, and nothing 
 but the highest possible sense of duty could have induced him 
 to submit to all these insults and injuries, remain in command 
 of the army, share their sufferings, and finally die at his post 
 without a word of complaint or a murmur ever having escaped 
 his lips. 
 
 July I4tth. Lord John Russell sent his resignation to the 
 Queen yesterday, several members of the Government (though 
 not in the Cabinet) having announced that they could not vote 
 against Sir Edward Lytton's motion. Lord Palinerston probably 
 got them to make this declaration to force Lord John to resign, 
 and also to show how determined the Government is on the war 
 question. 
 
 J^dy \lth. Sir E. Lytton, after making a long and clever 
 speech, withdrew his motion in consequence of Lord John's 
 resignation. Lord Palinerston was weaker than usual. Disraeli 
 spoke well, and cut him up unmercifully, but in a gentlemanlike 
 manner. Roebuck made a violent speech against the Govern- 
 ment, but, of course, as the motion was withdrawn, all this is 
 mere talk without any result for the present. It will probably 
 have one in the future and upset the Government, unless they 
 have the good fortune to obtain some great military success. 
 This debate has shown the country that some members of the 
 Government were ready to accept the Austrian proposition for 
 peace, brought back from Vienna by Lord John Russell, had not 
 the French Emperor objected. And this opposition of Louis 
 Napoleon's is the ' unforeseen circumstance ' so often alluded to 
 in the course of the debate. Disraeli taxed them openly with 
 the intention of making peace, and asserted that their not doing 
 so was in consequence of the Emperor's disagreement, which 
 was clearly proved by his recall of his Ambassador, M. Drouyn 
 de THuys, from Vienna, Neither Lord Palmerston nor any 
 
1855 RUSSIANS DEFEATED ON THE TCHERNAYA. 369 
 
 of his colleagues said one word in contradiction of this state- 
 ment. 
 
 July 20th. Mr. Roebuck's motion of censure has been 
 negatived by 289 to 182. 
 
 July 22nd. Government have only carried the Turkish loan 
 by a majority of three, and six Derbyites voted with them. It 
 appears to me a great mistake to entrust five millions to the 
 disposal of a Pasha for the payment of the Turkish troops, as it 
 is pretty certain that the soldiers will see little of it. 
 
 August 9th. Left London, via Glasgow, for Achnacarry. 
 From Glasgow we took the ' lona ' steamer, the largest I have 
 yet seen on this line, to Corpac. It was such a dark night that 
 the servant was obliged to hold up the lantern the whole way 
 before the horses. Just after we had passed Gierlochy, we were 
 stopped by my keeper, who made us all get out, as a bridge 
 had fallen in ; without him we should infallibly have gone 
 over into a very deep burn. My servants, too, had a very 
 dangerous journey by sea, their steamer having run aground 
 between Aberdeen and Inverness ; they saved their lives, but 
 lost all their luggage and some of ours. 
 
 August 2lst, Achnacarry. News has arrived of a battle 
 having been fought on the 16th, on the Tchernaya, between the 
 Russians and the French and Sardinians, which ended in the 
 total defeat of the former. The party here consists of Lord 
 Hardwicke and his daughters, Mr. Barrington, 1 Lord Ranelagh, 
 and Colonel Knox. 
 
 Lady Mary Yorke is in the height of her beauty. 
 
 September \\ili. News has arrived, with a list of the officers 
 killed and wounded in the assault on Sebastopol on September 8, 
 amounting to near 150, but without any particulars. 
 
 September 17th. We had an extraordinary day's sport at 
 Achnacarry, by driving Gerraran Wood, killing six stags. Mr. 
 Barrington shot three, I two, and Colonel Knox one. Two of 
 them took to the loch, and were chased by the boat. A most 
 exciting day's sport, which the ladies witnessed. 
 
 September 24cth. General' Simpson's despatch of the 9th is 
 published, and though he evidently does his best to soften the 
 
 1 Xow Viscount Barrington. 
 
 B B 
 
370 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1855 
 
 truth, there is no concealing the fact that our troops made a 
 signal failure in storming the Redan on the 8th. It is evident 
 that our bombardment was very weak, whilst that of the French 
 was tremendous. Our arrangements were defective, and great 
 confusion prevailed. Pelissier's and Kiel's despatches do full 
 justice to the bravery of our troops, who kept the Redan for 
 nearly two hours, and were only forced to retreat from its being 
 quite open at the back, which enabled the Russians to bring 
 large bodies of men up in succession. A long list of our killed 
 and wounded, which exceeds that of Inkerman, shows that they 
 behaved most gallantly. The French themselves admit that 
 our task was the most difficult one, as we had 200 yards of 
 open ground to cross before we could reach the Redan. The 
 Malakoff, which Pelissier took, was within twenty yards of the 
 assaulting party, composed of 10,000 men with 8,000 in reserve, 
 whilst ours were less than half that number. 
 
 October 17 'th. The Russians have had a severe defeat at 
 Kars. They attempted to storm the town, but were repulsed, 
 with the loss of 4,000 men, by General Williams and the Hun- 
 garian Klapka and Captain Teesdale. 
 
 Lord Malmeslury to Lord Stanley. 
 
 Aclmacarry : October 21, 1855. 
 
 My dear Stanley, As the question of making peace or going on 
 with the war is agitating the public mind, I venture to give you mine 
 on the subject. 
 
 Having all my life been told and felt that Eussia intended to conquer 
 Turkey and the Baltic kingdoms some day or other, I was not surprised 
 at Mertschikoff's mission and the subsequent invasion of Turkey on a 
 frivolous pretext. Having the help of France, I thought the time come 
 when we could successfully save Turkey from this invasion, and perhaps 
 prevent Russia from attempting, for many years to come, these attacks, 
 which she has made periodically, and invariably to her benefit, four or 
 five times during this century. We have of course succeeded in my 
 first object, but not yet in my second. This latter security cannot, I 
 think, be really obtained, unless you divest Russia of the Crimea and 
 Bessarabia, and make the Black Sea a peaceful lake like our North 
 American ones. I don't think the Sardinian idea ' absurd.' Whoever 
 has the Crimea must be assisted in holding it by a guarantee of the 
 other Powers, just as Belgium is now protected from France and 
 
1855 WHO SHOULD HOLD THE CRIMEA. 37 1 
 
 Holland ; and there is this advantage; that the Sardinians would more 
 than any people civilise and make the Crimea a commercial land. 
 They would excite less hatred in Eussia than the Turks, and less 
 jealousy among us than Austria, which, by the way, I consider out of 
 the question. The Genoese once held a good part of the Crimea. The 
 objection I see to this is that the Straits might be closed to Sardinia by 
 the Turk himself. On the whole, therefore, it might be better to give 
 it to the Sultan under guarantee, and when he had this Tartar province 
 proclaim the independence of the Principalities. It is, however, rather 
 absurd disposing of the Crimea, which we have not yet conquered ; and 
 it is for this reason that I cannot think of a peace at this moment. 
 With half Sebastopol in our hands, but which we dare neither leave 
 nor live in, with a large army in our front undefeated, I do not under- 
 stand how a country like England (leave alone France) could be the 
 first to propose a peace to Eussia. 
 
 I give you my worthless opinion as if I were the independent Min- 
 ister of an absolute sovereign, untrammelled by Parliaments or parties ; 
 and this makes a great difference, because in England there is always 
 a party ready to get into office upon the inevitable unpopularity which 
 war, however just and right, must bring at last. This unavoidable 
 weariness will come some day. I doubt, however, if it be arrived yet. 
 Doubtless, Disraeli and Walpole, both men averse by their physical bias 
 to aught like war, are against proceeding with this one. Then you 
 have pseudo-Eussians, like Granby and Claud Hamilton but I can't 
 see any reaction. The Conservative party in the country are for it, 
 and all the press, except ' The Press.' But ' The Press ' only carps and 
 asks questions, and proposes no solution. Nor do I think you can have 
 one such as I have described, ensuring us from Eusso-Turkish expedi- 
 tions, until you have taken from her the Crimea and Bessarabia. 
 
 Depend upon it Napoleon had projects about Poland, but I think 
 they have faded away. What I fear is that, the war over, he cannot 
 withdraw his armies without having something material to show his 
 countrymen. Whether he might take Candia or Cyprus, as a reward 
 for having restored the Crimea to the Turk and set him 011 his legs, I 
 don't know, but I can't see who would or could prevent him. Perhaps 
 it would not much signify to us, as we hold our own at sea. When 
 the time arrives at which we may reasonably think that Eussia's lower 
 limbs are completely crippled, it may require a great deal of coin-age 
 to persuade Napoleon that enough has been done ; but my belief is that 
 he would not like to reduce Eussia too low. 
 
 If we had had a really wise Minister at the beginning of the war, 
 ho would have gladly taken advantage of N.apolcon's wish to -take- all 
 
 B B 2 
 
372 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1855 
 
 the land work himself and give us all the water work. We should 
 then have strengthened our fleets, and employed thousands of sailors, 
 who must always be our military counterpoise to the system of Conti- 
 nental conscript hosts. Eussia's navy would have been half destroyed 
 as now, and France's not so materially increased and improved ; and 
 whilst we were following an effective policy against Russian aggression, 
 we should have been establishing for future days our maritime supre- 
 macy over every one. As it is, we have shown the world that what 
 Napier says is true ' We are a warlike, but not a military people.' 
 
 I do not think the time come for peace, or that we could obtain a 
 solid one. 
 
 I do not think that this country believes that the time has arrived. 
 I am convinced that our party would make a most false and unpopular 
 move if, in a November Parliament, they followed Gladstone's line. 
 
 Yours, &c., 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 October 2&h. Left Achnacarry for Chillingham. 
 
 November IQth. The Duke of Newcastle has been telegraphed 
 for from the Crimea, to offer him the Colonial Department, Lord 
 Stanley having refused it. This has placed the Government in 
 difficulties, as they did not expect it. 
 
 November \Wi. I went to Paris with George Harris. I find 
 the French are getting heartily sick of the war ; their finances are 
 in a very bad state. Madame Walewska is enceinte. 
 
 November 23rd, Paris. I dined at the Tuileries. The Em- 
 peror was very friendly, and talked to me full an hour ; the 
 Empress looking very handsome, and all appearances concealed 
 by the large dresses now worn. 
 
 November 2Sth. The King of Sardinia, who is here, is as vulgar 
 and coarse as possible. t He said to the Empress : ' On me dit que 
 les danseuses frangaises ne portent pas de calegons. Si c'est 
 comme cela, ce sera pour moi le paradis terrestre.' 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord M. 
 
 Hughenden : November 30, 1855. 
 
 My dear M., It is very provoking to have missed you, and only by 
 an hour ! 
 
 It seems to me that a party that has shrunk from the responsibility 
 
18.55 THE KING OF SARDINIA. 373 
 
 of conducting a war would never be able to carry on an opposition 
 against a Minister for having concluded an unsatisfactory peace, how- 
 ever bad the terms. 
 
 We are off the rail of politics, and must continue so as long as the 
 war lasts ; and the only thing that can ever give us a chance is that 
 the war should finish, and on the terms which may be now practicable. 
 Then we shall, at least, revert to the position we occupied before the 
 fatal refusal to take the reins last February, which lost us the heart 
 and respect of all classes. 
 
 As a general rule, silence and inactivity should be our tactics ; but 
 anything which indicates a desire to conclude the war on honourable 
 terms in this country assists the Emperor and distracts and enfeebles 
 Palmerston, who cares for nothing but his immediate career. 
 
 I should like very much to know, whether the opinion you have 
 formed as to the probable result of the negotiations is shared by 
 Walewski and Co. Send me a line if you can. Yours ever, 
 
 D. 
 
 December 5th. I returned to London. I was presented to the 
 King of Sardinia by Prince Albert, who told him that I was an 
 'ancien Ministre des Affaires Etrangeres.' 'Aquelle epoque?' 
 answered the King. I said, 'In 1852, under Lord Derby's Go- 
 vernment.' 
 
 The King replied: 'Que faites-vous a present?' To which 
 the Prince said : * II fait de TOpposition, car il faut toujours faire 
 quelque chose dans ce pays.' ' Ah,' replied the King, ' done, vous 
 etes oppose a moii voyage en Angleterre, et a moil alliance ? ' To 
 Lord Clarendon, whom the Prince presented as the present Min- 
 ister for Foreign Affairs, his Majesty said, ' J'ai entendu parler 
 de vous;' adding, ' C'est fini' which, in plain English, means 'Be 
 off, I've nothing more to say.' 
 
 Mr. Sidney Herbert to Lord M. 
 
 Wilton : December 8, 1855. 
 
 My dear Fitz, A thousand thanks for your letter. I have no doubt 
 you are right as to the facts of the case of the French line-of-battle ships 
 passing the Castles ; indeed you are sure to be so as having been cog- 
 nisant of them, which I was not. I alluded to it only as, if true (which 
 you show it is not), being one of the many evidences of the disposition 
 of France to make political capital in the East by establishing French 
 
374 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1855 
 
 influence, and possibly acquiring rights if not territory. What with the 
 campaigns of Napoleon in Egypt, the capitulations of Francis I., and 
 even old St. Louis and Tunis, the French have a traditional field for 
 ambition in the East. 
 
 But they have not the same interests in the East that Russia has, 
 and we have, therefore, far less to apprehend in that qiiarter from her 
 than from Russia. 
 
 Every country situated as Russia is will encroach on its neighbours 
 if not prevented. Her relations with Circassia, Georgia, Persia, are 
 the same as ours with Rangoon, Scinde, the Sikhs, and Oude. The 
 stronger and more civilised necessarily absorb the weaker and more 
 barbarous ; but Russia, as compared with us, has this to her disad- 
 vantage, that one of those provinces, though barbarous and Asiatic in 
 religion and habits, is partly European in geography, and we in 
 Europe won't allow the process of absorption to go on. The public 
 here are right in thinking of Russian aggression, but wrong in attri- 
 buting it to a wonderful foresight, skill, and design. The Russians 
 are just as great fools as other people ; but they encroach as we 
 encroach in India, Africa, and everywhere because we can't help 
 it. We, however, have an interest in preventing her, and by a 
 combination of circumstances we have the power. We have rightly 
 and justly availed ourselves of it, and we may flatter ourselves that 
 we have, for a generation at least, put a check upon it ; more than that 
 w r e can't say. 
 
 Now, as you say, we must not form our opinions from an incorrect 
 view of facts. So I must correct one opinion of yours namely, that 
 I hold that a Russian is better for us than a French alliance ; and that 
 it arises from my having a natural bias in favour of Russia. Now I 
 have no bias in favour of Russia, but the contrary, arising from the 
 natural bias of my mind in favour of a liberal policy. I don't 
 mean I am in favour of intervention to set up Brummagem 
 constitutions, such as Palmerstoii and John Russell talk about 
 but are too wise to act tfpon ; but I mean that the Russian system and 
 politics are the opposite of ours, and do by their intervention arrest 
 the progress of good government in Europe. Russia is not in these 
 days a possible ally for us, in the sense in which you use the word 
 when talking of a French alliance. 
 
 I, from my Russian connection, have heard and known more of 
 their interior and exterior policy than the generality of people here. 
 I recollect your grandfather's letters well, and I believe the old Duke 
 and Aberdeen were right in 1827-8 (I am not sure of the date), when 
 they would have resisted the march on Adrianople, but Palmerston 
 
185.3 FALL OF KAKS. 375 
 
 and the Whigs, who were then still full of Phil-Hellenism, and were 
 intriguing with the Princess Lieven to turn the Duke out, succeeded 
 in preventing any move in that direction. Palmerston, I think, called 
 it Austro-Turco barbarism. 
 
 Had I held their views I could not have been a member of Lord 
 Aberdeen's Government, nor advocated in the Cabinet the cementing 
 in every way the French Alliance and striking the blow at Eussia. 
 
 I felt that it must come sooner or later, and that no such opportunity 
 would probably ever again recur. 
 
 France is the obvious ally for England, for many reasons. I do 
 not know that I can select a better one from among them than that 
 she is the only country who, if on bad terms, can injure us. There is 
 no other nation we need fear. But there are other and less selfish 
 reasons, which I need not enumerate to you. 
 
 My only fear is lest the too long continuance of a state of things 
 bringing us into daily communication, and requiring necessarily great 
 mutual forbearance and much give-and-take, should end in jealousy or 
 coolness. I think it of paramount importance to England, with a 
 view to the future, to end the war before any one of the Allies is tired 
 of it, and before France begins to ask whether she is making sacri- 
 fices for her own honour or at our instance. I want to secure all that 
 we have got, and all we have gained, and to lose none of the ulterior 
 advantages if possible. 
 
 Now, with this full explanation, I do not think there is much 
 difference between us. I feel some remorse at the length of the letter, 
 but console myself by reflecting that you brought it on your own head. 
 
 Believe me, &c. 
 
 SIDNEY HERBERT. 
 
 December 17th. The news of the fall of Kars is confirmed. 
 General Williams, his staff, nine pashas, and the whole garrison 
 are prisoners of war. They were obliged to surrender from 
 starvation, but not until they had eaten their horses and even 
 the cats and clogs in the town. 
 
 December 2Sth. A triumphal reception was given at Christ- 
 church to Admiral Sir Edmund Lyons, who, it appears, was 
 born there. 
 
376 MEMOIES OF AS EX-MINISTEE. 1856 
 
 I8 5 6 
 
 January I&th, 1856. The Russians have accepted the Aus- 
 trian ultimatum without reservation, which Lord Palmerston 
 announced at Lady E. Hay's wedding. 
 
 From Lord Derby to Lord M. (on the Life Peerages Question). 
 
 Knowsley : January 19, 1856. 
 
 The Peerage is a very grave constitutional question ; and I am not 
 at all surprised to learn from what quarter the coup has proceeded. 
 I am engaged in examining the case. In spite of Lord Coke's dictum, 
 the legality is very doubtful ; and the exercise of a prerogative which 
 has been dormant for 300 years, and that without the slightest neces- 
 sity, cannot be passed over without notice. My present idea is that, 
 even before the Speech is read, we should give notice of moving for 
 the Letters Patent ; that in moving for them we should challenge the 
 Government to justify their excuse, and then be guided by their tone 
 and the feeling of the House as to a subsequent address to the Crown. 
 We must discuss this matter when we meet ; and I propose to have a 
 small meeting of members of both Houses at my house at 2 P.M. on 
 the Wednesday, which I hope you will be able to attend. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 The Earl of Malmesbury 
 
 From Lord St. Leonards to Lord M. (on the Life Peerages 
 Question}. 
 
 Carlton Club : January 21, 185G. 
 
 My dear Lord, I was unluckily obliged to come to town this wet 
 day. 
 
 You might be sure that the Government have a good deal to say 
 upon the question of legality, and Parke himself is no doubt satisfied 
 on that head. But I agree with you, the policy of this step, if legal, 
 is one that must be discussed in what shape Lord Derby will, I 
 suppose, decide. Probably a committee might be appointed, in the 
 first instance, although we all know pretty well what they are. 
 I hope to be at Lord Derby's dinner. 
 
 Our friends the French will get into a scrape if this finessing should 
 lead to any real difficulty, I always thought that they would look to 
 indemnity l in some shape. Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 ST. LEONARDS. 
 1 Savoy. 
 
1856 ARE LIFE PEERAGES LEGAL? 377 
 
 February \2th. The Government have not given way on the 
 question of the Life Peerage, and Lord Lyndhurst has announced 
 that he will move to-day, ' That the House resolve itself into a 
 Committee of Privilege.' 
 
 February 16th. Lord and Lady Clarendon leave London 
 to-day for the Paris Conference. Briinnow affects the greatest 
 ignorance of the Czar's intentions, saying that Orloff * is the only 
 man who knows what they are. 
 
 February l$th. The further consideration of the Wensleydale 
 Life Peerage is put off until the 22nd, to give Lords Lyndhurst, 
 Brougham, and Campbell time for further investigations as to 
 precedents ; but the result at present is that Lord Wensleydale 
 has no right to his seat in the House of Lords. 
 
 February 23rd. Yesterday, in the House of Lords, Lord 
 Glenelg moved, ' That the following questions be referred to the 
 Judges : " Is it in the power of the Crown to create by patent 
 the dignity of a Baron of the United Kingdom for life ? and 
 what privileges does such a grant confer 1 " The House divided. 
 Majority against the motion, 31. The House then resolved itself 
 into a Committee of Privileges, and Lord Lyndhurst moved his 
 resolution embodying the report of the Committee, which denies 
 the validity of the patent of Lord "Wensleydale, so far as it gives 
 him the right to sit and vote in Parliament. 
 
 February 24:th. The Comtesse de la Force has been murdered 
 in her house in the Champs Elysees by her groom, a German. 
 
 February 27th. Lord Derby dined with the Queen 011 Satur- 
 day, and both her Majesty and the Prince told him they had 
 no idea the Peerage question would have been taken up as it has 
 been, or they would not have grant sd it. 
 
 March 5th. The Conference is proceeding at Paris. Louis 
 Napoleon's speech in opening the Legislative Assembly was most 
 cordial towards England, and does not leave the slightest hope 
 to Austria and Russia of their succeeding in sowing dissension 
 between us and France. He only professed himself quite ready 
 to continue the war if the negotiations failed. 
 
 March 7th. Sir William Clay's bill for the abolition of Church 
 rates passed the House of Commons by a majority of 44, Lord 
 Palmerstoii and the whole Government voting for it. 
 1 The Russian plenipotentiary at the Conference. 
 
378 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1856 
 
 March 8th. The Opera House at Covent Garden has been 
 burnt down by the chandelier being over-heated during the monster 
 benefit of the conjurer Anderson, to whom the theatre had been 
 let for two months. This imitation of American vulgarity ended 
 by a masked ball of the lowest kind, tickets being one shilling. 
 Mr. Gye, the manager, who was at Paris, had refused to allow 
 the masquerade. The loss will not be covered by 300,000?. 
 
 March 10th. I got a letter from M. de Persigny, announcing 
 that the Empress of the French was safely confined of a son. 
 The Emperor, who never left the room, was worked up into such 
 a nervous state that for fifteen hours he cried and sobbed without 
 ceasing ; and when the child was born he was so overpowered 
 with joy that he rushed into the next room and embraced the five 
 first persons he met. Then recollecting that his behaviour was 
 not dignified, he said, ' Je ne peux pas vous embrasser tous.' 
 
 March 1$th. Madame de Persigny called to wish us good- 
 bye, and told us the following riddle : ' Pourquoi 1'Empereur est- 
 il change pour le mieux depuis la naissance de son fils ? ' ' Parce 
 qu'il a un nouveau-ne (nez).' 
 
 March 30th. The signing of the Treaty of Peace with Russia 
 was announced by the firing of cannon from the Tower and the 
 Horse Guards. Numbers collected in the streets, but no enthu- 
 siasm was shown. 
 
 April 5th. Dined with the Palmerstons. He says the French 
 call the medal we have given them ' La medaille de sauvetage.' 
 They want another lesson from us. 
 
 There is a new play come out in Paris, the principal characters 
 being Adam, Eve, and the serpent. It is quite a new version 
 the serpent succeeds in making himself agreeable to Eve, and 
 poor Adam is made to look very foolish. 
 
 April Wth. I got a letter from Lord Clarendon, saying that 
 he could not be present ' for my amiable invitation to Kars ' (I 
 had given notice of a motion with respect to the fate of that 
 fortress), but went on to say that he would be back by the end 
 of next week, and that the Treaty would give our party weapons 
 against him, but that he was, on the whole, satisfied, as things 
 looked very bad two months ago ; and the difficulties he had had 
 to contend with were very great and would probably never be 
 
1856 DISCUSSION ON THE FALL OF KARS. 379 
 
 known, by which I conclude the French threw us over and are 
 now toadying the Russians. 
 
 April \\tli. I spoke in the House of Lords on the subject of 
 the sale of the cavalry horses in the Crimea to the Russians, and 
 this morning I got a letter from the Duke of Cambridge, praising 
 my speech and thanking me for it. Also another from General 
 Lord de Ros to the same effect. 
 
 April 20th. Cavour and the Chevalier Massimo d'Azeglio 
 called on me. The former spoke very openly on Italian politics, and 
 I, not being in office, had no reason for not being equally frank. 
 
 April 2Qth. I saw Lord Derby to-day ; he wants to get out 
 of the discussion 011 the fall of Kars, and is much disgusted with 
 his party for not being willing to support Mr. Whiteside's motion 
 upon it. I can see that many believe Disraeli would like to place 
 himself at the head of the Conservative party, to the exclusion, of 
 Lord Derby. These suspicions are strengthened by the tone of 
 his paper, ' The Press,' which avoids ever mentioning the name of 
 Lord Derby, or of anyone except Disraeli himself, whom it praises 
 in the most fulsome manner. I have also myself been sounded 
 upon the subject of making Disraeli or Lord Stanley our leader, 
 but I do not think that the person to whom I allude will ever do 
 so again. 
 
 April 28th. I went to the House of Commons to hear Mr. 
 Whiteside's speech upon Kars. It was a very fine one, and I 
 think Mr. Whiteside decidedly a greater orator than Disraeli, 
 although his Irish accent, which is very strong, when he gets 
 animated, spoils the effect to English ears. He was immensely 
 cheered. Lord Derby's meeting this morning was not a very full 
 one ; Lord Granby was present, and, as usual, made difficulties, 
 as did also Mr. Bentinck, without anything leading to it. 
 
 April 30th. The Treaty of Paris is to be discussed next 
 Monday, and is open to great objections. I shall withdraw my 
 motion upon Kars. 
 
 May 1st. I saw Lord Derby to-day ; he wishes me to begin 
 the debate upon the Treaty next Monday. We shall be beaten 
 to-night in the House of Commons by more than a hundred, fifty 
 of our men voting against us or staying away. Lord Derby has 
 certainly lost a great deal of his influence by refusing office last year. 
 
380 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MlNlSTER. 1856 
 
 May 2nd. The Government had a majority of 399 against 
 Mr. Whiteside upon Kars. 
 
 May 3rd. I went with some of my colleagues to Lord Derby 
 this morning, when he and Disraeli decided that I am to begin 
 the debate on Monday in condemnation of the Treaty. 
 
 May 5th. I spoke for an hour against the Treaty of Paris, 
 and received many compliments upon it both from my friends and 
 the cross benches. Lord Clarendon spoke in answer, and Lord 
 Derby followed, winding up with these words : ' So much for the 
 capitulation of Paris.' 
 
 May 7th. There was a dinner at the Palace for Baron 
 Briinnow a dinner of reconciliation, consisting entirely of Minis- 
 ters and ex-Ministers. Lord John Russell was there, and very 
 civil to me, as, when I arrived, he crossed the room to come and 
 speak to me a thing he never did before. He began the conver- 
 sation by saying : ' You gave it them well last night,' and seemed 
 quite delighted at the Government being bullied. He added that 
 the debate in the Lords was very superior to that in the Com- 
 mons. I had to take Lady Clarendon to dinner. She was at first 
 very cross, but I ended by laughing her out of her bad humour. 
 
 May 2'3rd. A discussion 'on the Maritime Law was brought 
 on last night by Lord Colchester. Lords Derby and Carnarvon 
 spoke beautifully, but the Government had a majority of 54. 
 May 28th. I went to the Derby with the Persignys. 
 June 5th. The American Government have dismissed Mr. 
 Crampton, United States Minister, who is gone to Toronto, which 
 is rather alarming. I dined with the Clarendons. 
 
 June 24:th. The Alteration of Oaths Bill was rejected by the 
 Lords by a majority of 32. 
 
 June 2Qth. We dined with the Hardwickes to meet the cele- 
 brated tragic actress Ristori. She arrived very late, just as we 
 were sitting down to dinner, and made an entree quite in the theatri- 
 cal style violent exclamations, gesticulations, and grimaces, giving 
 a long history of how her coachman had lost his way, and her feel- 
 ings on the subject, all in the loudest tone of voice. She calls 
 herself thirty, but looks fifty. I went to Lady Westminster's ball 
 to meet the Queen. Everybody is talking of a scene that occurred 
 yesterday at the Levee. A vulgar American having gone in a 
 
1856 ISLE OF SERPENTS SEIZED BY RUSSIANS. 381 
 
 frock coat with a yellow waistcoat and a black neckcloth, Sir E. 
 Gust told him he could not pass the Queen in that costume. He 
 insisted, and Mr. Dallas, the American Minister, took his part, 
 and finding, after an angry altercation, that Sir E. Gust would not 
 give way, he left the Palace with all his suite. 
 
 June 28th. We gave a dinner to a large party, among whom 
 were the Clarendons. He told me that he had gone to Lady 
 Westminster's ball in full dress by mistake, and was the only man 
 not in frock dress. Some one observed in the hearing of Mrs. 
 Dallas, ' Why is Lord Clarendon in full dress 1 ' * Oh,' answered the 
 person addressed, ' I suppose he has been dining with Mr. Dallas.' 
 
 June 30th. I hear that Mrs. Anson has written home a very 
 bad account of Lady Canning, whose health seems to be seriously 
 affected by the climate of India. 
 
 July 8th. The Queen reviewed the troops at Aldershot, and 
 made them a speech. Lord Hardinge was seized with a fit at 
 Aldershot in her presence. He was talking to her at the time, and 
 was brought to London very ill. ! We went to Lord Carrington's 
 house to see the entry of the Guards into London. There were 
 three battalions of above a thousand men each. They marched 
 past in fours, preceded by their colonels on horseback and their 
 bands, in heavy marching order. Certainly they looked as if they 
 had done work ; their uniforms were shabby, many having almost 
 lost all colour, their bearskins quite brown, and they themselves, 
 poor fellows, though they seemed happy, and were laughing as 
 they marched along, were very thin and worn. 
 
 August Wth. The Russians are at their old tricks again, and 
 have seized the Isle of Serpents, at the mouth of the Danube, 
 which by some oversight has not been mentioned in the treaty, 
 and, as they possessed it before the war, they naturally concluded 
 it belonged to them, no stipulations to the contrary having been 
 made ; but it turns out to be of great importance, as it commands 
 the mouths of the river, and admits of being fortified. This, 
 coupled with their delay in restoring Kars and their blowing up 
 Ismail and Reni, is contrary to the spirit of the treaty. The English 
 fleet has received orders to re-enter the Black Sea, and to remain 
 there until the Island of Serpents and Kars are given up. 
 * Lord Hardinge died the following September. 
 
382 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1856 
 
 August 19th. I travelled from London to Southampton in the 
 same carriage with Lord and Lady Palmerston. Lord Palmer- 
 ston talked the whole way in the most open manner of foreign affairs 
 He says nothing can be worse than the way the Russians have 
 behaved in carrying out the treaty. They have tried to evade 
 almost every point, and taken advantage of every loophole and 
 oversight. They have blown up the old castle of Kars, though it 
 never could be of any use, and was merely a curious remnant of 
 antiquity. They are making great difficulties about the settlement 
 of the boundary in Bessarabia, saying that Bolgrad, an old village 
 of that name, is not the one they meant, but another village of the 
 same name, quite out of the intended line. Chreptovitch, the new 
 Russian Ambassador, took a high tone, and talked of leaving 
 England if these complaints were pressed, to which Lord Palmer- 
 ston replied that the sooner he did so the better, if he did not give 
 way upon them. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : August 28, 1856. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I found your letter of the 25th on my 
 return from York, whither I had ventured upon going to see my horse 
 run ; but my rashness was punished by a slight return of my enemy, 
 which compelled me to return, re infecta. I hope, however, that I 
 may now report myself all right again, though my hand and wrist still 
 continue rather weak, and I have not ventured, or indeed been able to 
 hold a gun. There is plenty of employment for one. We have a good 
 deal of oats cut, but no wheat in this neighbourhood yet. The corn 
 crops look very well, but the extent of disease in the potatoes is fearful. 
 It has not been so bad for years. I hear from Ossulston that you are to 
 be with him at Chillingham towards the middle or end of October ; so I 
 suppose we may look forward to seeing you here on your way back, early 
 in November. Palmeuston seems to have been in a very communi- 
 cative mood with you the other day ; and his report fully confirms what 
 I had suspected to be the case, not only that Eussia is playing us false 
 as far as she dares, but that ' our august ally ' is less to be depended upon 
 than might be desirable. It is quite evident to me that there is a great 
 desire on both sides for a rapprochement between the two Emperors, 
 at our expense. Morny is evidently playing first fiddle at St. Peters- 
 burg, and Granville's position will not be made the more agreeable by 
 the coldness of Chreptovitch's reception here. Peace may be main-, 
 tained, but even of this I do not feel confident ; but of this I ani very 
 
1856 CIVIL WAR IN THE UNITED STATES. 383 
 
 sure, that it will not be long before our Government will have cause to 
 be heartily ashamed of the terms and results of the peace they have 
 ' patched up.' The election of Fremont I should look upon as satisfac- 
 tory, and as affording the best prospect of a solution of our difficulties 
 in that quarter. What is Palmerston doing with all the Church patron- 
 age which is pouring in upon him ? 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 September 6th. Civil war has broken out in the United States 
 between the Abolitionists and the Pro- Slavery Party, and a great 
 deal of blood has been already shed. The Government refused to 
 take part with either side, upon which the Slave party in Congress 
 would not vote the supplies for the army, which accordingly must 
 be disbanded. 
 
 September 17 'tk. Left Heron Court for Paris, where I expect 
 to meet George Harris. I hear that Lady Stafford and Lady Emily 
 Peel are much admired at Petersburg, where they are gone for the 
 coronation of the Emperor, and that M. de Morny's/efes are quite 
 surpassed by those of Lord Granville ; but the person who has had 
 the most success is Lord Stafford's piper, who, whenever he shows 
 himself in the streets, is followed by crowds, who fancy he is the 
 Ambassador. 
 
 October 15th. I left Venice after a pleasant visit with George 
 Harris. Made acquaintance with Countess Persico, who has a 
 palazzo at Castelfranco, near Treviso, and received much hospi- 
 tality from her. 
 
 October 20th. Arrived at Turin. Dined with our Minister, 
 Sir James Hudson. He says the French do not go with us on the 
 Bolgrad question. There is to be a Congress at Paris to decide 
 that, and that of Serpent Island, which the Russians wish to 
 swindle out of the treaty. Palmerston says he would prefer 
 Petersburg, as being less Russian than Walewski's house. 
 
 October 22nd. -Called on my cousin, the Due de Gramont, who 
 is French Minister here. 
 
 October 24^/i. Started for London. Yesterday I dined with 
 Cavour. The dinner was very agreeable, there being no other 
 guests than Hudson and myself. We talked openly on politics, 
 and in the evening General La Marmora came 011 purpose to be 
 
384 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1856 
 
 introduced to me. Nothing could be more amiable than Gramont 
 during my stay at Turin ; but he is evidently little thought of, 
 whilst our Minister, Hudson, is lord of the place and has the most 
 unbounded influence over the King and his Ministers ; but he 
 lives openly with the Revolutionary party, and does not disguise 
 his Italian proclivities. The French seem to me completely at 
 variance with us as to the dishonest frauds of the Russians re- 
 specting the meaning of our treaty, and, if Palmerston is not firm, 
 they will get what they want. 
 
 November 1 2th. Louis Napoleon is said to have given up his 
 intended parties at Fontainebleau in consequence of the discon- 
 tent expressed at the extravagance of the Court whilst the people 
 are suffering great distress from the high prices. The English and 
 French Ministers have left Naples, and the English and French 
 fleets are blustering in the bay, pretending to be ready to bombard 
 the town. Everyone feels that such an atrocity could not be 
 committed, and that a gentleman might as well strike a woman as 
 fire upon Naples. At the Lord Mayor's dinner on the 9th, given 
 as usual to the Prime Minister and his colleages, the Corps 
 Diplomatique w T as represented by the Mexican Minister and the 
 one from the Republic of Hayti, a black man. Such is the result, 
 for the second time, of Palnierston's aggressive policy and offen- 
 sive communication with foreign Powers. There is no man so 
 pleasant in his manner in private life, and it is extraordinary 
 that he should not be able to exercise the same courtesy in public 
 affairs. 
 
 November 21 st. Persigny told me Walewski is in disgrace. 
 The difficulty about Bolgrad and the Isle of Serpents arises 
 from the Emperor having been entrapped into a promise by the 
 Russians ; but Presigny has suggested a solution, which has been 
 accepted by the Emperor and our Government viz. a Congress 
 which is to assemble, into which Sardinia is to be admitted, on 
 condition of voting against Russia. Austria goes with England, 
 and Prussia is of course excluded. This gives England a majority, 
 and the Emperor an excuse for giving way. 
 
1856 LORD DERBY ON THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY. 385 
 
 From Lord Derby to Lord M. (on the causes of the Dis- 
 organisation of the Conservative Party, dc.} 
 
 Knowsley : December 15, 1856. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I return you Jolliffe's letters, enclosed in 
 your desponding one of the 7th. I ought to have done so earlier, but 
 I have had Lichfield with me all the week, alone ; and we have been 
 so busy shooting, that I have had no time to give to politics. Yester- 
 day I was threatened with a fit of gout, but it has, I hope, quite passed 
 off; and I expect to go to Hatfield to-morrow, and look forward to 
 being with you on Friday afternoon. I shall be very glad to meet 
 Jolliffe l there, and to talk over quietly with him and you the position 
 and prospects of the Conservative party. That it is in ascertain state of 
 disorganisation is not to be denied, nor, I think, to be wondered at ; 
 indeed, I am disposed to be rather surprised to find how mere fidelity 
 to party ties, and some personal feeling, has for so long a time kept to- 
 gether so large a body of men, under most adverse circumstances, and 
 in the absence of any cry or leading question, to serve as a broad line 
 of demarcation between the two sides of the House. The breach which 
 was made in the Conservative body by Peel, in 1845-6, and which 
 might have been healed to a great degree if his followers had only 
 given us a fair support, or even stood neutral hi the session of 1852-3, 
 was widened by the formation of the Coalition Government, on the 
 avowed principle (or no principle) of discarding all previous party ties. 
 Public attention has since that time been mainly fixed upon the war : 
 and since Palmerston came into office he has adroitly played his cards, 
 so as to avoid, with one or two exceptions, making any attacks upon 
 our institutions, or affording much ground for censure from a Con- 
 servative Opposition. In short, he has been a Conservative Minister 
 working with Kadical tools, and keeping up a show of Liberalism in 
 his foreign policy, which nine in ten of the House of Commons care 
 nothing about. That a Conservative party should have held together 
 at all under such circumstances is rather to be wondered at, than that 
 there should be apathy and indifference when there is nothing to be 
 fought for by the bulk of the party. As to Disraeli's unpopularity, I 
 see it and regret it ; and especially regret that he does not see more of 
 the party in private ; but they could not do without him, even if there 
 were anyone ready and able to take his place. For myself, I never 
 was ambitious of office, and am not likely to become more BO as I 
 grow older ; but I am now, as I have been, ready to accept the responsi- 
 1 Whip of the Conservative party, afterwards created Lord Hylton. 
 
 C C 
 
386 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1856 
 
 bility of it if I see a chance not only of taking but of keeping it. Of 
 that I see no chance with the present House of Commons, unless the 
 Government commit some very gross blunder, and make their continu- 
 ance impossible. But I agree with you that, if there is to be for many 
 years a chance of power for a Conservative Ministry, it must be secured 
 by active exertions at the general election, which must shortly take 
 place. 
 
 Yours very sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 1857 
 
 January 1st. The conference opened yesterday on the ques- 
 tions of Bolgrad and the Isle of Serpents, which the Russians 
 falsely claim as being included in the treaty of peace. The Swiss 
 are making energetic preparations for resisting the threatened 
 invasion of Neufchatel by Prussia, whilst England and France 
 are using their utmost exertions to prevent a war. England has 
 declared war against Persia, and Admiral Seymour has bombarded 
 Canton to avenge an insult offered to our flag. As far as I can 
 understand the cause of dispute, it does not appear to justify 
 such a severe punishment. The men arrested were Chinese, and 
 the ship, though bearing English colours, was not English. The 
 Chinese Government has been, however, so troublesome and in- 
 solent lately, that probably Lord Palmerston wishes to seize the 
 first pretext forgiving them a lesson. 
 
 January 9th. Madame de Bonne val writes that M. de Horny 
 is engaged to Mademoiselle Troubetskoi, a natural daughter of 
 the Emperor Nicholas and a maid-of -honour of the Empress. 
 She is handsome and has black eyes and auburn hair. 
 
 January 25th. The news last received from China is unsatis- 
 factory, for though we are in possession of all the .forts, the 
 Chinese have succeeded in setting fire to our factories and banks, 
 and it has been decided, in consequence, to bombard Canton. 
 
 January 29^. Princess Lieven has died at Paris. When I 
 came out in the London world in 1826, she was then Russian 
 Ambassadress, and one of the most fashionable ladies in society. 
 She was very clever and agreeable, but the greatest intrigante 
 
1857 OPERATIONS IN THE PERSIAN GULF. 387 
 
 possible, having been all her life employed by the Russian Go- 
 vernment as a spy, or rather, I should say, by the reigning 
 Emperor, with whom she always corresponded directly. She was 
 a great plague to our Secretaries for Foreign Affairs. Guizot, 
 towards the end of her life, kept up political and intimate relations 
 with her. Her son, Paul, was a charming dandy. 
 
 January 31st. Despatches have been received from Admiral 
 Sir Henry Leeke, giving an account of the operations of the 
 English fleet and troops in the Persian Gulf. On December 4th, 
 1856, the island of Karrak was occupied ; on the 7th the troops 
 disembarked, and advanced upon Bushire under General Storkes, 
 protected by the fire of the ships. The position of the enemy 
 was strong, but was carried at the point of the bayonet, with the 
 loss of Colonels Stopford and Malet, who were leading their men 
 to the assault. 
 
 February 3rd. I do not expect any amendment will be moved 
 to the Address, but foreign affairs will be discussed, and I under- 
 stand that Disraeli will make some terrific revelations in his 
 speech, as Walewski has told him all he knows against Lord 
 Palmerston, and if half only is true, it will damage him extremely. 
 Gladstone and Sidney Herbert appear anxious to join Lord Derby. 
 We reserve our whole strength for the income tax, and support 
 Gladstone's measure namely, to pay fivepence now, and nothing 
 in 1860. If the latter joined our party, he would only benefit us 
 by his talents, for on the other hand we should lose many of our 
 supporters. The Duke of Beaufort, one of our staunchest ad- 
 herents, told me at Longleat that if we coalesced with the Peelites 
 he would leave the party, and I remember in 1855, when Lord 
 Derby attempted to form a Government, and offered places to 
 Gladstone and Herbert, that no less than eighty members of the 
 House of Commons threatened to leave him. 
 
 This being the first night of the session, Disraeli made a long 
 and eloquent speech, in which he brought forward the following 
 accusation against the Government : ' Will it be believed that 
 at the very time when Lord Clarendon was listening to the pas- 
 sionate representations of Count Cavour, in which he impeaches 
 the very existence of Austrian rule, a secret treaty was in 
 existence, guaranteeing to Austria the whole of her Italian 
 
 c c 2 
 
388 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 dominions a guarantee from France to Austria of her Italian 
 possessions, given, not merely with the sanction and approval of 
 the noble lord (Palmerston), but by the advice and at the special 
 instance of his Government 1 ' Lord Palmerston denied the exist- 
 ence of such a treaty, saying that Disraeli must have been imposed 
 upon by the gobemouches of Paris ; and went on to assert that it 
 was the first time he had ever heard of such a treaty, and that, 
 if he had, he would have given his advice in an opposite direction. 
 The treaty was an entire romance, without the slighest foundation, 
 except that in the early part of the war with Russia communi- 
 cations passed between the Austrian and French Governments, 
 to the effect that the latter would take no part hostile to Austria. 
 On the 10th Disraeli repeated his accusation, maintaining that 
 the above agreement between Austria and France had assumed 
 the shape of a treaty, and that it was executed on December 22, 
 1854. He reasserted that the English Government had known 
 and approved of this. 
 
 Lord Palmerston then again rose and repeated that, to the 
 best of his belief, there was no treaty between Austria and France 
 guaranteeing the former's possessions in Italy ; but he confessed 
 that, in the latter part of 1854, it was hoped that Austria would 
 join England and France against Russia, and that an agreement 
 was made, that if she did so, and Russia instigated insurrections 
 in Italy for the purpose of distracting Austria, then France would 
 behave as an honourable ally ought, but that she would not 
 encourage any such risings, should the Austrian armies join 
 England and France ; and during the war, should disturbances 
 break out in Italy, then France would act in concert with what- 
 ever force the Austriaiis might have to defend their possessions. 
 All this, he said, was known to the British Government. Thus, 
 although Disraeli may be accused of finding a mare's nest, the facts 
 which he stated were correct, but do not bear the same intentions 
 . and consequences which he had put upon them. His speech 
 altogether was inferior to his usual power, and was delivered very 
 nervously. 
 
 February 4:th. The Queen's Speech told us nothing. It 
 was all about foreign affairs. No reform, excepting in the law. 
 Disraeli's revelations, I think, fell rather flat. Lord Palmerston 
 
1857 THE SECRET TREATY DENIED. 389 
 
 denied the existence of a secret treaty with Austria, which he 
 was accused of having made. The country may probably believe 
 him rather than Disraeli, but diplomatists will not be so credulous, 
 for what is the use of a secret treaty if you must confess it to the 
 first person who asks the question ? 
 
 February Qth. Lord Derby arrived at Heron Court for the 
 wild-fowl shooting. He seems to think that Lord Palmerston's 
 Government is becoming very unpopular. Lord Aberdeen voted for 
 Lord Grey's amendment to the Address with ten of our men. This 
 is such an invidious thing for an ex-Prime Minister to do, that 
 his intention must have been to show his disapprobation of the 
 Government ; and Gladstone's speech in the House of Commons, 
 which one cannot disconnect from Lord Aberdeen's vote, looks as 
 if the Peelites wished to make up their differences with our party ; 
 but Lord Derby says that he does not mean to make any advances 
 to them, as they would certainly lose us many of our people. He 
 seems very sanguine about turning out the Government in the 
 course of the session ; if we could do it on the income tax, that 
 would be the best, as they would not dissolve Parliament on that 
 question. I made a speech yesterday on moving for returns of 
 the New Forest Commissioners, the number of days they have sat, 
 and the list of claims adjusted, &c. I read my correspondence to 
 the House and was much cheered ; all sides agreed that the 
 Commissioners' letter to me was unjustifiable, and the Chancellor 
 blamed it strongly. I hear that Lord Palmerston took my part, 
 and said that if anything on the subject had been said in the 
 House of Commons he would have got up and defended me. 
 
 February 8th. Left for London to attend Lord Derby's 
 meeting. 
 
 February llth. Meeting at Lord Derby's postponed to Satur- 
 day next, as Disraeli has sent to say that he was so occupied with 
 the Secret Treaty accusation that he could not attend to any other 
 business. 
 
 February 13th. Another discussion last night on the Secret 
 Treaty somewhat alters the complexion of the case. Lord Pal- 
 merston got up and acknowledged he had been mistaken with 
 regard to what he calls the 'military convention' between France 
 and Austria not being signed. He now admits it was signed. 
 
390 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 Disraeli repeated again and again that there was a secret treaty 
 between France and Austria, that it had been extensively acted 
 upon, and that on its surface there was no limitation to the period 
 of its operation. Lord Palmerston, upon this, completely lost his 
 temper a rare occurrence with him, and which makes one believe 
 that he felt himself in a scrape but he again said, with the 
 strongest asseverations, that it was only a temporary arrangement 
 during the war with Russia, in case Austria joined against her ; 
 that it was not signed at our instigation, but only communicated 
 to us as an arrangement already settled between France and 
 Austria. If this be believed, it, of course, exculpates him and his 
 Government, but it proves that when he made his first speech he 
 was either ignorant of, or had forgotten, the circumstance. 
 
 February 14th. The Chancellor of the Exchequer brought on 
 his Budget last night. The 9c?. war tax is taken off, which makes 
 a reduction of nine millions in the year's income. In spite of this 
 boon, there is much discontent on account of these two new wars, 
 the Chinese and Persian, but the Budget is to be cut up by both 
 Disraeli and Gladstone. 
 
 February IQth. I went to Middleton. Disraeli assured me 
 that the Secret Treaty is a permanent one. He throws cold water 
 on the China question, which Lord Derby is to bring forward. 
 Gladstone says this Budget is even worse than the famous 
 Budgets of Sir Charles Wood, which were altered half a dozen 
 times. 
 
 February 2lst. Disraeli made a long and clever speech against 
 the Budget. The Chancellor of the Exchequer replied, and made, 
 I believe, a better speech than Disraeli's, and still longer. 
 
 February 24th. The Government have carried their Budget 
 by a majority of 80. 'Many of our men voted with the Govern- 
 ment, or rather with Big Ben, 1 the member for Norfolk, who 
 amuses himself with opposing everything on both sides. 
 
 February 27th. Lord Ellesmere is dead, and has left his wife 
 5,000?. a year and his yacht. They married without settlements. 
 
 The division in the House of Lords on the China question 
 took place last night, and the Government had a majority of 36. 
 
 I Mr. George Bentinck, member for Norfolk. 
 
1857 THE CHINA QUESTION. 391 
 
 Lord Ellenborough and the Bishop of Oxford 1 spoke on our side, 
 both of them very eloquently. 
 
 February 28th. If Lord Palmerstoii had divided upon the 
 China question last night in the House of Commons, he would 
 have been beaten, and he is so nervous about it that he has a 
 meeting this morning to threaten a dissolution in case he is not 
 supported. It seems to me an unpopular question for a general 
 election to turn upon. Nobody knows whether Disraeli will speak. 
 I met him at the Levee, and he answered very sulkily, even pre- 
 tending not to understand what I meant by asking him if he in- 
 tended to speak. ' Speak ! upon what ? ' he said. He has always 
 discouraged a debate on the China question, for some reason best 
 known to himself. 
 
 Lord Derby had a meeting of his party in the House of 
 Commons. One hundred and sixty attended. He began by 
 alluding to the defection of a few of the members of the Opposi- 
 tion on the Budget, which he understood had been occasioned by 
 a report of his having coalesced with Mr. Gladstone. He denied 
 such being the case, but declared in the most emphatic manner 
 that should any member of the Conservative connection attempt 
 to dictate to him the course he should pursue with regard to any 
 political personages whatever, he would regard it as an insult, 
 and no longer recognise that member as attached to his party. 
 This declaration was received with long-continued cheering, and 
 the greatest enthusiasm and the most complete confidence in Lord 
 Derby were expressed. 
 
 March 4th. On the question of the China War, moved by Mr. 
 Cobden, the Government were beaten by a majority of sixteen. 
 The principal speakers were Gladstone, Palmerston, and Disraeli. 
 The latter was very bitter and personal. Gladstone statesman- 
 like, but dry and heavy. Big Ben tried to say a few words in 
 support of Ministers, but the House would not listen to him. 
 Lord Derby, in the House of Lords, denied the correctness of a 
 paragraph in ' The Press,' giving an account of the meeting of his 
 party on the 27th, saying it was a gross misrepresentation that 
 words were put into his mouth which he had never used, and that 
 
 ' Samuel Wilberforce, afterwards Bishop of Winchester. 
 
392 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 he was even made to say the exact contrary to what he really 
 said. Disraeli will not like this, for ' The Press ' is conducted by 
 him, and is his organ, always putting him forward and ignoring 
 Lord Derby, 
 
 March 5th. Lord Granville in the Lords, and Lord Falmerston 
 in the Commons, announced the intention of Government to 
 dissolve Parliament in consequence of their defeat on the China 
 War. 
 
 March 6th. Dr. Ferguson called. He says the China question 
 is an unfavourable one for our party, and we shall get a worse 
 Parliament ; also that a coalition with the Peelites is denounced. 
 I fear he is right, for nobody is a better judge of public feeling 
 than a doctor who is constantly seeing all kinds of people. I 
 went to Lord Derby by appointment, and he sent me to Sidney 
 Herbert to make some arrangements with him in concert with 
 our party for the coming elections namely, that we should not 
 take a hostile part towards each other's candidates, so that, no 
 personal enmities being made, there should be less difficulty in 
 the two parties acting together, should circumstances make it 
 advisable. Sidney Herbert rejected this proposal, saying he 
 thought it better that we should be quite independent of each 
 other, and that he would not pledge himself not to support Lord 
 Palmerston. He was evidently taken by surprise, and did not 
 know what to say, receiving me in a very unfriendly and even 
 uncivil manner. After a very short interview, Mrs. Herbert 
 coming in with her bonnet and shawl on, he got up and said he 
 must go out with her, almost turning me out of his house. I said, 
 as he seemed in a hurry, he had better write when he had considered 
 Lord Derby's proposal, as he was so confused that I hardly knew 
 what to report to him. This he agreed to, so he must in some 
 measure commit himself. 
 
 March 7th. I got a letter from Sidney Herbert this morning 
 respecting what I said yesterday about the electioneering arrange- 
 ments, evidently fancying I meant more than I said, for he added 
 that the Peelite party were much divided, there being hardly a 
 subject on which they agreed, and that of course their influence 
 was now much weakened ; that he himself was anxious to disperse 
 them and to keep aloof from all parties, as he wished to be inde- 
 
1857 CONTINUATION OF THE WAR IN CHINA, 393 
 
 pendent, and that he would only answer for himself, as there were 
 many others with whom I could communicate. 
 
 March 8th. I met Gladstone last night at the Carlton Club 
 and had a long conversation with him. He had seen Sidney 
 Herbert, who told him of our interview, and Gladstone said he 
 quite disagreed in his views and had told him so. He was 
 evidently displeased at Sidney Herbert's representing the Peelite 
 party as so weak and divided. His leanings are apparently 
 towards us, but he was quite of my opinion that no sort of 
 agreement should be made beyond the one I had proposed, and 
 that we should remain perfectly free and independent of each 
 other. 
 
 March IQth. I have had very unsatisfactory letters about 
 the elections. The report of the coalition with the Peelites has 
 done us irreparable mischief, but Palmerston's personal popularity 
 is the real cause of his successes. 
 
 March 25th. I wrote a letter to Lord Palmerston in answer 
 to his address to the electors of Tiverton, which has had con- 
 siderable success. Lord Derby has a terrible fit of gout, which 
 has attacked both ankles, both knees, and both elbows. It is 
 impossible his constitution can support these repeated trials. 
 
 April 1st. I went to Heron Court to attend the sitting of 
 the New Forest Commissioners at Christchurch. I received many 
 compliments on my letter to Lord Palmerston, amongst others 
 from Lords Clarendon and Grey, which are worth having. 
 
 April 2nd. News has been received from China, and it turns 
 out that the reported peace was an invention for electioneering 
 purposes, and that the war continues the same as ever. Allum, 
 the baker, and nine others who were tried on the accusation of 
 poisoning bread, are all acquitted, so there is an end of Lord 
 Palmerston's assertion and the ridiculous tirade which he made 
 in the House of Commons about f poisoning respectable English 
 merchants.' 
 
 April 4:th. Most of my claims in the New Forest have been 
 allowed by the Commissioners. The elections are going against 
 us. We have lost fifteen seats in the counties. 
 
 April 10th. Dined with Lord Lonsdale, and went with him 
 to Paris, 
 
394 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 One of the guests at this dinner was a doctor who practised 
 as a vegetarian, and during dinner consistently confined himself 
 to green meat and grapes. He was the most singular and repul- 
 sive looking man I ever .saw, over seventy years of age, about five 
 feet high, and completely shrivelled in body and face, the last being 
 like parchment and of an orange colour. He held a medical 
 commission in the army, and had been through the whole Penin- 
 sular war. Being very quarrelsome, he fought more than one 
 duel with his brother officers. 1 
 
 April I4:th. The Queen was confined a princess. 
 
 Lord Ossulston says that our tactics are quite unpopular with 
 the country gentlemen, and that they consider the China vote 
 factious. 
 
 April IQth. Returned from Paris. I dined at the Tuileries 
 yesterday. The Emperor had invited me for to-day, but hearing 
 I wished to leave Paris, he very kindly ordered his chamberlain to 
 send me an invitation for yesterday instead. It was quite a small 
 dinner, and I had the place of honour next the Empress, who 
 looked lovely. The Emperor talked to me in the most friendly 
 and confidential manner. His opinion of Disraeli was that he 
 * has not the head of a statesman, but that he is, like all literary 
 men, as he has found them, from Chateaubriand to Guizot, igno- 
 rant of the world, talking well, but nervous when the moment of 
 action arises.' The Emperor is evidently only sensible of Disraeli's 
 peculiarities without doing justice to his genius. 
 
 April 21 st. Dash wood, who was my secretary, called this 
 morning and says that the Government has already paid Pisani 
 the 13,OOOZ. he asks for his picture of the 'Tent of Darius,' by 
 Paul Veronese, at Venice ; but the Austrian Government not 
 only refuses to allow the picture to leave Venice, but have fined 
 Pisani for selling it, and it is expected the English Government 
 will be obliged to pay the fine for him. 
 
 April 28th. Lady Ely called, and talked to us of the dinner at 
 the Palace last year, where Lords Palmerston, Clarendon, John 
 Russell, Derby, and Malmesbury met, and which Lord Derby 
 characterised to Prince Albert as an illustration of a happy family, 
 
 1 When his death occurred, a few years ago, he was discovered to be a woman ! 
 What a story of shame and misery is buried with her in her grave ! 
 
DEATH OF THE DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER. 395 
 
 a joke which amused him and the Queen very much, it looks as 
 if her Majesty made up the dinner of these discordant materials 
 for fun, and, from the same malice, made me take Lady Clarendon 
 to dinner, as it was only two days after I had attacked Lord Cla- 
 rendon in the House of Lords, and Lady Clarendon would not 
 speak to me at first, but I ended by making her laugh. The 
 Queen, who was opposite, was highly amused, and could hardly 
 help laughing when Lady Clarendon at first would not answer me. 
 April 30th. The Duchess of Gloucester died this morning. 
 She was the last of the children of George III. The new Parlia- 
 ment met at two o'clock, and Mr. Evelyn Denison was chosen 
 Speaker without opposition. Lady Palmerston is very anxious 
 about her husband's health, as he suffers so much from gout and 
 is so weak that he can no longer take either riding or walking 
 exercise. She dreads the meeting of Parliament, as she fears the 
 fatigue and anxiety will be too much for his strength. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : April 30, 1857. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I am sorry to say that I am again, very 
 mal a propos, confined to my bed by a severe and painful attack of gout. 
 I have it at present in both elbows and one knee, with every prospect 
 of its running the round of my limbs before it takes its departure. I 
 will, if possible, be in town for the opening of Parliament, but I am 
 afraid it is very doubtful whether I shall be able. At all events, if 
 there is to be any chance of my presiding at the dinner to be given to 
 Jolliffe. it must not be earlier than the 16th. Should I not be in ray 
 place, you must manage the House for me, and pray impress upon all 
 our friends in both Houses the necessity, in my mind, of being very 
 guarded in their language on the subject of Reform, and of not com- 
 mitting the party hastily to the adoption of any course. If it is not 
 mentioned in the Speech, it will be better not to allude to it. If it is, 
 our language ought to be that of regret that the Government should 
 have thought it necessary to disturb the existing settlement ; but that, 
 as they propose to introduce a billon a subject which requires the most 
 careful calculation of its probable consequences, we shall be prepared 
 to give to it a respectful and dispassionate consideration, and shall 
 hope to find it based upon principles which will enable us conscien- 
 tiously to support it. You know what are the points to which I would 
 
396 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 mainly object, but I doubt the prudence of adverting to them until 
 John Russell, Locke King, or some other, have shown their game, and 
 perhaps compelled the Government to some extent to disclose theirs. 
 You may read this letter to Disraeli, in case I should not see him. I 
 wish you also to give notice for me that I am entrusted with a petition, 
 which I will present as soon as the state of my health allows me, from 
 the colony of Newfoundland against the recent Fishery Convention ; 
 and, as it will require the assent of Parliament, you may as well find 
 out whether Clarendon will object to refer the petition to a Select 
 Committee, without which the House will legislate quite in the dark as 
 to the merits of the case. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 May 1st. I got a letter to-day from Lady Derby, written at 
 her husband's dictation, saying that he is again laid up with gout 
 in both his elbows and wrists, and expected every joint would 
 have its turn. It was, therefore, unlikely that he could be in his 
 place on the 7th, and I must, therefore, replace him and lead the 
 party during his absence. The duty of answering the Queen's 
 Speech will, for this reason, devolve upon me. 
 
 May 2nd. Disraeli, who called on me yesterday, would not 
 agree to my proposal to have a meeting of the leaders of the party 
 to discuss the Queen's Speech. He said we might call on each 
 other and talk it over, but, for some reason, he objected to the 
 presence of any other member of the party. I, however, insisted 
 upon summoning the other leaders and discussing the question 
 openly with them. 
 
 May th. I saw Disraeli last night at the Carlton, sitting at a 
 
 table with . The latter got up in a few minutes and went away } 
 
 when Disraeli came up to me and said, ' I am the most unlucky 
 man ! I came here to meet Colonel Taylor, and the waiter told 
 me he was in this room ; but Providence has cursed me with 
 blindness ; so, seeing a very big man, whom I took for Colonel 
 Taylor, I rushed to him and fell into the arms of Robert 
 Macaire, who insisted upon my dining with him, made me drink 
 a bottle of champagne, which poisons me, and ended by borrow- 
 ing fifty pounds from me.' Disraeli, in spite of all these 
 misfortunes, was in very good humour, and agreed at once to my 
 
1857 THE QUEEN'S SPEECH. 397 
 
 proposal to meet some of his late colleagues next Thursday at Lord 
 Eglinton's. I had a letter from Lady Derby saying that Lord 
 D. cannot possibly come up to London, and begging me to send 
 him some news to amuse him, as they are very triste. 
 
 May 6th. Lord Palmerston sent me the Queen's Speech this 
 afternoon, as is the custom from the Prime Minister to the 
 leader of the Opposition. It does not contain any allusion to 
 Reform, and is the tamest production, even for a Queen's Speech, 
 I ever read. 
 
 From Lord Derby to Lord M. (on the Chinese War). 
 
 Knowsley : May 6, 1857. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I hardly think that the Government will 
 call upon Parliament to pronounce its opinion in favour of the justice 
 of the Chinese War, though I think it probable, or indeed certain, that 
 they will ask for our support in it. Even if they should apply to it, 
 though on the part of the Crown, any laudatory epithet, without asking 
 us to concur in the commendation, it must not be allowed to pass with- 
 out a frank declaration of our opinions. We have never denied that 
 we bad grounds of complaint against China for the incomplete fulfil- 
 ment of the terms of the treaty, although we thought, and think the 
 more from what has occurred since, that the alleged causes were not 
 sufficient to justify the violent measures taken by the local authorities, 
 that such steps should not have been taken without express direction 
 from the Home Government, and that that Government, as a matter 
 of policy, ought not to have permitted such steps to be taken without 
 the previous provision of an overwhelming naval and military force to 
 compel submission to demands which they might think fit to make. 
 Remember, this must not be said as apologetically for our vote, but as 
 repeating the doctrine which we then held, the soundness of which has 
 been amply proved by the horrors which have been the consequence, 
 and not, as Palmerston would fain make them appear, the provocation to 
 our acts. But as matters now stand we are engaged, whether we will 
 or no, in a struggle for our very existence in the Eastern Seas ; and it 
 is no time now to consider by whose fault we have been brought into a 
 position in which we have no alternative but to maintain to the utmost 
 the safety and the rights of our countrymen. Such a course of pro- 
 ceeding is entirely consistent with a deep sense of the reckless impolicy 
 which has led to this state of affairs, and involved us in a war the more 
 formidable because it is not with a Government, but with a nation, and 
 
398 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 that a nation unchecked by those habits of civilisation which in most 
 cases mitigate the horrors of modern warfare. Such a course on our 
 part would be the most dignified answer to the absurd charges which 
 the Prime Minister of the country, with a view to electioneering clap- 
 trap, did not think it beneath himself to bring against his political 
 opponents. If the Government should hint at any project for capital- 
 ising the Maynooth grant on fair and reasonable terms, I think they 
 ought not to be discouraged. ... I am glad your letter did not come 
 yesterday, as I should have been unable to dictate an answer, having 
 totally lost my voice. It is better, however, to-day, and I am so far on 
 the way to recovery that I hope in an hour or two to be able to get up 
 to have my bed made, which has not been done for above a week. 
 
 Ever yours very sincerely, 
 DERBY. 
 
 May 1th. We had a meeting of ex-Ministers at Lord Egliii- 
 ton's. Disraeli was not quite satisfied with the result, and he 
 wished the leaders in both Houses to observe perfect silence, 
 neither to blame nor approve the Speech. He and some others 
 wanted me not to get up immediately after the seconder, as is the 
 custom for the leader of the Opposition in the Lords to do, but 
 to let Lord Grey, who is sure to speak, and Lord Ellenborough, 
 if inclined, make their speeches first. I do not know what their 
 motive could be for giving this advice, but the effect would have 
 been that I should have abdicated the position which Lord Derby 
 had assigned to me. So I refused to follow it, and insisted 011 
 conforming to Lord Derby's directions. I therefore got up im- 
 mediately after the seconder, and all my friends complimented 
 me when I sat down. Lord Campbell came across the House and 
 said he hoped he was not taking too great a liberty in praising 
 my speech. The Duke pf Somerset and other supporters of the 
 Government paid me the same compliments. 
 
 May 16^. Lord Derby, having recovered, appeared in the 
 House. Several of the Whigs came across to ask him how he 
 was, and to express their pleasure at seeing him once more in his 
 place, and I was surprised at the rather cold manner in which he 
 received them ; but Lord Colville explained it by telling me that 
 he had called upon Lord Derby and accompanied him to the 
 House, and that he had rather tried to dissuade him from going, 
 
1857 THE INDIAN MUTINY. 399 
 
 thinking he was looking weak and ill, but Lord D. insisted, say- 
 ing, ' Palmerston says I am dying, but I'll show him I'm alive.' 
 
 May 18th. The betrothal of the Princess Royal to the Prince 
 of Prussia was announced to-day in Parliament. 
 
 May 20th. In the Lords the Divorce Bill passed by a ma- 
 jority of 2947 to 18 ! 
 
 June 25th. We are suffering under an extraordinary heat. 
 People are really getting alarmed, for if it is occasioned by the 
 comet, which is not yet visible, what must we expect when it 
 approaches our globe ! Lord Alvanley died yesterday perhaps 
 the wittiest man of his day. He was remarkable for the manner 
 in which he could tell a story ; and it amused him sometimes to 
 relate them at dinner with such fun that he drove the servants 
 out of the room, who could not remain for laughing. 
 
 On one occasion a friend of his came for his advice under the 
 
 following circumstances : ' Mr. has threatened to kick me 
 
 whenever he sees me in society ; what am I to do if he comes 
 into the room ? ' ' Sit down,' replied Lord Alvanley. He was 
 extremely well-read and full of information, which he imparted 
 in the most delightful manner, and it is a pity that an account he 
 wrote of a journey through Russia, and which he showed me, 
 should not be published. 
 
 June 27th. Very alarming news from India. The mutiny 
 amongst the Sepoys in the Bengal army has spread from Meerut. 
 Three regiments are in open revolt. After some bloodshed they 
 had been dispersed by European troops and fled to Delhi, where 
 they were joined by other native regiments. Delhi was in pos- 
 session of the mutineers, who had massacred almost all the 
 Europeans, without regard to age or sex, plundered the Bank, and 
 proclaimed the son of the late Mogul emperor to be king. 
 
 June 29th. Went directly after breakfast to Lord Derby, to 
 consult him on what we should say to Mr. Hamilton, who has the 
 management of the ' Morning Herald,' and had written to me 
 yesterday to arrange as to the line which was to be taken. The 
 paper appeared for the first time this morning under the new 
 management. It seems well arranged, with plenty of fashionable 
 news to amuse ladies. I found Lord Derby very careless and in- 
 different on the subject, and unable to suggest any thing. The only 
 
400 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 thing which seemed to interest him was the subject of the Jew 
 Bill, and for that he had taken the very unnecessary trouble to 
 make out lists, a bore that is generally left to the Whips. Lord 
 Derby has never been able to realise the sudden growth and power 
 of the Political Press, for which he has no partiality, which feel- 
 ing is reciprocated by its members. In these days this is a fatal 
 error in men who wish to obtain public power and distinction. 
 Lord Derby is too proud a man to natter anybody, even his great- 
 est friends and equals, much less those of whom he knows 
 nothing. His son, with greater wisdom (for the day), has taken 
 the opposite line, and with benefit to his popularity and advance- 
 ment. 
 
 July 6th. Lord Clarendon told me a good story of Corry 
 Conellan, Lord Carlisle's secretary at Dublin. The Viceroy, who 
 has taken up the ticket-of -leave men very warmly, told him the 
 other day that he had engaged two in his house as servants. 
 Conellan replied, ' Then you'll be the only spoon left in it.' 
 
 The news from India continues bad ; General Anson, Com- 
 mander-in- Chief, is ill. Mr. Roebuck moved a resolution last 
 night that the office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland should be 
 abolished, which was negatived by 151. 
 
 July Sth. I dined with the Brazilian Minister, M. Moreira. 
 His wife is very pretty and agreeable, but the party was eccentric. 
 It consisted of Don Juan of Spain, Cardinal Wiseman, the Duchess 
 of Inverness, Lady Essex, Sir Gore Ouseley, Mr., Mrs., and Miss 
 Roebuck, and a number of Portuguese. We sat down at a 
 quarter past eight, and the dinner was not over till a quarter past 
 twelve. 
 
 July llth. Went to the Queen's ball. Madame Castiglione 
 was there ; as she is supposed to be Louis Napoleon's mistress, 
 she was very much stared at and admired. The House of Lords 
 rejected the Oaths Bill by a majority of thirty-four. In the 
 House of Commons, in reply to some question from Sir John 
 Pakington, Sir C. Wood said ' that the latest accounts from China 
 were from Admiral Seymour, dated May 10, and up to that period 
 no operations had taken place, the Admiral waiting for reinforce- 
 ments. No instructions had been transmitted to the Indian 
 Government directing that the troops embarked for China should 
 
1857 SIR COLIN CAMPBELL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF. 401 
 
 be "employed in India, and the Governor- General had sent his 
 orders to Ceylon to direct the forces, on their arrival there, to 
 proceed to India. He had sent a requisition to Lord Elgin to 
 despatch troops, but Lord Elgin had no instructions to comply. 
 Whether he would deem the case so pressing as to induce him to 
 do so on his own responsibility remains to be seen.' 1 
 
 The news of General Anson's death from cholera on the 
 march from Umballa to Delhi has arrived. He is succeeded by 
 General Barnard. The whole of the Northern Provinces of India 
 are in open insurrection. 
 
 July 1 2th. Lady Carringtoii tells me that Mrs. Anson is in 
 a dreadful state of grief. Lord Panmure sent for Lady Newport, 
 her sister, and she and Lady Forester broke it to her. Her grief 
 seems to have been very great, and her having left him is an 
 aggravation to her sorrow. ' The Observer,' a Government paper, 
 says ' that with vigour and energy we may still keep India.' As 
 Lady Carrington remarked, ' A fortnight ago, we should as soon 
 have thought of losing Manchester as India.' Sir Colin Campbell 
 is appointed Commander-in- Chief, and started this morning at 
 twenty-four hours' notice. In the Crimea he proved himself a 
 first-rate soldier. Lord Ellenborough made a very eloquent 
 speech, asking the Government what they meant to do, but they 
 refused to give any information. 
 
 July IQth. Gave a dinner to the Persignys, Jerseys, Lady 
 Glengall and daughter, Lord and Lady Raglan, Comte de Jaucourt, 
 Barrington, and Norman Macdonald. Madame de Persigny was 
 late, as usual, and M. de Persigny came without her in a hack 
 cab, which is the way he generally goes out to dinner, as he is 
 almost always obliged to leave the carriage for his wife. He was 
 much put out, and begged us not to wait, so we went to dinner 
 and the only place left for her was near the door, between 
 Norman Macdonald and Lady Raglan. Poor M. de Persigny 
 looked miserable, could hardly answer, and kept continually 
 looking towards the door. Madame de Persigny arrived in the 
 middle of the first course in a great flurry, her eyes evidently 
 showing signs of tears. They exchanged a furious look of defiance, 
 
 1 Lord Elgin, to his eternal honour, complied with Lord Canning's request, and 
 this accidental reinforcement probably saved India. 
 
 D D 
 
402 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 she eating her bread very fast as if to keep down her rage. At 
 last Lord Loughborough made her laugh by his usual jokes, and 
 by the time we went upstairs she had recovered her good humour, 
 though not so po_or M. de Persigny ; I could get nothing out 
 of him. When the party broke up Count de Jaucourt handed 
 Madame de Persigny to her carriage, and returned to us to say, 
 ' Yous serez bien aises d'apprendre que 1'Ambassadeur et Madame 
 de Persigny se sont embrasses sur 1'escalier.' 
 
 Mr. Curzoii, General Anson's aide-de-camp, has written an. 
 account of his death, which vindicates him from the charge, which 
 the Government followers tried to fix upon him, of slowness and 
 want of energy. It seems he was perfectly well at Umballa when 
 the insurrection broke out, and he then exerted himself so much, 
 and so incessantly, allowing himself no rest by day or night, that 
 he was quite exhausted when the cholera seized him. . He sank 
 under it, and died at Kurnaul, on the march to Delhi ; but he 
 preserved his calmness to the last, gave all the necessary orders, 
 sent for General Barnard, to whom he gave up the command, 
 sent his love to Mrs. Anson, and a message, saying it was a great 
 comfort to him to know she was safe in England. Mr. Roebuck's 
 motion to censure Government for proceeding with the Persian war 
 without the sanction of Parliament was negatived by 352 to 38. 
 
 July 2lst. I went to the Duchesse d'Aumale's breakfast at 
 Twickenham. The Due de Richelieu called. I never saw him 
 in such good humour ; he is delighted with his life in London, 
 and with the reception that all society has given him. It is said 
 that the mutiny, up to the present moment, has cost the country 
 seven millions. 
 
 August 5th. Lord Ellenborough attacked the Government of 
 India, and was answered very sharply by Lords Granville and 
 Clanricarde, to whom I replied. 
 
 August 6th.- The Persians, knowing of our difficulties in 
 India, have refused to evacuate Herat, so that the war in which 
 our Ministers embarked so rashly, and to prosecute which they 
 denuded India of its defenders, furnishing the rebels with the very 
 opportunity which they desired, turns out to be a mere waste of 
 human life and treasure, without producing the objects for which 
 it was waged. I dined yesterday with the Jerseys. Lady Stuart 
 
1857 VISIT OF EMPEROR AND EMPRESS TO THE QUEEN. 403 
 
 de Rothesay read an extract from Lady Canning's letters, giving 
 an account of the horrible barbarities practised by the rebels in 
 India, who roast the children, ill-use and murder the women. 
 
 August 7th. Left London for Achnacarry. The heat was 
 quite overpowering. 
 
 August I0th, Achnacarry. The Emperor and Empress of the 
 French, accompanied by the Walewskis, arrived at Osborne on the 
 6th at 9 A.M. They were received by the Queen at the pier. The 
 object of their visit is kept very secret, but I have no doubt it 
 is to discuss the question of the Principalities, 1 upon which the 
 English and French Governments are at variance. Their disagree- 
 ment is so serious that M. Thouvenel has struck his flag at Constan- 
 tinople/ The Emperor has long been very much dissatisfied with 
 Lord Palmerston, and I suppose that, finding Persigny has failed 
 in obtaining any concessions, he has come to try and settle matters 
 himself with the Queen ; and certainly his bringing his Foreign 
 Secretary, together with the fact that Lords Palmerston and 
 Clarendon are summoned to meet him, looks very like a con- 
 ference. 
 
 August l'2th. Delhi is not taken, as reported, and the horrors 
 committed there by the mutineers will not bear description. The 
 heat even here continues to be tropical. 
 
 August \Sth. Extraordinary precautions were taken during 
 the Emperor's visit to Osborne. Eighty detectives were sent down 
 from London, besides French police. The strictest guard was kept 
 round the Palace and over the island. Besides this, a number 
 of men-of-war's boats guarded the shore, and did not allow a single 
 boat to approach. 
 
 August I4cth. The troops destined for China are arriving 
 daily at Calcutta. Lord Palmerston has given way on the question 
 of the Principalities, so the Emperor has gained his point by his 
 visit to Osborne. The dispute arose on a question of the union 
 of the Principalities, which France, Russia, Prussia, and Sardinia 
 supported. England, Austria, and Turkey opposed the union, 
 and, the elections in Moldavia having been in favour of Eng- 
 land, the French, Russians, &c., accused the English Government 
 
 1 This was the case, and the Emperor prevailed. The French wished to place 
 them under one Hospodar. We and the Porte insisted on there being two. 
 
 i> D 2 
 
404 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER* 1857 
 
 of having influenced them unfairly, and demanded that they 
 should be annulled. The Porte refused this, upon which the 
 Ambassadors of France, Russia, Prussia, and Sardinia struck their 
 flags. The Emperor Napoleon then, instead of wasting time in 
 useless correspondence, came over himself, and the question was 
 settled at once. I do not pretend to judge whether Palmerston 
 was right or wrong, but his defeat must have cost him a bitter 
 pang. Louis Napoleon's Ministers have been completely won over 
 by the Russians, especially Walewski. 
 
 August 3lst. -Count Chreptovitch, who has been here some 
 days, left us this morning to the joy of everybody. All felt that 
 he hated us, which the Due de Richelieu says is the case, and we 
 therefore took care never to talk politics or mention India before 
 him. He has not been able to get on at all with Lord Palmerston. 
 Indian news is very bad, and confirms the account of the massacre 
 at Cawnpore of all the garrison, and 240 women and children 
 General Havelock has defeated the mutineers wherever he could 
 reach them, but his forces are very inferior to his task, and his 
 position at times would appear desperate. 
 
 September $th. Lord Derby arrived, and appears to me to be 
 in very low spirits quiet without his usual entrain. 
 
 September 16th. Better news from India. General Havelock 
 has defeated Nana Sahib in two more engagements, taking all 
 his guns ; but his army has been attacked by cholera, which has 
 obliged him to return to Cawnpore without relieving Lucknow. 
 
 September 29th. A tremendous gale and rain. The whole 
 party sat together in the drawing-room, each obliged to tell a 
 story. Mine was as follows, and was founded on the fact that 
 Richelieu had refused to shoot with Loughborough in consequence 
 of his always hunting his pointers down wind : 
 
 There was once a young Highland shepherd, who was drinking 
 at a burn, and being in the humour of desiring for all sorts of 
 things that he had never seen or possessed, he wished that one of 
 the fairies he had heard of, who haunted the place, would appear 
 and give him whatever he wanted. At that moment his dog 
 howled and a pixie stood before him. * I have heard you,' she 
 said, ' as I sat under that pebble in the burn, and I will give you 
 whatever you wish for, but it must be one thing only and for ever.' 
 
1857 A PIXIE STORY. 405 
 
 * Thank you,' said the lad, not at all alarmed, ' T have only one 
 desire in the world, and that is to go to sea and become a rich 
 merchant/ This happened before steamers were invented, and 
 the fairy answered most graciously, ' Mr. MacGuffog, I will give 
 you what is the most essential thing for a prosperous voyage and 
 successful trading namely, wherever you go you shall have a 
 fair wind whichever way you turn yourself or your ship/ The 
 young MacGuffog fell on his knees with gratitude, and having 
 given the fairy a pull at his whisky-flask, went forthwith to Fort 
 William, and enlisted as a cabin-boy on board a merchantman. 
 It was not very long before the fact became known that what- 
 ever ship he was on board always had the wind astern ; all the 
 trading captains hired him at any price, but he soon gained enough 
 to sail on his own account, and by the time he was thirty, the 
 rapid voyages he invariably made cut out everybody else, and gave 
 him such advantages that he realised a large fortune. He then 
 remembered his native hills, and determined to buy an estate upon 
 them. This he did, but he felt that he was not really a High- 
 land gentleman without a deer-forest, and therefore he extended 
 his domain, took off the sheep, and hired the best stalker in Scot- 
 land. All this being prepared for his happiness and amusement, 
 he started with him to stalk in his own forest, but day after day 
 he was disappointed by the perverseness of the weather, the 
 wind constantly changing the moment he went out. Whatever 
 circuits he took he found himself always going down wind, so that, 
 whether as single deer or herds, no animal allowed him to approach 
 within a quarter of a mile. He looked upon this merely as a piece 
 of bad luck, till by chance, crossing the burn on which he had 
 seen the pixie fifteen years before, he heard a tiny giggle and 
 then a long low laugh. Turning round, he saw the little woman, 
 and then the terrible truth broke upon him that if he lived to 
 a thousand years he never could possibly kill a stag. 
 
 This was my story, and as to that of Lord Loughborough and the 
 Due de Richelieu, which suggested it to me, it was as follows : 
 That Lord Loughborough, being obliged to shoot in spectacles, 
 could not face the rain and wind on a wet day, which was the case 
 when the Duke went out with him. 
 
 October 1st. General Havelock's force made a second advance 
 
406 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 upon Lucknow on August 22, but was again obliged to fall back. 
 The 5th and 90th Regiments are on their way up the river to rein- 
 force him. Three Bombay regiments have mutinied since the 
 last mail arrived. It is said that Lucknow has only provisions till 
 the 21st, and is now upon famine rations. Letters from Calcutta 
 bring several very serious accusations against Lord Canning, the 
 most important being that Lord Elphinstone having telegraphed 
 to him at the beginning of the insurrection to offer to send a fast 
 steamer from Bombay, which could easily be done, and by which 
 a fortnight would have been saved, Lord Canning sent a peremp- 
 tory refusal. When General Anson died, Lord Canning named 
 Sir Patrick Grant Commander-in-Chief, but the Government at 
 home superseded this appointment by naming Sir Colin Campbell. 
 Lord Canning is an intimate friend of mine, and was Under- 
 secretary at the Foreign Office under Lord Aberdeen. He is 
 clever, and deservedly popular, and when he was offered the 
 Government of India he came to me to ask my advice as to his 
 accepting it. Without any hesitation, knowing his character as I 
 did, I advised him to refuse, and, had he followed my advice, it is 
 probable that he would have saved his life and distinguished him- 
 self in Parliament and held the highest offices in the Cabinet, as 
 our political leaders had a good opinion of him and he had a great 
 name. The offer, however, was tempting, and he accepted it, little 
 expecting the terrible difficulties he would encounter almost before 
 his foot was in the stirrup. 
 
 October Zrd. This morning my stalker and his boy gave nae 
 an account of a mysterious creature, which they say exists in Loch 
 Arkaig, and which they call the Lake-horse. It is the same 
 animal of which one has occasionally read accounts in the news- 
 papers as having been' seen in the Highland lochs, and on the 
 existence of which in Loch Assynt the late Lord Ellesmere wrote 
 an interesting article, but hitherto the story has always been looked 
 upon as fabulous. I am now, however, nearly persuaded of its 
 truth. My stalker, John Stuart, at Achnacarry, has seen it twice, 
 and both times at sunrise in summer on a bright sunny day, when 
 there was not a ripple on the water. The creature was basking 
 on the surface ; he only saw the head and hind quarters, proving 
 that its back was hollow, which is not the shape of any fish or of 
 
1857 THE LAKE-HORSE. 407 
 
 a seal. Its head resembled that of a horse. It was also seen 
 once by his three little children, who were all walking together along 
 the beach. It was then motionless, about thirty yards from the 
 shore, and apparently asleep, and they first took it for a rock, but 
 when they got near it moved its head, and they were so frightened 
 that they ran home, arriving in a state of the greatest terror. 
 There was no mistaking their manner when they related this story, 
 and they offered to make an affidavit before a magistrate. The 
 Highlanders are very superstitious about this creature. They 
 are convinced that there is never more than one in existence 
 at the same time, and I believe they think it has something 
 diabolical in its nature, for when I said I wished I could get with- 
 in shot of it my stalker observed very gravely : 'Perhaps your 
 Lordship's gun would miss fire/ It would be quite possible, 
 though difficult, for a seal to work up the river Lochy into Loch 
 Arkaig. 
 
 October l&th. General Outram has behaved very generously 
 to Havelock, and has told him he would not deprive him of the 
 glory he so well deserved of relieving Lucknow, but would leave 
 him in command of the expedition and would serve under him. 
 The 'Daily News' gives the Order in Council issued by Lord 
 Canning on July 31, the object of which is noble in its nature 
 namely, to transfer the power of punishing the mutineers from the 
 military to the civil authorities ; but it is the act of a doctrinaire. 
 Nothing could be more ill-timed and injudicious. The time to 
 show mercy will be when we have completely regained our autho- 
 rity and restored peace, and when our power will be so undoubted 
 that we may pardon the guilty without our mercy being attributed 
 to fear. Then, again, if the military authorities, instead of judg- 
 ing criminals on the spot, have to send them to Allahabad, which 
 Lord Canning orders, or keep them in prison, a great part of our 
 army will be employed in escorting prisoners and guarding gaols. 
 The only excuse for this proclamation is the impossibility of obey- 
 ing it, though it may serve to show that its author is a Christian 
 and an amiable man. 
 
 October 23rd. Left Achnacarry. 
 
 October 24:th, Chillingham. The Ossulstons are going to 
 Compiegne for the fete there. News has arrived of the fall of 
 
408 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 Delhi, which was stormed on September 20. The resistance was 
 obstinate, and our loss severe, amounting to 50 English officers 
 and 600 men killed and wounded. 
 
 In my diary there was of course a great deal about the Indian 
 mutiny, but I have quoted only enough of it to save myself from 
 any accusation of indifference to events which stirred England, 
 and, indeed, the whole civilised world, at the time, with all the 
 emotions to which the human mind is liable. The atrocities of 
 the rebels, who spared neither age nor sex, were only equalled by 
 the courage of the victims. Who can measure the heroic resigna- 
 tion of those English ladies first besieged and then murdered at 
 Cawnpore and Lucknow ? Who can measure the difficulties and 
 personal labour of Havelock, that great Christian soldier, who 
 died in the cause 1 That terrible Sepoy war (admirably described 
 by Kaye) is the moral as well as military glory of our race. The 
 generous Outram resigned his command to Havelock rather than 
 pluck a leaf from his laurels ; the veteran hero Clyde, as strong 
 as ever in battle, then the fiery avengers, Neill and Rose the 
 former forcing the assassins of Cawnpore to lick up the blood 
 of their murdered victims ; the latter traversing Central India 
 with his army, and dealing retribution with an unsparing sword. 
 I have passed over the details of these things as they happened at 
 the time, and as I then noted them, and also the emotions which 
 they created in our quiet* social circle during my autumn visit 
 to the Highlands. May our Indian rulers profit hereafter by 
 this terrible lesson ! 
 
 November \\th. I was much grieved at receiving news this 
 morning of the death of my cousin, George Harris, who had been 
 my private secretary, and was now consul at Venice. He was a 
 remarkably clever man, and had, by his social qualities and 
 natural ability, obtained great influence in the place, and made it 
 almost a legation. Mr. Conyngham has sent me the telegrams 
 just received from India. Lucknow was relieved on September 
 25, The enemy's entrenchments were stormed on the 26th, and 
 
1857 RAIKES'S MEMOIRS. 409 
 
 on the 29th a large part of the city was taken ; but General Neill 
 is killed and 450 men. The death of the former is irreparable. 
 He had commanded the Madras Fusiliers. Our losses at Delhi 
 are 61 officers and 1,178 men. General Nicholson has died of 
 his wounds ; so we have paid dearly for our victories. The 
 old King of Delhi was taken by Captain Hodson, fifteen miles out 
 of Delhi, accompanied by his chief wife, and their lives were 
 spared, but two of his sons and a grandson were shot on the spot, 
 and their bodies brought into the city and exposed in the police 
 office. 
 
 November I2th. The Duchesse de Nemours died suddenly at 
 Claremont yesterday. She had been confined a fortnight ago, 
 and was going on so well that she got up. Whilst her maid was 
 dressing her, she exclaimed, 'Je me meurs,' and fell back in 
 a fainting fit, from which she never recovered. The Duke had 
 gone out riding, thinking her quite well, and on his return found 
 her dead. 
 
 November 13th. The 'Times' of to-day announces two very 
 important facts. One, that the Government have suspended the 
 Bank Charter Act ; the other that Parliament is to be called 
 together immediately. I have been reading the last two volumes 
 of Raikes's memoirs, which are very interesting, almost entirely 
 political, and some parts well written, though not grammatical in 
 places, the word ' who ' not always referring to the antecedent, 
 which produces a ludicrous effect. I knew Raikes well, and read 
 the original in manuscript, which was much more amusing than 
 the publication. Almost all the most racy anecdotes have been 
 omitted, and the few that are left, being given without the 
 names, have no interest. A great deal has been left out in con- 
 sequence of its not agreeing with the political opinions of the 
 editor, Mr. Charles Greville, who, being a Peelite, would not allow 
 anything against Sir Robert Peel to be published, so that the 
 events of 1846 are suppressed or garbled, though the journal 
 comes down to 1847. That year was not forgotten by Mr. Raikes, 
 who was an uncompromising old Tory and Protectionist, and who 
 let everybody know it. 
 
 November I4tth. Mrs. Augustus Villiers called and told me 
 the cause of the Duchesse de Nemours' death was ascertained 
 
410 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 to proceed from a simple drop of coagulated blood in one of the 
 arteries. In all other respects she was perfectly healthy. 
 
 The claims that are to be made upon England by the mer- 
 chants of various countries for compensation in consequence 
 of the bombardment of Canton will, it is said, amount to several 
 millions. 
 
 November I5th. Havelock has written to Sir Colin Compbell, 
 asking for reinforcements, as he was hemmed in at Lucknow and 
 could not return to Cawnpore. Sir Colin answered that he 
 had not a man to send, and if he had there were no means of 
 transport to send them up the country. Lord Canning is much 
 blamed for not having organised a transport corps since the 
 beginning of the war. Havelock's position is thought to be 
 one of imminent danger. He is now in the same position as the 
 garrison he marched to relieve. He has lost 500 men and his 
 best officer, General Neill. 
 
 The English ladies who went to Compiegne for the fetes have 
 just returned, and seem to have been greatly amused. The 
 Emperor as much occupied with Madame Walewska as ever. 
 They were struck with the freedom in conversation and manners 
 of the Court, which is most remarkable in Princess Mathilde. 
 Their forgetfulness of all convenances is quite incredible, and in 
 more than one instance excited the disgust of the Empress 
 as well as that of her guests. 
 
 November 18th. A friend of Lord Canning's told me he sup-- 
 posed I should speak against him. I said I had no such inten- 
 tion ; was deeply sorry to hear him abused, and that I had 
 written to him three months ago, urging him to adopt a vigorous 
 line against the rebels, as the feeling in England was very strong, 
 and no other policy would be approved. I had always considered 
 Lord Canning one of my most intimate friends. 
 
 November l$th. Poor Augustus Stafford has evidently 
 been killed by his doctors, judging by the evidence at the inquest. 
 He had first a tremendous dose of laudanum for spasms, then was 
 bled to the extent of thirty ounces ; the bandage afterwards com- 
 ing off, he lost a good deal more blood, and in this state of 
 exhaustion the doctor and his servant were obliged to keep 
 him walking about to prevent his dying from the laudanum. 
 
1857 GOOD NEWS FROM INDIA. 411 
 
 When this failed to keep him awake, they beat the soles of his 
 feet for several hours with such violence that they broke the 
 pieces of wood and took off all the skin from his feet. This saved 
 him for the moment, and he went to Dublin for further advice, 
 but died in a few days from utter exhaustion. He told Mr. H. 
 Herbert that he had been horribly treated, and was dying from 
 the effects of that treatment. Mr. Herbert very properly urged 
 an inquiry, and his father also expressing a wish to that effect, 
 an inquest was held, but the jury acquitted the doctor, whose 
 colleagues gave evidence in his favour. I hear that Lord 
 Strangford married Miss Lennox ten days ago. The marriage 
 took place at Lord Stamford's place in the country. Lord 
 Strangford was dying when the ceremony was performed. 
 
 November '25th. Good news has arrived from India ; the 
 53rd and 93rd Queen's Regiments have joined Havelock at 
 Lucknow. Colonel Greathed's flying column will also join him 
 there from Delhi, when he will have 7,000 men, which will enable 
 him to remove the garrison. Colonel Greathed has gained 
 two victories over the fugitives between Delhi and Agra, took 
 forty-three guns and five lakhs of rupees. Miss Anson's marriage 
 with Mr. Curzon 1 is announced. 
 
 November 27th. Received a letter from Lord Derby, who 
 comes to London on the 30th to have a conference with the leaders 
 of the party. He says he has heard from Disraeli, who is very 
 pugnacious. Lord Ellenborough also means to speak his mind 
 openly upon India, but, as usual, does not seem willing to work 
 with anybody else. People talk of our victories in India as being 
 proofs of Lord Palmerston's glorious administration. I cannot 
 myself see that anybody deserves any credit for them, excepting 
 our splendid soldiers ; for these successes have been gained by a 
 handful of troops who were there at the time the mutiny broke 
 out and before a single man had arrived from England. Moreover, 
 if he had listened to Lord Ellenborough and our party, who urged 
 his Government to send out more troops two months sooner, the 
 massacre at Cawnpore and a great many other atrocities would 
 have been prevented. 
 
 November 30^.- Mr. Bentinck called and announced the death 
 i Now Earl Howe, 1883, 
 
412 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1857 
 
 of Lord Fitzhardinge, whose last words were : ' The angel of 
 death is hovering over Berkeley Castle, and if you don't feed 
 
 those ducks in the lower pond, I'll be d d if you don't lose 
 
 them all.' Old habit strong in death ! 
 
 December 1st. Lord Canning is again much blamed for his 
 conduct to the talookdars, the great native landowners. The 
 chief of these is Maun Singh, who is one of the largest holders of 
 property in Oude, but had been deprived by the late King of a 
 considerable portion of his estates. He promised to support us if 
 we reinstated him. Our Government was pressed to accede to 
 this by some of our ablest men, but they temporised, and Maun 
 Singh decided to act against us, and roused all the other talook- 
 dars, and our countrymen had scarcely obtained possession of 
 Lucknow when they found themselves besieged there. Saw Lord 
 Derby this afternoon in high spirits and evidently determined to 
 make a slashing speech, but nothing can be arranged till he has 
 read the Queen's Speech. 
 
 December 2nd. I was greatly shocked on my return home to 
 hear of the death of Norman Macdonald from apoplexy. We 
 had been great friends since we were at Oriel. He was Comp- 
 troller of the Lord Chamberlain's Department. He was calling 
 on Lady Ely at the moment of his seizure, and died the same 
 day. He was a very obliging and friendly man, and much liked 
 in society. 
 
 December 3rd. The Queen opened Parliament to-day. The 
 Duchess of Manchester was in the House. She was full of Com- 
 piegne. When Lord Derby got up, people ceased talking. His 
 speech was very good, some parts extremely eloquent. He 
 attacked Lord Canning and the Government in England and 
 quizzed Mr. Yernon Smith unmercifully. Lord Granville made 
 no defence either for the Government or for his friend Lord 
 Canning, simply saying that they must stand or fall by their own 
 acts. Lord f Ellenborough then made a very good, short, and 
 energetic speech, but in rather too loud and overbearing a tone. 
 The Duke of Argyll followed ; Lord Panmure speaking as usual 
 with his terrible fluency. Lady Stuart de Rothesay is now a sort 
 of authority upon India, and if she gave her information in a less 
 voluble manner would be a great acquisition at this moment, 
 
185? RELIEF OF LUCKNOW. 413 
 
 One amusing anecdote she related was about a court-martial 
 which assembled to try a prisoner. When it was over, one of the 
 officers, happening to go into the verandah, knocked against some- 
 thing which proved to be the body of the accused, whom the 
 soldiers placed to guard him had hanged during the deliberations, 
 tearing that he might be let off. 
 
 December l'2th. The news from India continues good Our 
 lorces, under the splendid leadership of Grant, Outram, Sir Colin 
 Campbell, and Havelock, are holding their own against Nana 
 Sahib with 50,000 men. 
 
 The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved last night for the 
 reappointment of the select committee to inquire into the opera- 
 ion of all the Bank Acts. Disraeli moved an amendment, which 
 ras rejected by a majority of 178. 
 
 December 24ZA. Great news from India. Lucknow taken 011 
 November 17. Sir Colin Campbell reached Alumbagh on No- 
 vember 12, began fighting the next day, and took several positions. 
 ie crossed the canal on the 16th, and after an obstinate struggle, 
 ook Secunderabad. Early on the 17th communication was opened 
 ip with the barracks. A long cannonade was commenced, and the 
 dace was carried by assault. The troops pushed on and occupied 
 vtotee Mahal before dark. Generals Outram and Havelock then 
 net Sir Colin Campbell, and a most affecting scene took place. 
 
 Delhi twenty-four inferior members of the royal family were 
 xecuted by sentence of a military commission. 
 
 1858 
 
 January 1st. A summer's day. 
 
 January 7th. News has arrived of Havelock's death from 
 lysentery, produced by anxiety and exposure. He has left an 
 mmortal name. General Wyndham has been defeated at Cawn- 
 >ore by the Gwalior insurgents. One regiment, the 64th, suffered 
 reatly, and its tents and baggage were taken. Sir Colin Campbell 
 tearing of this disaster, marched upon Cawnpore, attacked the 
 Jwalior army, and totally defeated it. 
 
 January IQth. An infamous attempt was made on the 14th 
 
414 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER, 1858 
 
 to assassinate the Emperor Napoleon. Three grenades were 
 thrown at his carriage as it stopped at the door of the Opera- 
 house, and all exploded, shattering the carriage, killing the horses, 
 and wounding a great number of persons, but the Emperor and 
 Empress were unhurt. The Emperor's hat was torn and his fore- 
 head slightly scratched, as also was the Empress's cheek. Their 
 reception by the audience at the Opera was most enthusiastic, 
 and their return to the Tuileries a perfect ovation. The number 
 of wounded is 102. Twenty-seven persons are arrested, all of 
 them Italians. Orsini, the chief, was himself severely wounded, 
 which prevented his escaping, and led to his apprehension. His 
 servant foolishly went about inquiring after his master, and when 
 asked his name, fainted. On his recovery he was threatened with 
 arrest if he did not give his address. He did so, and the gendarme 
 went to his house and found Orsini in bed with a severe wound in 
 the head. On seeing them he exclaimed ' Je suis perdu,' and 
 then attempted to pass himself off as an Englishman, but his 
 accent betrayed him. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Heron Court : January 17, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, If you have an opportunity, pray be so kind as to 
 express to the Emperor my congratulations at his wonderful escape. 
 In common with all Europe I rejoice at it for public reasons, but do so 
 also from personal feelings for him. The French must admire the 
 defence of Lucknow, say what they will. They may have generals who 
 would have done as well as Inglis in defending the place, but they have 
 no one who could have written his simple though eloquent despatch. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 January 20th. We are asked to the Princess Royal's wedding. 
 
 January 21st. The Queen was exceedingly gracious to me 
 at the ball yesterday, expressing her regret that Lady Malmesbury 
 could not attend. I was much amused at overhearing a con- 
 versation between Persigny and Sir George Lewis on the subject 
 of the attempt on Louis Napoleon. Sir George affirmed that 
 the cause of the attempt was the occupation of Home by the 
 
1858 THE PRINCESS ROYAL'S MARRIAGE. 415 
 
 French. Persigny replied, If we were not there, the Austrians 
 would be.' The other answered : < In that case, the Emperor of 
 Austria would have been assassinated.' Persigny, at this, got 
 into a towering passion, and said that the cases were quite differ- 
 ent. The Emperor of Austria had two hundred heirs to the 
 Crown, and the Emperor of Prance only one. I tried to appease 
 him, for he was in a perfect fury, and accompanied him into one 
 of the outer rooms, where we sat talking for half an hour. 
 
 January 25th. The marriage of the Princess Royal with 
 Prince Frederick William of Prussia takes place to-day. Immense 
 crowds assembled to see the carriage go to the Chapel Royal. 
 The * Morning Post ' says Lord Palmerston carried the sword of 
 State ' with, an easy grace and dignity ; ' the ' Times ' says ' with 
 a ponderous solemnity.' The Princess Royal was quite composed. 
 
 February 1st. Persigny is much alarmed at the state of public 
 feeling with .respect to the refugees, and says that if England does 
 not make some concession we must have war. The Emperor will 
 do all he can to keep peace, but fears he will be unable to do so 
 should we remain obstinate. This will oblige us to make some 
 alteration in our laws respecting refugees, 1 for at this moment, 
 when our resources are taxed to the utmost to reconquer India, 
 we are not in a position to have war with anyone. 
 
 February Wi. Lord Palmerston introduced his bill for an 
 amendment of the law respecting refugees yesterday evening. 
 It was very ill received, and the debate adjourned. The only 
 alteration proposed, however, is to make conspiracy to murder 
 felony instead of a misdemeanour, which it has hitherto been ; 
 but the Emperor has given such offence by countenancing the 
 insults offered to England by the French colonels, that John Bull 
 has got his back up, and though the Emperor declares that he did 
 not know of these addresses of the colonels in the ' Moniteur,' 
 and regrets them, England is greatly offended, and not disposed 
 to please France. A vote of thanks to the Government and army 
 
 1 England is now paying for her long-continued reception and protection of 
 well-known assassins who have fled from justice to our shores to teach our criminals 
 the mysteries of dynamite and other deadly compounds. The first inventor of 
 these, and of the clockwork apparatus for exploding them, was a German, who had 
 prepared the destruction of a ship during its passage to America. 
 
41 6 MEMOIRS OF Att EX-MINISTER. 1868 
 
 of India was also proposed yesterday. Palmerston. had given 
 notice that a vote of thanks to the army and navy of India would 
 be moved on February 8. He then, without any notice, added 
 Lord Canning, Lord Harris, and Lord Elphinstone. This of 
 course, gave rise to great discussion, and many things were said 
 which must be very painful to Lord Canning. Lord Palmerston 
 was obliged to declare that if the vote passed it would not prevent 
 any future discussion on Lord Canning's conduct. Lord Elphin- 
 stone's name was loudly cheered by all parties, who agreed that 
 he had thoroughly deserved the thanks of Parliament. 
 
 February IQth. The discussion on the Refugee Bill was re- 
 sumed yesterday. Lord John Russell spoke against it. Disraeli 
 supported the Government, and the House divided in favour of 
 the bill by a majority of 299 against 99. 
 
 February 12th. Lord Grey in the House of Lords presented 
 a petition of the East India Company, protesting against its 
 abolition, and made a very fine speech. 
 
 February 13th. Lord Palmerston introduced his bill for the 
 abolition of the East India Company, bringing no accusation 
 against it, or giving any intelligible reason for this act of spolia- 
 tion. 
 
 February 17 th, Heron Court. Lord and Lady .Derby ar- 
 rived with Lord Ossulston. The former talked very openly upon 
 politics, and evidently will not refuse office if it is offered him. 
 
 February IQth. Hard black frost. We went out wild-fowl 
 shooting. The Bill for the Abolition of Church-rates passed in 
 the House of Commons by a majority of 53. Mr. Tom Baring's 
 amendment to the India Bill defeated by 145. 
 
 February 20th. Ossulston, who left yesterday, arrived again 
 at four o'clock, bringing the news of the defeat of the Govern- 
 ment upon Mr. Milner Gibson's amendment to the Refugee Bill, 
 which was to the following effect : ' That this House hears with 
 much concern that it is alleged that recent attempts upon the life 
 of the Emperor of the French have been devised in England, and 
 expresses its detestation of such guilty enterprises. That this 
 House is ready at all times to assist in remedying any defects in 
 the Criminal Law, which, after due investigation, are proved to 
 exist, yet it cannot but regret that her Majesty's Government, 
 
1858 THE DERBY MINISTRY. 417 
 
 previously to inviting the House to amend the law of conspiracy, 
 at the present time has not felt it to be their duty to make some 
 reply to the important despatch received from the French Govern- 
 ment, dated Paris, Jan. 20.' The majority of our party voted for 
 the amendment, which was carried by a majority of nineteen 
 234: against 215. Lord Palmerston made a very intemperate 
 speech, and actually shook his fist at the Manchester clique. 
 Disraeli's face was worth anything a mixture of triumph and 
 sarcasm that he could not repress. Ossulston voted with the 
 Government. 
 
 February 2lst. I got a letter this morning saying that Lord 
 Palmerston has resigned, and that Lord Derby would be sent for. 
 I telegraphed to Lord Lonsdale, * What news ? Ought I to 
 come ? ' and the answer arrived at two o'clock, simply saying, 
 ' Come up directly.' So it is evident Lord Derby is sent for. 
 
 I go up to London to-morrow. 
 
 February 22nd. Went to London, and found that Lord 
 Derby had accepted office. He has requested me to take the 
 department of the Foreign Office. Lord Ellenborough has the 
 India Board ; Bulwer joins in the Colonial Office ; Gladstone 
 and Lord Grey refuse to join, and Lord St. Leonards is suc- 
 ceeded by Sir Frederick Thesiger as Lord Chancellor. The 
 War Office and Admiralty are not yet filled up. 
 
 February 2th. The Cabinet is made up as follows : Premier, 
 Lord Derby ; Lord Chancellor, Lord Chelmsford ; President 
 of the Council, Lord Salisbury ; l Privy Seal, Lord Hardwicke ; 2 
 Foreign Office, Lord Malmesbury ; Home Office, Mr. Walpole ; 
 Colonies, Sir E. Bulwer-Lytton ; 3 Admiralty, Sir John Paking- 
 ton ; War Office, General Peel : Board of Trade, Mr. Henley ; 
 First Commissioner of Works, Lord John Manners ; Board of 
 Control, Lord Ellenborough ; 4 Chancellor of the Exchequer, 
 Mr. Disraeli. In giving me the Foreign Office, Lord Derby 
 has imposed a very great responsibility upon me. At this 
 moment our relations with France are in. a state of more than 
 
 1 The Marquis of Salisbury died April 1868. 
 
 2 The Earl of Hardwicke died September 1873. 
 5 Lord Lytton died in January 1873. 
 
 4 The Earl of Ellenborough died September 1871. 
 
 E r. 
 
418 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1858 
 
 tension, and it will require the utmost temper both in this 
 country and there to clear away the clouds that threaten a 
 storm. I have great confidence, not only in the good sense of 
 the Emperor, but also in what I consider to be the undoubted 
 disposition he entertains to do all he can to keep well with 
 England. In the numberless conversations I have had with him, 
 I have always observed this feeling to be uppermost, and that 
 he is quite aware that his uncle owed his great misfortunes 
 principally to his constant enmity to this country. I do not 
 feel so much confidence in his Ministers, Walewski and Persigny, 
 but I hope and believe that he holds them firmly in hand, and 
 that he will not allow their prejudices or passions to act upon his 
 policy. 
 
 February 25$A. All the arrangements are completed, and 
 the new Ministers kiss hands to-morrow. Lord Derby is to 
 make his statement on Monday. Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald is 
 Under-Secretary to the Foreign Office, and I have appointed 
 Mr. Bidwell and Mr. Wolff 1 as my private secretaries. 
 
 February 2Qth. The hard frost continues. Lord Derby's 
 Government has several times been on the point of breaking 
 down. The worst hitch happened yesterday. Lytton was 
 forced to resign the Colonies, finding that he could not be re- 
 elected for Hertfordshire. I persuaded Lord Stanley to take 
 the office to serve his father's Government, so all is right again. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley? 
 
 London : February 27, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, I have only a moment to say that I am glad to 
 itind an old friend and one so eminently useful as yourself still at 
 Paris. I hope you will give me your assistance as willingly as you 
 did in 1852. Persigny 'declares, sur la tete de ses enfants, that the 
 animus is good at the Tuileries. Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 1 Now Sir Henry Wolff, M.P. for Portsmouth. 
 
 2 Earl Cowley died in 1884, after a most distinguished career in diplomacy. 
 I never knew a man of business so naturally gifted for that profession. Straight- 
 forward himself, he easily discovered guile in others who sought to deceive him, 
 and this was well known to such. He remained Ambassador at Paris till 1867, 
 and was not a little assisted by the remarkable intelligence of his wife, nee de Ros, 
 and by her knowledge of the world, of society, and of courts. 
 
1858 LORD STANLEY SECRETARY FOR THE COLONIES. 419 
 
 March 1st. Lord Derby made his statement this afternoon 
 to an immensely full House, and spoke well. Lady Malmesbury 
 has come up, which is a great comfort to me, as I have been 
 here without servants or carriage, obliged to dine at my club, 
 where I am surrounded by discontented faces, and worried by 
 those who want places. Lord Stanley is Secretary for the 
 Colonies in the place of Sir E. Lytton. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Coivley. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 1, 1858. 
 
 My clear Cowley, There can be no doubt that you will be ren- 
 dering a public service at this moment in assisting me to calm the 
 wayward spirits on both sides the Channel. That is the first and 
 most important point. Then again no one is, or can be, saturated 
 (this is Clarendon's word) like you with the questions emanating 
 from the Treaty of Paris and impending in the approaching Con- 
 ferences. After all this is settled, and if I am still in office, it will 
 be time to talk over your personal wishes respecting yours. I 
 therefore, with much pleasure, consider you to have complied with 
 every request. I will write again to-night if I have anything to tell 
 you after Lord Derby's statement. Pray mention that we think of 
 sending some respectable gentleman to Naples to watch the trial of 
 the Engineers, and give a fair and complete report of their state. He 
 will merely take a letter to Caraffa, and not stay a day after the 
 business is settled. The French appear to have acted loyalement 
 in this business at Naples, and they need not think that we have any 
 arriere-pensee. There is now only a Deputy Vice-Consul to report, 
 of whom I personally know nothing. Yours sincerely, , 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 March %nd. Lord Grey said to Lady Tanker ville that he 
 would have joined Lord Derby's Government if it had not been 
 for Mr. Disraeli, and that Mr. Gladstone would also have joined 
 him had he been offered the leadership of the Commons. The 
 Duchess of Manchester is made Mistress of the Robes, vice the 
 Duchess of Wellington. The Duke of Wellington has given 
 his adherence to Lord Derby, although he accepted the Garter 
 from Lord Palmerston, and Lord Derby had given away his 
 place at Court to the Duke of Beaufort. 
 
 EE2 
 
420 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER* 1858 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 London : March 2, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, We find it utterly impossible to proceed with 
 Pahnerston's Bill. Lord John Eussell has thrown himself into the 
 arms of the Radicals, by whom he has been gladly taken, and he 
 and Gladstone have pledged themselves, with 140 men, to interrupt 
 any bill, in any way, and for any time. If we are beaten now, Lord 
 John must be the next man. Clarendon agreed with me that all 
 moderate men must deprecate such an advent accompanied by a 
 Reform Bill, which would make the House of Commons a revolution- 
 ary and unmanageable body. . 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Prom Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 London : March 2, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, I must now inform you ou nous en sommes 
 with M. de Persigny upon the Refugee question. I had two inter- 
 views yesterday with him, and Lord Derby had another, in which we 
 laid before him (according to previous agreement) the model of 
 such a despatch as might satisfy the House of Commons. It 
 was a suitable protest against the insinuations contained in Count 
 Walewski's despatch of January 28, and would at the same time 
 allow the French Government to find a dignified ecliappatoire 
 from the present position, so painful to all parties. To the general 
 tone Persigny made no objection, but he pressed earnestly that we 
 should not enter into any argument in defence of our law, but con- 
 fine ourselves to vindicating the honour and character of the English 
 people. 
 
 Prepare, therefore, the way for this course and consummation; 
 it is difficult and almost impossible to do so here satisfactorily. 
 "With the best animus, Persigny is so emporte, that we cannot reason 
 with him ; his vehemence and excitability make interviews anything 
 but agreeable. I wish particularly to avoid any sort of complaint 
 being made of him to his enemy, Walewski, or even to the Emperor 
 upon this score ; but there is one point which you must press upon 
 the Emperor, and which he must in his turn press upon Persigny 
 namely, that it is utterly fatal to the carrying out of delicate opera- 
 tions, or even of routine business, if he repeats and relates to the 
 Opposition all that passes between him and her Majesty's Ministers. 
 After niy first conversation on the 20th, in which we proposed a 
 
1858 MY REPLY TO WALEWSKI'S DESPATCH. 421 
 
 course somewhat similar to the present, he went and related the 
 whole to Lord Palmerston, and, that you may not doubt the fact, 
 he himself told me that he had done so, together with Palmerston's 
 observations. You know well enough that, whatever the Government 
 and whatever the Opposition, it is impossible to carry on political 
 matters unless the Foreign Ambassadors are tongue-tied with the 
 Opposition. It always was looked upon as a point of honour, just 
 as it is with our own, many of whom must be always opposed to 
 the de facto Government in opinions. Pray, then, let him be warned 
 by his master, but not by his fellow -servant, whom he hates with 
 all the bitterness imaginable. Yours sincerely, 
 
 M^LMESBURY. 
 
 March 4th. Sent my despatch in answer to Walewski's 
 to-day. Sir E. Lytton is offended with Lord Derby, whom he 
 accuses of having acted with unjustifiable haste in filling up 
 the Secretaryship of the Colonies. It appears there was some 
 misunderstanding between the two that Lytton only said he 
 was not sure of his re-election, which Lord Derby understood 
 to be a positive statement that he could not re-obtain his seat. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Coivley. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 4, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, I send you a despatch which is intended by 
 us to be the reply to Walewski's unfortunate production, and which 
 you will present at once, unless you see good reason for the contrary, 
 which you will announce by telegraph. The Cabinet find that to 
 pass Lord Palmerston's bill is impossible. Even were it not so, it 
 would be so opposed by J. Eussell, Gladstone, and the Radicals, 
 that with 140 followers they could keep the question open, and 
 becoming daily a sorer wound, for a month. Do not pledge us to 
 any reform of the law whatever. The law is itself on its trial in 
 trying Truelove and Bernard. Three others, including Pyat, are to 
 be prosecuted for an infamous libel recommending the murder of the 
 Emperor. You will easily understand that the sentence in the des- 
 patch alluding to the law having been unused by our Government 
 from reasons of discretion means a want of evidence, or a fear 
 of giving too much notoriety and false importance to the refugee 
 conspirators. But really you ought to remind the Emperor of his 
 view of the case of these scoundrels in 1852, when I came into office. 
 
422 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 Austria, Eussia, &c., had addressed the strongest remonstrance 
 to us against the refugees, and invited France to join them. He 
 treated them with contempt, and no one expressed it more strongly 
 from him than Walewski, then Ambassador in London. I think 
 he may be reminded of this. If we fail in our prosecutions our 
 hands will be strengthened, and the popular feeling may abate ; but 
 it is now passion and not reason, and our Parliamentary opponents 
 are making capital of it. If the Emperor, then, possesses any of 
 his former sagacity, he will see that he had better drop so hot a 
 coal. 'I have been utterly misunderstood; I meant to demand 
 nothing ; but, after showing to England, whom I believe to be a 
 friend and ally, the danger I have been in, and suggesting by what 
 means she might assist in preventing a repetition of such a tragedy, 
 I am met with misconstruction, and even hostile language. Trusting, 
 therefore, to God, &c., France, &c., I shall say no more about it.' 
 If done in a dignified manner, I think it would have a good effect 
 on all here, except those whose profit it is to work up a row, and 
 he might put in language which, whilst it made his people angry 
 with us, would consign the quarrel to the tomb of Pritchard. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 March 6th. M. de Persigny is furious at our party coming 
 into office, as he is devoted to Lord Palmerstoh, and instead of 
 assisting me to restore the friendly feeling lately subsisting 
 between England and France, has done all he can to pre- 
 vent my attaining that object ; not only by relating to Lord 
 Palmerston all that passes between us, but by writing letters to 
 the Emperor to increase his irritation. My impression is that 
 the Emperor is pretending to be more angry than he really is 
 to please the French ; but that, if we are firm, he will give way, 
 and intends to do so. I believe, however, that the late attempt 
 on his life has greatly shaken his nerves, that he is spoilt by 
 a life of ease and pleasure, and does not stand being shot at as 
 well as he used to do. Lord Brougham says that Bernard, the 
 assassin, would be bailed, as there were people ready to put 
 down money to any amount, and if he were, he would leave the 
 country. This would greatly complicate our difficulties with 
 France. 1 There was a great party last night at Lord Palrner- 
 1 Dr. Bernard was concerned in the Attempt on the Emperor's life, 
 
1858 GREAT FIRE AT WYNNSTAY. 423 
 
 ston's, and the language of the Opposition was very bitter. They 
 look upon office as their birthright, and upon, those who 
 deprive them of it as brigands who have robbed them of their 
 property. 
 
 March 9th. Sir Watkin Wynn's place in Wales has been 
 burned down. The visitors who were in the house had only 
 time to escape in their night-clothes. They rushed out by 
 the back door, the ground being covered with snow, and a 
 tremendous gale blowing, and the poor women stood long in it 
 without any other covering. The fright and excitement probably 
 saved their lives. After the confusion had somewhat subsided, 
 some coats were found, and they were taken to a house in the 
 neighbourhood. Lady Wynn's jewels and plate were saved, 
 and also the title-deeds of the estate ; but Lady Yane lost 
 everything, clothes and jewels, to the value of 5,000?. A few 
 pictures were saved, and fortunately the most valuable ones 
 by the old masters had been sent to the Manchester Exhibition. 
 The damage is estimated at 100,000?. 
 
 March l'2th. Walewski's answer to my despatch arrived 
 this afternoon. Persigny, who is very unwell, got out of bed 
 on purpose to bring it to me. He thinks all the annoyance 
 this business has occasioned him is the cause of his illness. 
 The tone of Walewski's despatch is very friendly, and must be 
 considered as giving full satisfaction to England. It is even 
 better than I expected from Lord Cowley's letters. Persigny, 
 when he presented it, announced that he had resigned his post 
 of Ambassador. As soon as he left I went to Lord Derby at 
 the Treasury, and he was much pleased, the more so as he 
 feared it would not have arrived in time to enable Disraeli 
 to announce its receipt to-day to the House of Commons, which 
 meets for the first time since the adjournment. He had been 
 with Lord Derby a short time before I arrived, and was much 
 annoyed at the delay in the arrival of the despatch, so that 
 when Lord Derby sent a message to him asking him to come to 
 him, as Lord Malmesbury was there, he rushed up in such a 
 desperate hurry that he nearly knocked over the messenger, 
 and entered the room in a great state of excitement. When 
 the despatch was produced, his delight was indescribable and 
 
424 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1858 
 
 amazingly demonstrative, considering the usually phlegmatic 
 manner in which he receives neAvs of all kinds. 
 
 March IMi. The House of Commons showed a hostile 
 feeling yesterday. Not a word of satisfaction was expressed 
 by the Opposition at the settlement of the quarrel with France, 
 whilst a violent attack was made upon the Government for not 
 taking immediate steps for procuring the release of the English 
 engineers who were imprisoned at Naples, having been captured 
 in the ' Cagliari.' This was a Sardinian ship, freighted and 
 manned by the Carbonari, and intended to land a party in 
 Calabria to stir up that part of Italy. No doubt this object 
 was known to the Sardinian Government, and was to provoke 
 a war, either through the seizure of the ship or from the attack 
 thus intended. The two English engineers, Watt and Park, 
 were made prisoners in her, and confined at Naples. A bitter 
 contention has been going on for some time between that 
 Government and ours as to their release, and also as to the 
 legality of the seizure of the 'Cagliari,' the Government of 
 Naples positively refusing to give way on either subject. The 
 Cabinet to-day lasted four hours. I shall lay the correspondence 
 with France on the table of the House of Lords next Monday. 
 Walewski's explanation is more satisfactory than we could 
 expect, considering that we did not give the slightest hope 
 of any concession; but, of course, it is far from cordial, and if 
 unfortunately any more attempts are made on the Emperor's 
 life by refugees from England, war will inevitably ensue. 
 
 March \kth. Lady Tankerville dined at Lady Palmerston's, 
 where she met the Persignys Madame in dreadfully low spirits 
 at having to return to Paris. Count Kielmansegge, the Hano- 
 verian Minister, told h'er it was perfectly ridiculous in Persigny 
 to make such scenes because Lord Palmerston was turned out 
 and Lord Derby come in; that a foreign ambassador ought to 
 have no politics except those of his own country, and it ought to 
 make no difference to him which party was in office, it being his 
 duty to be friends with all. I hope Persigny is really going over, 
 as I am sure it would be both difficult and disagreeable for me to 
 have anything to do with him. He is perfectly untrustworthy, 
 repeats everything to Lord Palmerston, and even appears to act 
 
1858 PERSIGNY RESIGNS. 425 
 
 according to his instructions. The first time I met him at the 
 Foreign Office he literally raved, laying his hand on the hilt of 
 his sword (he was in Court dress), and shouting, ' C'est la guerre ! 
 c'est la guerre ! ' during which scene I sat perfectly silent and 
 unmoved, till he was blown, which is the best way of meeting 
 such explosions from foreigners. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 14, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, Your letter of the 13th is very important, and 
 must give rise to the most serious apprehensions, because it foresees 
 the possibility nay, the likelihood of our being, by a mere change of 
 a Minister here, the victims of one man's views, and that man not the 
 Emperor. Now I should like to have from you (for no one else can 
 tell me) what are Walewski's views ? What is his but ? With regard 
 to Persigny, ive are old personal friends, and I congratulated myself on 
 finding him Ambassador at this time, but he has behaved in so extra- 
 ordinary a manner, not only by repeating the confidential conversations 
 which Lord Derby and I had with him to Palmerston, but by going 
 about in the salons and abusing his successors with the language and 
 manner of an electioneering agent in short, with such a total want of 
 dignity and common discretion, that the whole Corps Diplomatique 
 are in amazement. I shall consider such to be bygones if his im- 
 portance here is what you describe ; but it is absolutely indispensable 
 for the furtherance of friendly communications between him and me 
 that he should play his role in the humdrum way namely, keeping 
 his ears and eyes open, and his mouth shut, and, above all, not med- 
 dling as a partisan in domestic politics. If it ever were known to the 
 public that a foreigner did this, the Press and their readers would be 
 utterly unmanageable on the subject. Pray, then, give me your opinion 
 of Walewski's political views, and why he wants to quarrel with a 
 country the hostility of which was the cause of the first Emperor's 
 fall ? His character is not grand enough to think of revenge ! We 
 shall lay the ' Cagliari ' papers before Parliament, and probably refer 
 the question again to our Crown lawyers. It was a great indiscretion 
 if not worse of Azeglio to publish Phillim ore's opinion. Bern- 
 storff is trying to obtain the freedom of the engineers, and if you 
 have a chance, pray observe to the Neapolitan Envoy at Paris that 
 their liberty must be the first and indispensable step to a reconcilia- 
 tion with his Government, Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY, 
 
426 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1858 
 
 March 15th. I offered the embassy at Vienna to Lord Stan- 
 hope, 1 who refused, saying that he was too old. 
 
 March 16th. The remarks of all the papers on the corre- 
 spondence with the French Government are favourable, except 
 those of the 'Post,' which obeys the orders of the Emperor to 
 write me down. The ' Times ' is most complimentary. Disraeli, 
 encouraged by a. good attendance of our party, spoke extremely 
 well on the * Cagliari ' question. 
 
 March 19th. The Neapolitan Government have released the 
 engineer Watt, on the representation of Mr. Lyons, who reached 
 Naples on the llth. Park is still in confinement at Palermo, 
 where Mr. Lyons is going to see him. Our Government has 
 hitherto been fortunate. In the short space of three weeks we 
 have arranged the misunderstanding with France, with the excep- 
 tion of the feeling of irritation, which time only can appease, 
 and which is inevitable, as we have refused all concessions on the 
 Refugee question and the claims of the French Government for 
 their extradition. We have obtained the release of the engineer 
 Watt, and a promise of the immediate trial of Park. 
 
 March 20th. Dined at Lady Molesworth's last night, where 
 we met the Palmerstons and Madame de Persigny, who was cry- 
 ing at her husband's having given up the Embassy. She still 
 seemed to hope they might stay. At that moment Persigny 
 arrived, walked straight up to her, without noticing anybody else, 
 and whispered in her ear. She got up, and went into another 
 room, he following ; and they walked about the rooms, out of one 
 into another, in a state of great agitation. Persigny ending by 
 rushing out of the house, to the amazement of the company, to 
 none of whom had he said a word ! I had an audience of the 
 Queen this afternoon at six. Her Majesty kept me for an hour, 
 and made me sit clown an honour seldom granted. I dined with 
 the Montroses. 
 
 March 22nd. I presented Baron Briinnow as Minister Pleni- 
 potentiary of Russia. The Queen received him well. She gave 
 me an audience first, so Briinnow was obliged to wait, which 
 must have annoyed him, as he said to me yesterday : ' Ne me 
 faites pas attendre au Palais. Lord Palmerston me faisait attendre 
 * The late Lord Stanhope, the historian, 
 
1858 DUG DE MALAKOFF FRENCH AMBASSADOR. 427 
 
 une cm deux heures, et quelquefois ne venait pas clu tout.' This 
 unpuiictuality of Lord Palmerston's was the grievance and terror 
 of the whole Corps Diplomatique, and Yaii cle Weyer assured me 
 that during his mission he had read through the eight volumes of 
 ' Clarissa Harlowe ' in the ante-room, waiting for audiences of 
 Lord Palmerston. A Levee and Cabinet afterwards. Dined at 
 the Palace. Lord Brougham is trying to bring about a reconcilia- 
 tion between Lord Palmerston and Lord John Russell, and is 
 very spiteful in his manner towards our party in the House of 
 Lords. I believe the Duke of Bedford opposes it. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 23, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, As soon as your telegram arrived I went to 
 the Queen and informed her Majesty of the intentions of the Em- 
 peror in respect of his new Ambassador at her Court. I never saw 
 the Queen more pleased, not only at the choice of so distinguished 
 a person as the Due de Malakoff, but also at the remarkable delicacy 
 which prompted his Imperial Majesty to select one whose name 
 is so familiar and so popular in this country. The Queen begged 
 me not to lose a moment in replying to you by telegraph how much 
 she felt the compliment thus paid her. I need not tell you that 
 personally I am rejoiced at the choice. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 March 24:t7i. I hear the Emperor was unwilling to accept 
 Persigny's resignation, and kept it some days in his pocket without 
 telling Walewski, who, hearing of it, went to the Emperor and 
 insisted on his accepting it, under a threat of resigning himself. 
 The Emperor, who is supposed to be still influenced by Madame 
 Walewska, gave in, and Walewski at once sent a courier to 
 Persigny announcing the fact. The bag contained only one 
 despatch, and .that was in these words : ' Votre demission est 
 acceptee.' Poor Per.signy was furious at this, insult, and I have 
 no doubt on his return to Paris he will succeed in regaining the 
 Emperor's ear, for Walewski in his heart is no friend to the 
 English alliance, and is all. for Russia. It is now settled and 
 announced that Marshal Pelissier is to succeed Persigny. Baron 
 
428 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1858 
 
 Briinnow is much annoyed, as he expected and wished his friend 
 the Marquis de Moustier to get the place. De Moustier is very 
 Russian in his policy. 
 
 March 25th. The Jew Bill has passed the House of Commons 
 by a majority of 153. Mr. Roebuck's motion for the abolition of 
 the Irish Lord-Lieutenancy was rejected by a majority of 127. I 
 have nominated Mr. Elliot l as Minister to Copenhagen, Lord 
 Augustus Loftus to Vienna, and Sir John Crampton to St. 
 Petersburg. They are all promotions in the line and by seniority. 
 A subscription is being raised to give Madame de Persigny a 
 bracelet from the ladies. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 25, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, Society was at first startled by a Marshal's 
 arrival, and the diplomatists, particularly, looked glum, but I think 
 more at what they knew was a compliment and earnest of the Em- 
 peror's goodwill than because they thought it hostile. Almost all hate 
 our close alliance with France, and could not conceal their joy during 
 the late squabble between us. Briinnow is utterly disgusted. The 
 Queen and Prince have again expressed their satisfaction at the 
 Marshal's appointment. I have submitted to the law officers your 
 question as to Bernard's surrender. He will be tried almost imme- 
 diately on the felonious indictment ; but we fear that at that we may 
 fail, for in neither country could a man be prosecuted for being an ac- 
 cessory to a murder committed abroad by one foreigner upon another. 
 If Orsini had been English, or any Englishman had been concerned in 
 the actual murder, there would have been no difficulty in bringing 
 Bernard under the English statute. If that fails the other indictment 
 will stand. Allsopp does not come under our Extradition Treaty with 
 the United States, but 'we hear he has bolted, and will most likely be 
 brought over by some kidnappers from the Havanas or Panama for the 
 200Z. I think it quite as well that Pelissier should not come till the 12th. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBUEY. 
 From the same to the same. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 27, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, I think it as well to inform you that I have taken 
 the opinion of the law officers on the question whether the French 
 1 Son of Lord Minto. 
 
1868 LUCKNOW STORMED. 429 
 
 Government can demand the extradition of Simon Bernard, and whether 
 her Majesty's Government would be empowered to surrender him if 
 such demand were made, and I have been informed by them in reply 
 .that Simon Bernard, not having been accused of the crime of murder 
 committed ' within the jurisdiction of the requiring party' (the Emperor 
 of the French), the foreign Government cannot, under the Convention 
 of 1843, demand his extradition, and that her Majesty's Government 
 would not be empowered or authorised to surrender Simon Bernard if 
 such demand were made. You will inform Count Walewski of this, 
 and that Bernard will be tried by a Special Commission next month. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 March 30^7i. I dined with the Persignys. Lady Shaftesbury 
 called to show us three bracelets, on which she wished to have 
 our opinion. We selected two, and proposed giving Madame de 
 Persigny the choice, to which she assented. 
 
 April 5th. A hurricane from the north-east. M. d'Azeglio 
 arrived, and I appointed to meet him at the Foreign Office. I 
 think he is disposed to give us trouble about the ' Cagliari ' question. 
 I believe it to be quite true that Lord John has refused to join 
 Palmerston, who tried to persuade him to coalesce with him to 
 turn us out ; but Lord John remembers the way he was treated 
 by Palmerston, and will not hear of a coalition with him or his 
 party. 
 
 April 6th. Went to Windsor. 
 
 April 7th. Lady Palmerston has done everything to persuade 
 Lord John Russell to coalesce with her husband and turn us out, 
 but Lord John will not hear of a coalition. Lucknow was stormed 
 011 March 9, and completely in our possession on the 15th. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office : April 10, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, As I shall see you so soon, it is hardly worth 
 while troubling you with a letter, but I wish you to ascertain before 
 you come over whether the French are prepared soon to renew with us 
 our diplomatic relations with Naples. I cannot do so till the ' Cagliari ' 
 case is settled, and I can't settle it till I have our Crown lawyers' 
 opinion, which I shall receive on Monday. I have little doubt as to 
 what it will be in respect of the long detention of Watt and Park 
 
430 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1858 
 
 namely, against the Neapolitan Government ; and if so, we shall have 
 to ask for compensation. I hear that the Neapolitan Government are 
 very anxious to renew their relations, and this would make my demand 
 go down more easily. What would the French ask as to their con- 
 ditions? I am in a singular position on this question. I am made 
 Minister on purpose to resist interference on the part of France with 
 our laws, and I am also expected to keep up a quarrel with Naples in 
 support of interference with their institutions. What a set we are ! 
 
 Your sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 From the same to the same, 
 
 Foreign Office : April 13, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, I shall be very glad to see you, as I want to 
 consult you on a great many subjects. The law officers have unani- 
 mously declared the detention of Watt and Park illegal, and that they 
 have a right to redress for this, and compensation for loss of reason 
 and health, which in men of that class amounts to starvation. The 
 Government will therefore demand it. If we had had a Minister at 
 Naples, these men would have been out in a week. Pray tell all this to 
 Walewski frankly, and that I am ready to march with him at the proper 
 time. If you can get any good advice from any quarter given to the 
 King on the subject of acceding to our demand, pray do so. How 
 would you settle the ' Cagliari ' affair if (as it will be) there are four 
 great lawyers in favour of the seizure and three against it ? Is there 
 any precedent for such a doubtful but important case being submitted 
 to a committee of governments, or to a mediator, if he can be so called ? 
 How is maritime law to be settled for all of us? I wish we had half 
 our China fleet here at home. I fear nothing will be done. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBUEY. 
 
 April l&Ji. I got a letter this morning from Colonel Phipps, 
 saying that the Queen wished us to put off our proposed dinner to 
 the Due de Malakoff, as he is only to arrive to-morrow, and it is 
 etiquette that he should dine first at the Palace. I therefore 
 wrote to all our guests to appoint another day. Two hours after 
 another letter arrived from her Majesty saying that we could 
 appoint any other day we liked, and that if we acquainted the 
 Queen with the date fixed upon she would not give a dinner on 
 that day, so as not to interfere with us. We therefore fixed the 
 
1858 ACQUITTAL OF BERNARD* 431 
 
 24th, and of course asked the same set as I had invited for the 
 17th. What could be more gracious and good-natured than this 
 on the part of her Majesty ? 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office: April 15, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, . , . . This acquittal of Bernard is a very pain- 
 ful affair. There was cheering and every sort of rascally demonstra- 
 tion disgraceful to our country. Pelissier was very well received ; and 
 the Queen and he mutually pleased with each other. He dines at the 
 Palace to-night, where I am to meet him. The Queen is much disap- 
 pointed at your not being over here, as she thought you might be, to 
 join the party. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 From the same to the same. 
 
 Foreign Office: April 15, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, I think you may as well announce to Walewski, 
 officieusement, that our lawyers, being unanimous on the question of 
 detaining our engineers that they were so detained unlawfully and 
 are entitled to compensation I have demanded the same from Caraffa 
 in a civil letter ; this is an English case. The other, the capture of 
 the ship, interests all maritime Powers, and, therefore, Great Britain 
 the first. But here, out of seven English lawyers consulted, three say 
 the capture was legal, four illegal. We cannot, therefore, in this 
 position take a strong line, although Sardinia is trying, with a some- 
 what unfriendly zeal, to put the pressure of popular feeling upon us. 
 It would be very desirable to induce the King to play the part of a 
 Grand Eoi, to give our men a competent sum, and to liberate the Sar- 
 dinian ship and crew. We can't ask him to own himself in the wrong 
 when the majority of our lawyers are for him ; but this plan would 
 save his amour-propre, and put an end to a question which, in the 
 temper of Sardinia de se faire mousser, might bring on an Italian 
 conflagration which God forbid! Would the French give good advice 
 to their two Italian Courts ? Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 April 16^/i. The Due de Malakoff called upon me, but did not 
 touch upon business. He talked of the Crimea the whole time. 
 I presented him to the Queen at three o'clock, He had never 
 
432 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-XDOSTER. 
 
 seen Prince Albert, and, as the Queen did not present him, he 
 evidently took him for some lord-in- waiting, for he turned his 
 hack upon him whilst talking to the Queen. Suddenly it seemed 
 to occur to him who the Prince was, for he turned towards him 
 and exclaimed, 'Comment! c'est vous!* and made a low bow. 
 The Queen and Prince were much amused. I have sent a despatch 
 to !N aples ^ssfcrng for compensation for the imprisonment of the 
 Disraeli announced it this afternoon in the House of 
 it was received with cheers from all parts of the 
 
 April 17tf. Dined at the Palace. The Duchess of Man- 
 r, the Breadalbanes, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, 
 the Doe de MAfadT General Sir James Simpson, Sir William 
 Codrington, e. lady Churchill, who was in waiting, looked 
 charming soch a pretty face ami lovely expression. Went after- 
 wards to Lady Pahnerston's party. 
 
 April 19t*. To the disgust of everybody, Dr. Bernard is ac- 
 quitted. There is but one sentiment that of abhorrence at the 
 disgraceful verdict of the jury. I told Madame Malaret that it 
 was almost always the same on political questions. 
 
 April 22*dL I went to the Drawing Boom, where the Due de 
 liAfaiir also tfa^Awl He was immensely pleased at having 
 been cheered all the way from his house in Hyde Park by a very 
 respectable mob. It made a great impression on him, and he said 
 to me, 'After such a voluntary demonstration from the TfrigKsh 
 people, how can I obey my orders, which are that I am to behave 
 with the strictest resei^e to everybody in this country It is im- 
 me to do so, and after tbi nmpliingnt T A*?l certainly 
 the English with the same cordiality as they have received 
 me, and this will apply to your Government as well as to private 
 individuals.' He evidently had been prepared for a cold reception, 
 but the people had taken their own fine, which was that of grateful 
 nvngiiiiifMi of the hero of the Crimean war. M. de Jaueourt, 
 attached to the French Embassy, told me that M. de Persigny 
 resigned from rage at Wakwskf settling the quarrel between 
 the two Governments without him, and hoped that the Emperor 
 would not accept it. When the answer came, accepting his re- 
 signation, he was completely knocked down. 
 
: ; ' : THE QUEES OF POBTCGAL. 433 
 
 Jpril 244L The Duke of Cambridge, the Due de Makkoft; 
 the Manchester*, the Xortiramberiands, the Stafford*, the Derby*, 
 the Bokebys, Sir R and Lady Airey, Sir Jaws Simpson, and 
 Jem MacDooald dined with ms to-day. 
 
 Jprfl 28rt. The ex-Ministers actually voted the night before 
 
 they were tamed out on 
 
 voted against it last year, an 
 
 by us from defeat. Our party, I am sorry to say, are, or 
 to be, offended with Disraeli They, of course, ought to 
 that we are in a minority and ci mfifltn I^Jp it 
 the fact. 
 
 Jprif 29*, I spoke on the 'GagharT qoesdon 
 my opinion that it ***^ arisen from a ill in ! iisi of the Sar- 
 
 way we possibly could, as, i 
 
 had begun, it would probably 
 
 in this view by Lord Grey, and I was 
 
 Granvffle, Lord danricarde, Lord 
 
 BusseU as I left the House, I don\ 
 
 -;;: i----- 1 ;_::_:>-_: i<rn~:~.-' 
 
 of the Queen of Portugal 
 
 Family, Prince 
 
 the Queen, T. 
 
 Derbys, Hanhrickns, 
 
 and Ldy John RusseH; the 
 
 gold plate, rf did 
 
 dreadful The Queen of Portugal is 
 
 could sit down till eleven o'clock, when the Queen and her 
 retired to one of the drawing-rooms^ where the round table was 
 
 F F 
 
434 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 ducing his answer to Lord Canning's proclamation. He gave only 
 extracts to the House of Lords, but by some blunder the despatch 
 in full was laid on the table of the House of Commons, and must 
 be productive of mischief both in India and at home ; and what 
 makes it worse is that it was given by Mr. Baillie, the Under- 
 secretary of the Board of Control, to Mr. Bright. 1 Nothing can 
 be worse, and it may lead to the resignation of the Government, 
 or, at all events, to a dissolution. 
 
 May IQth. I think the Government must go out, unless Lord 
 Ellenborough resigns. The Whigs and Radicals have united, and 
 a vote of censure is to be brought forward in both Houses, 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Canning. 
 
 London : May 10, 1858. 
 
 My dear Canning, I am sure you will believe that, as perhaps 
 your oldest friend, I am much annoyed at the events of the last few 
 days. I must, by the laws of solidarity take my share of blame in 
 acts which, though marked with inexcusable indiscretion, had no 
 motive of personal hostility to yourself. J never saw the Proclamation 
 nor Lord Ellenborough' s despatch until I read both in the ' Times ' of 
 the 8th in st., for neither came before the Cabinet. I consider that I 
 am justified, although a Minister of the Government that has com- 
 mitted towards you and the country the blunder of publishing Lord 
 E.'s secret despatch, in advising you strongly, as a private friend, not 
 to follow the bent which your mind may probably take at first, if it be 
 that of resigning your post. Neither Lord Derby nor any of our party 
 wish it, and the whole country is ready to give you all the credit you 
 merit for having so well encountered the extraordinary difficulties of 
 your position. To resign on a point of party and political honour at the 
 moment when you have all but consummated your work, would be 
 sacrificing your future ^ame to a temporary provocation, which ought 
 not to weigh an ounce in the balance. The Opposition are to bring on 
 the subject this week in the most hostile form, and may very likely turn 
 us out ; but if we remain in office, I repeat that Lord Derby and the 
 Cabinet are friendly towards you. I told the Queen last night that I 
 should write to you in this sense, and she seemed very anxious that I 
 should do so. You will, of course, consider this advice as strictly 
 confidential. Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 1 This has been contradicted by Mr. Baillie, who says he left it on his table when 
 he went to the House of Commons. 
 
1858 LORD ELLENBOROUGH RESIGNS. 435 
 
 May llth. I have appointed Sir Henry Bulwer Ambassador 
 to Constantinople. It has always been the object of his ambition. 
 Lord Ellenborough has resigned, and has written a very handsome 
 letter to Lord Derby, promising to give him every support in his 
 power out of office. I never heard a more noble and affecting 
 speech than Lord Ellenborough's, announcing his resignation in 
 the House. It took everybody by surprise, and the consternation 
 on the front Opposition bench was great, as it defeated their in- 
 tentions, and made us safe. 
 
 May 12th. It is expected that the Opposition will move the 
 vote of censure on Friday, as before arranged, but perhaps the 
 exact terms of it will be changed in consequence of Lord Ellen- 
 borough's resignation. 
 
 May 13th. The motion of censure is to be brought forward 
 in both Houses on Friday, and I think it will be carried in the 
 Commons. 
 
 May \ith. Went to the House of Lords, where there were 
 only two seats left in the gallery when I arrived, all filled with 
 ladies. The steps of the Throne, the Peers' and Strangers' galleries 
 crammed, and all so attentive to the debate that every word was 
 heard. Lord Ellenborough's speech was very fine. The division 
 took place about twelve, and the Government had a majority of 
 nine. For the resolution 93 present and 65 proxies, total 158 ; 
 against 118 present and 49 proxies, total 167. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office : May 14, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, Since writing this morning, we have received 
 news from Churchill at Bagusa and from Vienna, to the effect that the 
 Montenegrins, on the night of the 12th, treacherously attacked the 
 Turks during their voluntary and settled evacuation of Grahova, and 
 cut them up, killing the Pasha and Delarue, the negotiator. These are 
 the brigands the French are supporting. It will add to our complica- 
 tions, inasmuch as the Porte will naturally be more unwilling to allow 
 things to be settled quietly, and to sit down quietly under such a defeat. 
 On the other hand, you should induce the French to understand that it 
 can do them no credit to be partisans of such fellows, although they 
 are justified in joining with us and the three other Powers to put a stop 
 to a war which rnay spread throughout Turkey. If her other provinces 
 
 FF2 
 
436 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1858 
 
 should rise against her, her Majesty's Government could not interfere 
 at all, and if it is a case of Christian sympathy, such a civil war would 
 fall on our co-religionists most awfully. The first thing Walewski has 
 to do is to stop his cursed hero Danilo, who is now evidently the 
 aggressor. Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 May 16th. A reconciliation has at last been effected between 
 Lord Palmerston and Lord John Russell. Mr. Ellice arranged a 
 meeting at his house, where they shook hands. This was followed 
 by Lord John Russell's speech on Friday night on Mr. Cardwell's 
 motion of censure on the Government. Even without this we 
 should be beaten in the Commons, but of course now the majority 
 will be larger. The longer the debate is protracted the better it 
 will be for us, and the news from India, if unfavourable, Avould 
 influence the division. Lord Derby has seen the Queen, and 
 though he is not at liberty to make use of her name, still he may 
 announce a dissolution of Parliament on his own responsibility. 
 After I got home I received a despatch from Lyons, announcing 
 that the Sardinian Government would accept my proposals. 
 D'Azeglio was to have called, but never came, and I suppose he 
 must have got the same news, and did not think it necessary to do 
 so. Besides this, he is certainly annoyed at my having settled 
 matters with the Sardinian Government, and defeated their plan 
 for a war, and didn't like to be the bearer of the good news. 
 
 May 17th. Lady Tankerville says that at Lady Palmerston's 
 party last Saturday she was seated next to Lady William Russell, 
 who, talking of the reconciliation between Lord John and Lord 
 Palmerston, said, ' They have shaken hands and embraced, and 
 hate each other more than ever.' Lord Derby has offered a seat 
 in the Cabinet to Sir James Graham, who has refused, saying he 
 is too old and broken in health to accept, and that his sympathies 
 were always with Lord John. 
 
 May 18th. The debate last night in the Commons was much 
 in our favour. Whiteside's speech was very powerful. 
 
 Lord Harry Vane proposed to suspend legislation on the 
 Indian Government Bill until next session ; a motion which was 
 negatived by a majority of 390. This was the more satisfactory 
 as it was considered in the lio:ht of a vote of want of confidence. 
 
1856 DEFENCE OF LORD CANNING. 437 
 
 Lord Derby had a meeting at the Treasury yesterday, which was 
 very enthusiastic. 
 
 May \$th. The Opposition had another uncomfortable night 
 yesterday in the Commons. Mr. Vernon Smith, ex-Minister for 
 India, was dreadfully badgered. Disraeli said that the letters 
 received by Lord Ellenborough from Lord Canning allude to 
 occurrences which appear to have been explained in former letters, 
 which have never been seen by this Government. Lord Palmer - 
 ston would not allow Mr. Smith to answer, but got up himself 
 and said that if there were other letters they must have been lost, 
 as he had never seen them. Lord Canning's despatches have been 
 received, and are to be laid on the table of the House of Commons 
 to-morrow, before the division takes place. The whole world has 
 gone to the Derby. It is now believed that the Proclamation was 
 sent to Lord Canning from England by the last Government, but 
 I can't credit it. Lady Malmesbury informed me there was a 
 report that Mr. Cardwell would withdraw his motion of censure ; 
 but I hope that Disraeli will insist upon dividing, and Lord Derby 
 is also of that opinion, seeming sure that Disraeli will not give 
 way. I had great misgivings, and too truly, for at seven P.M. 
 Mr. Bidwell arrived in great glee, and told us that the resolutions 
 were withdrawn, without any objection from Disraeli, and that we 
 should have had a majority of thirty if he divided. I regret it, as 
 a motion of censure is like an attack on a man's honour, that 
 ought to be met and defeated, not evaded. Disraeli defends the 
 course he has taken, of allowing the motion to be withdrawn, by 
 saying the feeling of the House was decidedly in favour of it, 
 and that none but the immediate partisans of Lord Palmerston 
 wished to go on with it ; the debate having from the first day 
 taken a much larger view of the question than the motion in- 
 dicated, and turned entirely upon the policy of the Proclamation 
 and of the Government's disapprobation of the policy it enunciated. 
 In this temper of the House the publication of Sir James Outram's 
 remonstrances, even though coupled with Lord Canning's defence, 
 had a great effect, and they felt they could not do otherwise 
 than approve of our policy. Our people also wished to avoid a 
 dissolution. 
 
 May 27th, Heron Court. We came down here for the holidays ; 
 
438 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1858 
 
 Lady Jersey, Lady Clementina Villiers, the Baillie-Cochranes are 
 with us, and also Lord and Lady Raglan. Ossulston and Mr. 
 Bidwell arrived. The last brought a telegram announcing the 
 arrival of the ' Monarch ' at St. Helen's, with my brother and his 
 family on board, returning from Chili. 
 
 May 29th. Beautiful weather. I drove the party to Avon 
 Cottage, a very pretty fishing lodge 011 the river, five miles from 
 Heron Court. 
 
 June 5th. Lord Bath, who took the Garter to the Queen of 
 Portugal, has received a Portuguese Order of the first class in 
 diamonds, and has got permission to wear it. 
 
 June 8th. Mr. Gladstone's amendment to the India Bill for 
 postponing legislation to next session was negatived by a majority 
 of 149. 
 
 June 9th. Bill for the Abolition of Church Kates passed the 
 Commons, and Mr. Berkeley's motion for ballot was rejected 
 by 97. 
 
 June llth. I got a telegram this morning from Mr. Lyons, 
 announcing that the King of Naples grants the compensation of 
 3,000?. asked for the English engineers, which is to be paid im- 
 mediately to the Foreign Office, and that he gives up the ' Cagliari ' 
 and crew to the English Government. I kept this a secret from 
 everybody, as I wished to have the satisfaction of announcing it 
 myself in the House of Lords this evening. 
 
 June 12th. Disraeli's announcement of the termination of 
 our dispute with Naples by the grant of 3,000?. to the engineers 
 and giving up the * Cagliari ' to England was received with en- 
 thusiastic cheers. The ex-Ministers and their adherents were 
 completely taken by surprise, and would not even pretend to be 
 pleased that a quarrel which at one moment threatened a general 
 war should have terminated in a manner so satisfactory. This 
 news had evidently a great effect upon the House, for the Govern- 
 ment passed a resolution on the India Bill, relating to the number 
 of the Council, by a large majority. 
 
 Lord Clarendon to Lord M. 
 
 Grosvenor Crescent : June 13, 1858. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I was glad to find that you took the same 
 view I do of the neutral Senate which the French want to impose on 
 
18/58 THE INDIA BILL. 439 
 
 the Principalities, and which is nothing else than a plan for establishing 
 and perpetuating anarchy by means of an oligarchical Bepublic. The 
 plan is of Imperial, and not Walewskian, origin, which is the reason 
 why I suggest to you that it might be easier to render the proposed 
 arrangement harmless than to have it altogether withdrawn. My 
 notion is that the Central Senate ought not to be a deliberating and 
 law-passing assembly, but should be simply a Committee consisting 
 of a small body of members, appointed, not by the provincial as- 
 semblies, but by the Hospodars ; and that this Committee should 
 meet solely for the purpose of framing and suggesting measures to 
 be submitted for the consideration of the two Governments, who, if 
 they approved of them, might propose those measures to their respec- 
 tive provincial assemblies. Modified in this way, the French project 
 would be comparatively harmless. If Walewski tries to wriggle out of 
 the agreement come to at Osborne last year, pray do not hesitate J;o 
 call me as a witness. CLARENDON. 
 
 June '21st. The heat of this last month has been quite ex- 
 ceptional, the thermometer constantly rising to 84. Went to 
 the Palace to present to the Queen my brother, who kissed hands 
 on his appointment as Minister at Berne. 
 
 June 23rd. The pestilential smell from the Thames is become 
 intolerable, and there has been a question of changing the locality 
 of Parliament. Nothing can be done during this heat. Great 
 dinner at the Mansion House. The person most cheered was Sir 
 Archdale Wilson, who took Delhi. The Lord Mayor, by mistake, 
 mentioned him as Sir Alexander Wilson, the defender of Delhi. 
 There was a general laugh, which greatly surprised him. Pelissier 
 made a very good speech, which was loudly cheered, to his evident 
 delight. I hear he prides himself upon his public speaking. 
 
 June 26th. Our Government had large majorities last night 
 on the India Bill in the Commons. Lord Palmerstoii moved an 
 amendment fixing the number of the Council at not more than 
 twelve, which was rejected by a majority of 62. He then moved 
 that all the members of the Council should be appointed by the 
 Queen. This was opposed by Disraeli, and negatived by 93. 
 
 i June 27th. I dined at the Palace. The Queen expressed a 
 wish that I should attend her to Germany, but was quite aware 
 of the difficulty of my absenting myself from London whilst the 
 
440 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 Paris Conferences were going on. Her Majesty will probably 
 take me to Cherbourg, where she has decided to go, and also 
 Sir John Pakington. 
 
 We have ordered large quantities of lime to be thrown into 
 the Thames, for 110 works can be begun until the hot weather is 
 over. The stench is perfectly intolerable ; although Madame 
 Bistori, coming back one night from a dinner at Greenwich given 
 by Lord Hardwicke, sniffed the air with delight, saying it re- 
 minded her of her ' dear Venice.' 
 
 July \st. Lord Lucan's bill for admitting the Jews to Par- 
 liament passed the House of Lords by a majority of 46. Almost 
 all our party voted against it, many Peers actually holding office 
 having done so. An amendment to a clause in the India Bill by 
 Mr. Vernon Smith was negatived by 146 to 71. The same fate 
 attended two by Sir James Graham and Mr. Gladstone. The 
 clause disqualifying members of the Council of India from sitting 
 in Parliament was discussed at great length and carried. I 
 expect that the bill will pass the Commons, and be brought to the 
 House of Lords without opposition. 
 
 July 2nd. Dined at the Palace. The King of the Belgians 
 and Duke and Duchess of Brabant were present. A few people 
 were asked in the evening, which made enough for one large 
 quadrille. The Queen danced every quadrille, and seemed to 
 enjoy herself thoroughly. The Church Rates Bill was thrown 
 out by a majority of 151. 
 
 July 4t/i. I have settled to accompany the Queen to Cob- 
 lentz. She wishes me to go, and so does the Government. 
 
 July \2th. The Queen has written to me to say that I must 
 go to Cherbourg with, her on board the royal yacht. Pelissier 
 and Sir John Pakington go in one of the ships of the squadron. 
 Sir John is not at all pleased at having Pelissier put under his 
 charge, as he meant to take Lady Pakington and a large party 
 of friends and relations on board the ship, meaning to turn a 
 great national ceremony into a Worcestershire picnic. Pelissier's 
 presence will interfere with this arrangement. 
 
1868 * THE WOODEN SPOONS OF OLD ENGLAND.* 441 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley, 
 
 Foreign Office: July 13, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, The flag of the Principalities is entirely in your 
 hands. I am sorry you have had such a trial of patience and temper. 
 Stratford is going to Stamboul to take leave of the Sultan. His visit 
 is strictly complimentary, and his written orders are not to interfere 
 with Bulwer in any way. He will take the opportunity, if he finds 
 one, to urge on the Sultan the observance of the Hatti, but his mission 
 is strictly confined to one of compliment. He goes in August. Pray 
 inform Fuad of this, and the French Government. There is a nasty 
 article in the ' Times ' to-day about Cherbourg. I depend upon seeing 
 you there on the 4th, and I hope Walewski. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 July I5tk. Lady Louisa Hamilton had a bad accident riding 
 in the Park, her horse running away, leaping the iron rails and 
 falling with her on the other side. She was picked up senseless, 
 but is not seriously hurt. Lord Ellenborough made a violent 
 speech against the India Bill. There was no division. The 
 unusual heat of the weather continues. 
 
 July 24:th. The Ministerial fish-dinner took place to-day at 
 Greenwich. I went down with Lord Hardwicke. Lord Derby 
 having to propose ' Sir John Pakington and the Navy,' alluding 
 to Sir John having received the ' wooden spoon ' which is given 
 to the Minister in the House of Commons who has been in 
 the fewest divisions, proposed * Sir John Pakington and the 
 Wooden Spoons of Old England.' This created much laughter 
 from all but Pakington himself. Sir John Pakington is, how- 
 ever, no shirker of work, and has always been ready to direct 
 the most important departments, such as the Colonies and the 
 Admiralty. He is a very young man of his age, both in 
 activity and appearance. A slight figure, he is generally to be 
 seen on horseback, and always with spurs and dapperly dressed. 
 I remember once his keeping us all waiting at a Cabinet Council. 
 When at last he appeared, Lord Derby said, 'We have been wait- 
 ing for you, Sir John.' 4 1 am sorry, my Lord, but I was at 
 Spithead.' * Then,' said Lord Derby, ' I'll be bound there never 
 was such a swell there before.' 
 
442 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. I8o8 
 
 July SOtfA.- I returned from Osborne. The Queen much 
 pleased at the Lords' amendment to the India Bill relating to 
 competitive examination having passed the Commons by a large 
 majority, as it trenched 011 her prerogative. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Heron Court : July 30, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, I send you back the pro jet de convention for 
 the Principalities, and wish you joy of having ended this work. I 
 have made some observations where I did not think the meaning clear 
 in the text, and I send an elaborate review by Hammond Bergne, our 
 clever little treaty clerk, who seems satisfied with the redaction on the 
 whole. Pray make one more attempt before we go to Cherbourg to 
 persuade Walewski not to publish the fact that the Conference was 
 divided as to Union. It is only holding up discontent for the future 
 and proclaiming that France was beaten, a quoi Ion ? The questions 
 we must treat at Cherbourg are : 1st. This, if not agreed to before. 
 2nd. Naples. 3rd. Plan for settling mode of verifying flags. If I 
 cannot get through my political conversations by Friday, the Queen 
 has given me leave to stay after she is gone. I go from here to 
 Osborne to-morrow for a Council. Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBUEY. 
 
 August 1st. On the 30th Disraeli stated in the House of 
 Commons the nature of the Lords' amendment to the India Bill, 
 and it was agreed to by 98 to 53. 
 
 August 4:th. I went to see Mr. Rarey's establishment. We 
 had * Cruiser, 5 the untameable stallion, and a zebra shown us as 
 being quite tame. The former certainly appeared to be so com- 
 pletely ; he followed Mr. Rarey wherever he went, without being 
 led, and gave him his foot like a dog. Mr. Rarey then put his cap 
 into his mouth; ' Cruiser' took it, but let it drop immediately, 
 when Mr. Rarey took it up and offered it again, upon which 
 ' Cruiser ' gave a shriek of rage, but took up the cap. The zebra 
 is less tame, but walked, led by Mr. Rarey, who, however, did 
 not dare let him loose. We afterwards saw two horses thrown, 
 and it is curious how convinced they are that they cannot get up 
 without Mr. Rarey's help. Went to Osborne. Sailed for Cher- 
 bourg. 
 
1858 THE QUEEN AT CHERBOURG. 443 
 
 August 5th. It blew hard in. the night, but subsided towards 
 morning. The Queen not ill. The approach to Cherbourg very 
 fine. Arrived there at seven P.M. At eight the Emperor and 
 Empress came on board the Royal yacht without any suite. 
 Nobody was admitted. Marshal Pelissier, who went in without 
 invitation, was immediately turned out by the Emperor. Next 
 morning, the Queen, Prince Albert, Prince of Wales, Duke of 
 Cambridge, Sir John Pakington, and myself, breakfasted at the 
 Prefecture. After which, the Royal personages drove over the 
 town. I took a walk with Mr. Hamond, the consul. Returned 
 to the Royal yacht, and accompanied the Queen to dinner on 
 board the ' Bretagne.' Among the officers at dinner was General 
 MacMahon. 1 Next morning, the Emperor came to take leave of 
 the Queen. When the Emperor left the Queen's yacht the 
 previous evening, all our ships illuminated in the most brilliant 
 manner with blue lights. The yacht had red, white, and blue, 
 and the electric light was thrown on the Emperor's barge, follow- 
 ing it the whole way to the harbour. The effect was beautiful : 
 the light shining only on the barge, whilst all around remained in 
 darkness. Nothing could be finer than the whole display ; and 
 the Emperor was friendly in his manner ; but both he and the 
 Empress could not digest some articles in the ' Times ' which had 
 been offensive, especially against her, and it was in vain that I 
 tried to make them understand what freedom the Press had in 
 England, and how independent it was of all private and most 
 public men. 
 
 An absurd occurrence took place when Sir John Pakington, 
 as first Lord of the Admiralty, landed Lord Hardwicke and 
 Admiral Dundas in his barge. As he steered her, he kept time 
 with the men as he would if he had been rowing on the Thames, 
 bending his body backwards and forwards, and as he approached 
 the pier, not having given the order of ' Way enough,' the boat 
 with her whole force struck the mole, and the two Admirals and 
 the whole crew fell sprawling on their backs. The rage of the 
 two former after recovering themselves was vented with uncon- 
 trolled expressions on the unfortunate First Lord, amidst the 
 laughter of the spectators who were standing on the pier. 
 
 1 Afterwards Duke of Magenta and President of the French Republic. 
 
444 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 185$ 
 
 From Lord M. to Count Walcwslti. 
 
 Londres : ce 8 aout, 1858. 
 
 Mon cher Walewski, Avant de partirpour 1'Allemagne, je ne puis 
 me refuser le plaisir de vous exprimer la vive satisfaction avec laquelle 
 la Reine a vu sa noble et amicale reception a Cherbourg. Tons les 
 notres en out ete enchantes, et rien ne pent etre meilleur que 1'esprit 
 public de ce cote de la Blanche. J'ai beaucoup regrette de ne pas vous 
 avoir revu Vendredi matin a bord du yacht. J'ai dit quelques mots a 
 1'Empereur an sujet des Protocoles des Conferences. Je vous avoue 
 que je trouve leur publication tres-inutile, si ce n'est pour demontrer 
 et e"tablir a tout jamais les differences d'opinion entre les Puissances, 
 et pour qu'un jour nous puissions avoir Je triste privilege de nous faire 
 mutuellement des reproches inutiles. Ceci est surtout important a 
 Tendroit des Principalites. Passons en Chine : les dernieres nouvelles 
 promettent bien, et il est possible que les Chinois admettent des Am- 
 bassadeurs europeens a Pekin. II me semble pourtant que ce serait 
 mieux de les etablir a quelque autre ville du Nord plus pres de la cote. 
 Us seraient dans line souriciere a Pekin si les Chinois voulaient nous 
 jouer un tour. Je vous prie de ne pas oublier notre conversation sur 
 les Consuls de 1'Orient et de leur faire cpmprendre qu'ils ne doivent 
 pas se regarder en antagonistes, et surtout qu'ils sont assujettis aux 
 ordres des Ambassadeurs a Constantinople. Finalement, ne prenons 
 jamais de grandes mesures sans nous entendre et nous mettre autant 
 que possible d'accord. Voila ma politique. MALMESBUKY. 
 
 August IQth. I went down to Basingstoke to meet the 
 Queen and Prince and their suite, and to embark at Gravesend 
 for Antwerp on our way to Berlin. The suite consisted of 
 Sir Charles Phipps, Lady Macdonald, and Miss Cavendish. I 
 brought with me my two secretaries, Bidwell and Dashwood. 
 The weather was tremendously hot. 
 
 I was relegated with Lord Bloomfield, our Ambassador at 
 Berlin, the two ladies and Phipps in the second carriage ; the 
 Prince and Queen travelling alone. After going through Diissel- 
 dorf, Hanover, and Brunswick, we of the suite arrived at Potsdam 
 on August 14, too late for the supper which had been prepared. 
 
 The Queen came the next morning, which obliged me to attend 
 a great luncheon at the Palace. My two secretaries have been 
 
1858 THE SCHLESWIG TREATY. 445 
 
 invited to everything given here (Potsdam). I have dined every 
 day at Babelsberg, a beautiful palace a few miles out of Potsdam, 
 with the Queen and the Prussian Court. Babelsberg is four miles 
 from Potsdam. I used to drive there with Lord Bloomfield, our 
 Ambassador, and the Court ladies. Three of these were hand- 
 some, especially the Countess Hohenthal, a Maid of Honour, a 
 beautiful girl, and clever. 1 Two others were Countess Lynar and 
 Countess Oriola, a Portuguese, and a very attractive woman. 
 
 One day there was a great review of the Prussian Guard. I 
 was very well mounted on a quiet charger, and also on another 
 occasion I rode a perfect mare with the ladies Hohenthal and 
 Oriola ; but we were reproved by Count Perponcher, the Master 
 of the Horse, for riding too fast, as he would have kept us at 
 a walk. 
 
 Lord Bloomfield, who was very amiable to me and my secre- 
 taries, received, at my request, the G.C.B. from her Majesty. 
 He was a great disciplinarian as to our dress, and much moved 
 at my not having a blue dress coat with brass buttons to go to 
 church in. He is much and deservedly liked at Berlin. 
 
 I had very little political work here, but heard a great deal 
 about the Schleswig treaty, which Palmerston drew up, and which 
 I signed in 1852. It is evident that on the first opportunity 
 Prussia will seize and annex it either by force or by some trans- 
 action, which will be a high-handed and unjustifiable act, inas- 
 much as the Schleswigers hate the Prussians, and they do not 
 speak the same tongue. One day I had the opportunity of a 
 private conversation with the Neapolitan Minister, and I took 
 the occasion to make a strong intercession in favour of Poerio, 
 the famous political prisoner, of whose treatment such horrors 
 were related, and I obtained a promise that he (the Minister) 
 would do all he could to obtain his liberty, 011 the ground that 
 he gave his Government more trouble in prison than he would 
 out of it, which fact I had pressed upon him. He afterwards 
 redeemed his promise, and Poerio was released, and sailed on 
 condition that he should go to America, and not to Europe; but 
 he and his fellow-prisoners bribed the captain to bring them to 
 England, where I saw him in the House of Lords, a very sleek 
 ' Afterwards Lady Paget, and now Ambassadress at Vienna. 
 
446 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1858 
 
 and healthy-looking man, just like his statue now in the Via 
 Toledo at Naples. 
 
 Poerio's treatment had been for some years the subject of 
 angry dispute between the English Liberal Governments and that 
 of Naples ; but Palmerston and Gladstone made the mistake of 
 arguing with a despotic Government the right of the case, as if 
 an absolute regime had not the same privilege as a Republic, or 
 ourselves, of self-defence against those who would overturn it. 
 The police at Naples was corrupt and tyrannical ; but the worst 
 feature of all in their system was the delay of justice, as we found 
 in all cases where Englishmen were concerned. The accused party 
 was often imprisoned for years before he was tried, and this was 
 the fate of Poerio ; but the physical torture to which he was said 
 to be subjected, I believe to be apocryphal. No man who had 
 suffered such could so far have recovered in three months and be 
 so fat and sleek as he was when Lord Shaftesbury introduced him 
 to me in the House of Lords. I took him, as he stood at the 
 throne, for one of the new Peers, come up rejoicing from a 
 salubrious county. Some years after these events, the Marquis 
 d'Azeglio told me that a subscription had been raised among the 
 principal Whigs to procure Poerio's evasion through Garibaldi, 
 who was to have a ship ready to carry him off, but his release 
 anticipated their plan. Rightly or wrongly, Bomba had such a 
 bad name that all things were looked upon as fair against him ; 
 but minus this feeling, it was a strong measure on the part of a 
 neutral country and its leading statesmen. The days of Queen 
 Elizabeth had returned in Italy, which felt justified in using the 
 sword and the intelligence of the great buccaneer Garibaldi 
 against her enemies, as England did those of Drake and Raleigh, 
 whom the Spaniards not unfairly called pirates. The French 
 have coined a new word for such unorthodox politics namely, 
 * Opportunism.' 
 
 August 28th. Arrived at Deutz on our way home. The 
 weather throughout our journey has been tropical., Fahrenheit 
 83 at night for a week. The Queen graciously allowed me to 
 leave here and to go to Achnacarry. Phipps came to me before 
 
1858 THE PRINCIPALITIES REFORM BILL. 447 
 
 I left, much annoyed at having given one of the best snuff-boxes 
 
 to , which was not intended for him. He went to to 
 
 explain this, but found that the box was already converted into 
 cash and irrecoverable. 
 
 September 3rd. Joined Lady Malmesbury at Achnacarry, 
 after a very bad passage across the Channel, the sea breaking 
 heavily over the boat. So ill, I could not have walked to the 
 hotel without the help of the popular Captain Smithett. 
 
 The time passed at Achnacarry as usual, in fishing, shooting, 
 and receiving a great deal of company, among whom were Lord 
 Durham, Mr. and Lady Hermione Graham, George Barrington, 
 the Delameres, the Wiltons, Mr. and Mrs. Hose, Mr. Bruce (Lord 
 Elgin's brother), who was just returned from China with a treaty, 
 Lord and Lady Abercorn, the Duke and beautiful Duchess of 
 Manchester, who is Mistress of the Robes. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Achnacarry : September 4, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, There never was such a hash 
 
 as between Bulwer and Stratford about their palaces. Stratford has 
 taken out six gentlemen as attaches, but not one do I know by name, 
 and not one has had his appointment signed, so they will have no 
 status at all ! Lady S. has ordered the house at Therapia to be pre- 
 pared for her, and Lord S. the one at Pera, so that Bulwer will have to 
 go to the Inn. It is his fault, for in the overflowing joy of his nomina- 
 tion he wrote in May to offer him either palace, a la disposition de Vd. ! 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 From the same to the same. 
 
 Achnacarry : September 7, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, Pray show Palmerston the Principalities Eefonn 
 Bill, and tell him I hope ours next year will be better. All the good in 
 it is yours mais, que voulez-vous when a Frenchman who has trampled 
 down the constitution of his own country begins to make one for others ? 
 You may also show him my despatches on our Turkish policy and on 
 Montenegro. I have only followed in his wake. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
448 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1858 
 
 September 16^. The largest comet I ever saw became visible, 
 with a very broad tail spread perpendicularly over the sky, the 
 weather being very hot. Everyone now believes in war. 
 
 September 25th. Mr. Bruce took his first lesson in deer- 
 stalking, and came back in a very bad humour. He says that 
 the forester wanted him to go up a waterfall, which created much 
 laughter. The Persignys arrived after midnight. They had posted 
 from Inverness in dogcarts and various vehicles. 
 
 September 26th. Madame de Persigny has been horribly out 
 of humour all day. She never spoke a word at dinner, and will 
 not answer when spoken to. She is said to be always so when- 
 ever there is a woman in the house handsomer than herself, which 
 in this case is the Duchess of Manchester. 
 
 September 28th. Madame de P. came down in a dreadful 
 humour to breakfast, and would speak to no one. Persigny told 
 her to sit by me, when she said, stamping her foot, ' Je ne veux 
 pas,' loud enough for everyone to hear. Poor Persigny looked 
 much annoyed, saying to her, * Je vous ordonne de parler,' which 
 order was not obeyed. Her temper relapsed again at luncheon, 
 and afterwards she had a severe shock when Colonel Scarlett 
 having called, she saw his fly drive up, and Heaven knows why 
 fancied that Persigny, who had gone to the forest, had met 
 with an accident. She burst into tears. No one could under- 
 stand what connection there could be between ' Mon petit Victor ' 
 and a fly, and how she could imagine, if an accident had hap- 
 pened, that two men in a carriage, with a pair of post-horses, 
 could be sent down from the highest hill in the forest to announce 
 it. Mr. Bidwell said she evidently thought there was a cab-stand 
 on the top of Corry Dhu. When she came down to dinner, she 
 appeared with her eyes very red, and before the fish was taken 
 away rushed out of the room in a flood of tears. Persigny fol- 
 lowed, and neither returned until the end of the first course, 
 when they resumed their places, she looking like a sulky child, 
 and he the picture of misery. These scenes are repeated daily. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowlcy. 
 
 Achnacany : September 28, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, Pelissier has written to ask me my opinion as to 
 the danger to Mexico of American annexation. I have answered him 
 
1858 THE DANISH QUESTION. 449 
 
 that I look upon it as probable, and not at all dangerous to European 
 interests. Trade would be improved, and the Union certainly broken 
 up. The Yankees know this fact so well that they hesitate to touch it. 
 Otway says Mexico is ready to give herself up to be governed by us or 
 France. The latter would not suit us in the rear of our West India 
 Islands and commanding the Gulf; as little would it be to our interest 
 to meddle with such a hornets' nest. We had better leave it to its 
 fate, taking care of our subjects. What is of great importance is that 
 France should join in securing a passage for herself over Nicaragua, 
 and thus act in unison with us on this qritical point. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 September 3(M. The Persignys started for Glasgow. Such a 
 relief to everybody in the house to hear the carriage drive off. 
 
 October 3rd, Hearing that Sir James Hudson, our Minister 
 at Turin, was at Fort William, we sent a gillie to invite him. He 
 was in bed when the messenger arrived, but in such a bad one 
 that he was too glad to get up again, and arrived at Achnacarry 
 at eleven o'clock. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Achnacarry : October 3, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, Pray ascertain the views of the French Govern- 
 ment on the state of the Danish question. Elliot is much alarmed. 
 The violent German party have taken advantage of my presence at 
 Berlin to circulate false reports of conversations which I had with 
 Platen at Hanover, and the Prince of Prussia and Manteuffel, to the 
 effect that we should not interfere if the question were extended to 
 Schleswig. Now, what I said to one and all of these persons was that 
 her Majesty's Government considered the Holstein question as purely 
 German, and amenable to the Diet, the King being Duke of Holstein, 
 and that our only feeling was an apprehension that an occupation of 
 Holstein by German troops would break up European peace. As to 
 Schleswig, that if that point was ever unfortunately mooted, we and 
 the other Powers who contracted the treaty must settle it, as the Diet 
 had no business with Schleswig. Her Majesty's Government think 
 that this last proposal of the Danes deserves every consideration, and 
 ought to lead to negotiation. Pray state this to the French Govern- 
 ment, and ask them what their policy is under the contingencies 
 referred to. Elliot thinks Prussia is joining Hanover in pushing the 
 
 G G 
 
450 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1S,>8 
 
 Diet to extremities. Paget says, if so, it is in direct contradiction of 
 Mantetiffel's language. Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 October 4:th. Beautiful bright morning. The whole party 
 went up Loch Arkaig for a deer-drive in the Forest of Gerraran. 
 By the time we got there, about ten miles off, the weather changed, 
 and it blew a hurricane with torrents of rain, so we were obliged 
 to return in the boat with a favourable wind. This, however, 
 increased to such violence that the surface of the loch was torn 
 up by waterspouts and very heavy seas. The wind suddenly 
 changing, we had to keep her head to it. The Highlanders were 
 panic-stricken, and stopped pulling, when Sir James Hudson 
 seized an oar and encouraged the men to renew their efforts. For 
 some time it was impossible to make way against the storm, 
 and all we could do was to keep her head to the sea. By despe- 
 rate efforts we got into a small bay in shelter. The ladies behaved 
 beautifully, and did not say a word ; but the position was very 
 critical, as, if the gentlemen and crew had failed, we must have 
 been swamped. Bidwell, I conclude, was rather frightened, for 
 at the worst moment he began to sing, which displeased the 
 Highlanders, who are very superstitious. If we had gone down, 
 there would have been considerable patronage for Lord Derby 
 namely, Duchess of Manchester, Mistress of the Robes ; myself, 
 Foreign Secretary, with two private secretaries, Bidwell and Dash- 
 wood ; Sir James Hudson, Minister at Turin ; and Mr. Hamond, 
 Consul at Cherbourg. I never saw anything more striking than 
 the columns of water which, driven up by the wind, crossed the 
 lake in all directions, and which, if striking the boat, would have 
 filled her at once. 
 
 October 1th. The Duke and Duchess of Manchester left. She 
 was very amiable, and is at the climax of her beauty, and we all 
 regret her much. The mountains are covered with snow. 
 
 October 14th. We left Achnacarry, and got as far as the 
 King's House in Glencoe. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowleij. 
 
 Achnacarry : October 1 i, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, What passed at Berlin with Massone, the Nea- 
 politan, was this : Manteuffel and Paget told me he wished to be 
 
18.38 INCONGRUOUS POSITION OF ENGLAND. 451 
 
 introduced and speak on our quarrel with Naples. I agreed to do 
 so in a private character, and met him at Bloomfield's. He said his 
 Government was anxious to renew. I stated that we could not act 
 without France, and that I thought that, if Naples would give her 
 the forms she wished, and us the substance, which we must insist 
 upon, it might be done. Q. "What was the substance ? A. The basis 
 of the proposal made eighteen months ago to Clarendon, which he 
 would have taken, but the implacable Palmerston refused namely, 
 that the prisoners should be provided for and sent to Buenos Ayres 
 or Monte Video. I said that if these people were delivered in some 
 analogous manner, without exacting any confession or pledge, provided 
 for temporarily, and exiled, we might come to some understanding. 
 Massone jumped at the notion, and I suppose this will again be the 
 basis on which they will start the negotiation of which Paget speaks. 
 Now just look at the incongruous position of England at this moment 
 and of its Government, upon this question. England rose as one man 
 last February because France was supposed, notwithstanding her as- 
 surances to the contrary, to interfere with our internal jurisdiction, 
 and here she is quarrelling with Naples because Naples won't alter her 
 laws at the beck of our Government ! Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 October 15th. Went on, and arrived at Glasgow. Our 
 party had killed 30 stags, of which I got but few, as I was 
 obliged to attend to my official business. Sir James Hudson 
 shot several, being a first-rate rifle-shot and sportsman. 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowlcij. 
 
 Knowsley : October 22, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, Massone deceived Paget. 1 Bernstorff arrived 
 yesterday, and stated that he was instructed to say that the King 
 of Naples would not re-open the negotiations, which Clarendon 
 unfortunately refused, for the release of the prisoners; that he 
 would have no interference with his affairs; and that all he would 
 do would be to send a Minister to London and Paris, if we would 
 reciprocate. I of course said that, this being the case, I preferred 
 the status quo. Bernstorff added that the King was in reality 
 delighted at there being nobody at Naples to bother him, as the 
 French and English Ministers always did. Yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMBSBUBY. 
 
 1 On the contrary, he kept his word. 
 
 GO, 2 
 
452 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MIXISTEK. 1858 
 
 October 2ord. I went to KiiOAvsley, and found there such a 
 heap of Foreign Office boxes that I was obliged to stay at home 
 two days to work instead of shooting. Lord Derby in great 
 force. 
 
 October 24:tk. The Duke of Hamilton told me that when he 
 was at Paris a few days ago the Empress observed that she 
 thought she had made a mess of the Malakoff marriage, and 
 that when she saw his white head and her black one at the 
 altar she feared it would not turn out well. The Due de 
 Malakoff called upon me to-day, and did not look happy. Sidney 
 Herbert is very ill, and so is Lady Clementina Villiers, with 
 intermittent fever. She is reduced to great weakness. 
 
 October 25th.- We have received an invitation to Windsor, 
 where Lady Malmesbury is to present the Duchesse de Malakoff. 
 
 October 2Gth.Duc and Duchesse de Malakoff called. She 
 is a Spaniard, pretty, with a very fine figure, and extremely 
 graceful, with pleasing manners. Looks about twenty-six, 
 
 From Lord M. to Lord Cowlcy. 
 
 London : October 26, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowlcy, I send you the report of Saunders to show 
 what a canard Walewski and the Emperor swallowed in believing 
 that Bernard advocated openly the murder of the Empress and her 
 child. It is bad enough without that, but I see there is a party, 
 and its name is Legion (for it is composed of every party and some 
 Governments) striving to drive England and France into a war. 
 This Portuguese business * proves to me that the Emperor has lost 
 all his sense of right and prudence, and is acting on passion. I am 
 not sure even that the transaction was not meant to lower us on the 
 sore point of the Slave Trade. If Lisbon is like Lavradio, it will 
 scream loud enough to raise a storm from the Tagus to the Neva. 
 A complete plan for the invasion of England by Admiral de la 
 Graviere, made in 1857, is in my possession. It is satisfactory to 
 know that they only meant to stay a week, and to be nearly sure 
 that not a man would have returned. The Emperor does not wish for 
 a reconciliation with Naples, and is glad to annoy Austria by this 
 Italian distress. Stratford has upset everything at Stamboul, but I 
 hink that may be set right. Our Consul McLeod has, I hear, come 
 
 1 The capture of the 'Charles ct Georges,' 
 
1858 DUO AND DUCHE9SE DE MALAKOFF. 453 
 
 home open-mouthed from Mozambique, glorying in having, by hia 
 own suggestion, effected the capture of the ' Charles et Georges,' 
 which, but for him, he says, never would have been touched. He 
 then ran away home from the row he had raised. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 October 11th. Went to Windsor with the Malakoffs, who 
 came to our room soon after we had arrived, and remained till 
 six o'clock, the hour fixed for the Duchesse to be presented. 
 The ladies waited in the gallery whilst I had an audience ; 
 after which, I came to fetch the Duke, who had a book to pre- 
 sent to the Queen from the Emperor. Then Lady Malmesbury 
 went in to present the Duchesse, and left her with the Queen. 
 
 October 2Stk. Had a long conversation with the Prince, 
 who came to my room. Prince Arthur 1 performed on the drum 
 for the edification of Pelissier, who exhibited his own talents 
 in that line so well that he must have begun his career as a 
 ilrummer. He certainly rose from the ranks. His Christian 
 name is, as he says himself, most inappropriate ' Aimable.' 
 He is a short, fat man, of rough manners, but good-hearted 
 withal. He related to me, and I believe also to the Queen, 
 bhe following anecdote. After Waterloo, a great part of the 
 French army was disbanded, Pelissier among them. He went 
 lome 011 foot, somewhere in the South of France, at a time 
 when the whole country was flooded and crossed by narrow 
 iik bridges. In approaching one of these, he saw he must 
 meet a Prussian soldier, and both got on the bridge, neither 
 giving way, when Pelissier pushed him into the river, and as 
 the man rose, hit him on the head with his stick, saying, with 
 a, descriptive gesture, ' Je 1'ai frappe comme a, et -il n'a plus 
 reparu.' As a contrast to this brutal act, he formed such a 
 omaiitic affection for his fellow-soldier, Lord Raglan, that, 
 ifter the death of the latter, he used, when Ambassador in 
 London, to go constantly to see Lord Raglan's little grandson, 
 ,nd play with him. He once struck one of his soldiers for 
 some offence, which is not permitted in the French army, upon 
 
 1 Afterwards Duke of Connaught. 
 
MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1858 
 
 which the man aimed at him, but his musket missed fire. 
 ' M ainteiiant/ said Pelissier, perfectly unmoved, 'je vous domie 
 dix jours de salle pour des armes mal-tenues.' 
 
 October IWi. The Malakoffs, who had intended returning 
 to London, put off their departure to go with us. I went out 
 shooting with the Prince at 9.30, and returned at half- past 
 twelve, as I had several presentations to the Queen to make at 
 one. We returned to London after luncheon. 
 
 November 3rd. First Cabinet Council took place to-day. 
 All the Ministers attended. Lord Derby in great spirits ; but 
 I think we shall have a stormy session, and probably be turned 
 out about May. Intrigues go on apace. 
 
 To Lord Coivley. 
 
 London : November 0. ls."S. 
 
 My clear Cow-ley, Lavradio is holding insane language here, 
 paying to me, and afterwards to Hammond l during my absence, that 
 wo had deserted Portugal. I have telegraphed to Howard to ask the 
 Portuguese Government if their Minister is instructed to talk in this 
 way. I hope you will urge on Walewski the expediency of dropping 
 the demand for indemnity, because, whether pirate or orthodox, the 
 ' Charles et Georges ' did break the municipal law of Mozambique. 
 Pray tell the Empress that we like the Duchesse de Malakoff ex- 
 tremely. Lady Malmesbury and she have made great friends, and 
 really she is to be pitied, looking so lonely in that uncomfortable 
 house, gutted as it is of all ornament. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 November \1th. Lord De la Warr called. He was at Blair 
 with the Persignys, and says she behaved very strangely, crying 
 and making scenes. She asked to see a deer-drive, and when 
 she was posted with the Duke of Athole, and the deer were 
 coming towards them, she was suddenly seized with a terror 
 of the guns, burst into tears, exclaiming, ' Je serai tuee ! O mes 
 pauvres eiifarits !' and insisted upon going home. The Duke 
 at first thought she was joking ; but seeing her get pale and cry 
 bitterly, he promised not to fire. Fortunately, the deer went 
 another way, but she did not recover, and remained quite sulky 
 the rest of the day. Such is the grand-daughter of Marshal 
 1 Under Secretary at tin- Foreign Office, and now Lord Hammond. 
 
GLADSTONE COMMISSIONER TO IONIAN ISLANDS. 4 00 
 
 Ney ! sent here as an Ambassadress. I went to Windsor to 
 present Lord Bloomfield and Sir James Hudson. 
 
 mber 13th. Returned from Windsor with the Prince 
 of Wales, who united me into his carriage, after a long audience 
 with the Queen. He was very agreeable. 
 
 Xi,rfu,l,T \\t1i. -Went to Kimlioltoii. The Malakoffs then-. 
 They joined in a paper-chase with great spirit. 
 
 S<>r<- m [,>r 19///. Lord Derby has sent Mr. (iladstoiic to tin; 
 Ionian Islands as Commissioner; to report upon the state of th<- 
 islands. 
 
 November 20th. I hear that Lords Palmerston and Cla- 
 rendon now think they have done a foolish thing by going to 
 Compiegne, and that their doing so is generally disapproved in 
 England. 
 
 y>, >,,,}, :-,- -21 At. Lord Clarendon lunched with us, and 
 
 d an hour and a half with me talking alxnit the Emj 
 He only returned from Compiegne this morning, and told us 
 that the whole party went out hunting on a very wet day, all 
 l>eing muffled up in waterproofs, except Palmerston, who wore 
 a red coat and nothing over it. The Emperor observed that he 
 would get wet, when he replied, * Rieii ne perce un habit rouge.' 
 Lady Mary Craven was immensely admired. The Empress and 
 Madame Walewska were loud in their admiration of her, but 
 towards the end of the week they had very much cooled. Lord 
 Clarendon said they prevented the Duchess of Manch- 
 from being asked. He also told me there is an intrigue going 
 on to get rid of Walewski, the principal conspirators being 
 Prince Napoleon and Persigny. 
 
 T< >* inker '2'2nd. I got a dreadful account of Lady Clemen- 
 tina Villiers from Lady Jersey. She is much worse, and I now 
 despair of her recovery. I fear she is sinking fast. I am 
 unhappy, as she is my greatest friend, and I always spent t\\<> 
 or three evenings every week at Lady Jersey's, and found e^ 
 body there whom I know and like. 
 
 J'ni-rmber 24th. Lady Clementina continues very ill ; the 
 fever has lasted three months, and she cannot have strength t< 
 resist it much longer. Poor Lady Jersey is nearly distracted. 
 Lord Ranelagh called, and seems much alarmed at the state of 
 
456 MEMotRS OF Atf EX-MINISTER, . 
 
 the defences at Portsmouth. But they are being strengthened 
 at a vast expense. 
 
 December 2nd. Went to Middletoii yesterday. Lady Jersey 
 proposed that I should see Lady Clementina, but, having heard 
 that she was painfully changed, I would not do so, and only 
 talked to her through her door. She wished me good-bye. She 
 is constantly fainting, and kept up by champagne. 
 
 December 3rd. Cabinet Councils almost every day on the 
 subject of the Reform Bill, but I have little expectation of tin; 
 Government producing a measure that will satisfy either them- 
 selves or the public. To-day Lord Derby was beaten on one 
 point which he considered most important, Lord John Manners 
 and I being the only Cabinet Ministers who stood by him. 
 Disraeli, Stanley, Pakington, Lords Salisbury and Lytton l 
 voted for the most liberal of the three propositions submitted ; 
 the Chancellor (Chelmsford), Walpole, Henley, Hardwicke, 
 and General Peel for the most Conservative, so nothing was 
 done. 
 
 December Qtk. Lady Clementina died yesterday. She 
 gradually sank, and died so calmly that her mother, who held 
 her hand, was not aware she was dead until she felt it grow 
 cold. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office ! December 13, 1858. 
 
 My dear Cowley, We have been to see the infernal machine, 
 which is openly shown at the shop, not as an 'infernal machine, 1 
 but as a twenty-barrelled gun upon wheels the most harmless and 
 useless thing you ever saw. The best of the story is that, as the 
 showman is Palmerston's bootmaker, he has been one of the first to 
 examine it. It would do for .firing into a flock of duck provided the 
 ducks, the machine, and the shooter were all d'accord. What fools 
 the French police here must be ! 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Oftice : December 13, 1858. 
 
 My clear Cowley, Apponyi came to me this morning to read a 
 despatch from Buol to Hiilmer about Italy. It began by finding fault 
 
 1 The late Lords Salisbury and Lytton. 
 
185$ AUSTRIA AND FRANCE. 457 
 
 with the French press and lamenting its effects as between Austria 
 and France, and it stated that the treaties of 1815 were as sacred as 
 those of 1856 ; that in 1815 the Italian question was settled and could 
 not be reopened ; that in 1856 the Turkish was settled ; that Austria 
 would insist on both being respected, and that no exchange, no 
 cession, and no negotiation would be granted by her for any part 
 of her Italian dominions. This led to a conversation, in which I 
 repeated exactly the same views as those given to you in my private 
 letter on the subject. Apponyi agreed with me, but thought France 
 would never act fairly, but looked to convulsions by which Piedmont 
 would get Lombardy, France Savoy, and Murat Naples. 
 
 December I5th. I received a grateful letter from Augustus 
 Paget, whom I have appointed Minister at Dresden. 
 
 December 3\st. I left this morning for Windsor, from Heron 
 Court. Mrs. Alison is dead, from taking by mistake an over- 
 dose of laudanum. They kept her walking about for so\vr:il 
 hours, but in vain. One of the handsomest women of her day. 
 
 1859 
 
 January 1st. Yesterday we danced at Windsor, and when 
 the clock struck twelve all the Royalties embraced. I had the 
 honour of dancing a country dance with her Majesty. 
 
 January 2nd. Returned to Heron Court. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Coivley. 
 
 Heron Court : January 7, 1 - 
 
 My dear Cowley, I will send you a very important paper in a t' \\ 
 days (the Queen must approve of my reply first), which I have got from 
 Bloomfield, asking me on the part of the Prussian (iovcrnment what 
 we mean to do if Austria and France go to war. I have answered, 
 neutrality at all events, and as long as possible, ^"c are iviuly, if 
 Austria and France choose to join, to improve the Legations, to givi> 
 our moral support, and even to consider a reconstruction of tin- < '<ntnil 
 territory if we see hopes of improving the condition of the people with- 
 out weakening the spiritual authority of the Pope; but we will not 
 consent beyond this to any alterations in the territorial arrangements 
 of 1815, which have ensured the longest peace on record. 
 
458 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Coivley. 
 
 Foreign Office: January 11, 1859. 
 
 My dear Cowley, You will see that we have taken a line, and I 
 leave you to carry it out with your usual straightforward exactness. 
 If the Emperor cares for the public opinion of this country, he must he 
 made to understand that it will be against the aggressor, whoever he 
 may be, who is the first cause of a European war. That it will cost 
 him his life or his crown I have not the least doubt. Eventually, as it 
 spreads, Germany is sure to be found united against the Latin nations, 
 therefore it is as a friend 1 wish to warn him before he decides at his 
 age and in his position on such a coup de des. Persigny went back 
 yesterday to intrigue against Walewski and her Majesty's present 
 Government. I conclude the Buol escapade is over. Pelissier, as usual, 
 approved of my conduct, and is disgusted at being kept in the dark as 
 to everything that is going on at Paris. The Russians are trying to 
 get ports in Spain, Sicily, and Egypt, like Villafranca that is, military 
 ports. You should ask Walewski quietly how that suits France ? It 
 is very well known Russia is with her, but does she wish to have her a 
 maritime Power in the Mediterranean? The Russians boast that we 
 have overreached ourselves because she w r as blocked up at both ends 
 before for nine months, and at one end all the year, while now she 
 can keep a fleet all the year round in the Mediterranean. When the 
 Emperor pretended to Clarendon that he did not know where Yilla- 
 franca was, it was clearly a comedic. Of course you will see the 
 Emperor himself, and give all the solemnity you can to the advice, 
 leaving all the consequences and calamities of a European war on his 
 head if he begins, or allows Sardinia to begin. 
 
 January 12th. The King of Sardinia has made a speech 
 which can only mean war. Things look bad all over Europe, and 
 it will be very difficult to avert a general war if Louis Napoleon 
 wants one. Great panic in Paris, and war very unpopular. The 
 Emperor is getting alarmed at the feeling in France and the 
 extraordinary fall in the funds; also at the unpopularity of the 
 marriage arranged between Prince Napoleon and the King of 
 Sardinia's daughter. Lord Cowley writes that he was much de- 
 pressed at his ball ; but I believe it is his fear of assassination, 
 which haunts him perpetually, and has robbed him of all his former 
 courage and coolness. It is driving him on to war, thinking that 
 by supporting the cause of Italian nationality he will disarm those 
 
18/59 WAR INEVITABLE. 459 
 
 men who, in his earlier days, were his confederates in Carbona- 
 rism, and to whom he is pledged by former promises, and perhaps 
 oaths. Cavour, knowing these facts, works upon them to induce 
 him to take part openly with Sardinia. Austria is behaving with 
 a folly w^hich is perfectly inconceivable considering her position 
 surrounded by enemies on all the frontiers. But what can one 
 expect from Buol ? I care for neither Austria nor France, but 
 Lord Derby and I are determined to use every effort to prevent 
 war, which would cost 100,000 lives and desolate the fairest parts 
 of Europe. My whole mind is occupied by that object. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Coivlcy. 
 
 Foreign Office : January 10, !*:,!. 
 
 My dear Cowley, We are extremely obliged to you for keeping 
 us so well au fait of everything at this critical moment. I hope and 
 believe that Walewski knows he is not the man for a War Minister, and 
 this will keep him in his pacific path. I am very glad you liked my 
 great despatch, and I hope you will approve of the one I wrote Hudson, 
 which was as strong as I thought it prudent to write at first. Your 
 offer to submit your views to Palmerston is a patriotic one, and, if he 
 receives it as I do, it will be to thank you. The great duty of every 
 honest man must be to prevent the scourge which two or three unprin- 
 cipled men would inflict on mankind for their personal profit ; though, 
 as to that, I believe a war would sweep them from their high places. 
 Lamtte was with me on Thursday. He is here to borrow 2,000,000/. 
 for Cavour, and cannot get 2,000/., ditto Austria. Lamtte speaks of 
 Cavour as a desperate adventurer, who has ruined his country by his 
 expenses. He says he is ready to go anywhere for a sum to cover his 
 financial bungling, and that if he does not have a war he will be turned 
 out on his Budget. He works the Orsini gang by saying, ' Don't be 
 such fools as to kill the only man who can help Italy, but frighten him 
 into it.' Hence the continual terror agitated around the Emperor, 
 about which Bernard's publication respecting the great canardicre at 
 Palmerston' s bootmaker's, and his rhodomontade speech, is a specinu-n. 
 Tell Walewski this. It is an abominable tranic. We are really tormiiu: 
 no Anti-French League beyond begging the Germans to ivnmin united 
 and independent of external politics until obliged to take a part. 
 
 Yours truly. 
 
 M \i.Mi>i:rnv. 
 
4CO MEMOIRS OF AW EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 January IQth.-^ I fear war cannot be avoided. The Emperor 
 of the French seems determined, though his country is strongly 
 against it ; but I hope he will be induced to pause, especially as 
 he finds he cannot draw England into taking his part. Lord 
 Cowley says the Emperor avoided talking to him at the last ball. 
 The Queen and Prince are very anxious, and the latter has written 
 to me. The Emperor threatens Belgium if she does not go with 
 France. The Prince de Chimay is evidently for the French alliance. 
 
 January 18th. Pelissier called and told me that fears of war 
 were at an end, as France was against it. It is, however, quite 
 clear the Emperor has done all he could to stir it up, notwith- 
 standing his former declaration, ' L'Empire c'est la paix ! ' 
 
 January IWi. Went to Windsor, and returned to-day with 
 Disraeli. 
 
 January 23rd. Lord Cowley telegraphs that Persigny is to 
 come here directly as Ambassador. This was arranged at Com- 
 piegne whilst Lord Palmerston was there, and is a most hostile 
 move on the part of the Emperor, as he knows perfectly w ell the 
 terms Persigny and I are upon, and the inexcusable behaviour of 
 Madame de Persigny to Lady M. Sending him back again when 
 Parliament is going to meet must be done with a view of in- 
 triguing against our Government as he did before. 
 
 January 25th. Lord Cowley writes that he his seen Per- 
 signy, who says that the Emperor wishes him to return to England 
 as Ambassador. The next day, Lord Cowley saw Walewski, who 
 told him that Persigny was urging the Emperor to appoint him 
 against his wishes, and he is unable to ascertain which of these 
 accounts is true. The preparations for war continue 011 all sides. 
 The French Emperor 'is very hostile to our Administration, and 
 anxious to upset it. 
 
 January 26th. There was a cordial Cabinet to-day on the 
 principal clause of the Reform Bill. Lerd Derby much pleased, 
 as he feared dissensions, and even resignations. The 'Morning 
 Post' has received orders from the French Emperor to attack me 
 on every possible occasion. Mr. Borthwick, the editor, saw him 
 at Paris, and got his orders from himself. This paper is also 
 Lord Palmerston's, so the connection between them is clear. 
 
 The case of the ' Charles et Georges,' which is a French ship, 
 
1859 THE CONSPIRACY BILL. 461 
 
 is that the Portuguese seized her, according to our treaties, for 
 being fitted as a slaver, and took her into the Tagus. The French 
 Government screamed very loudly at this, and, on the other hand, 
 the Portuguese claimed our assistance, as bound by treaties, to 
 resist the French threats. After a great deal of noise on both 
 sides, we arranged the dispute, which, although the Opposition 
 made capital of it, was never more than a storm in a tea-pot, 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowlcy. 
 
 Foreign Office : January 26, 1859. 
 
 My dear Cowley, I must thank you for the manner in which you 
 have met without any instructions from me the idea on the part of the 
 French Government of sending Persigny here again. I will tell you 
 frankly that when Persigny assured you he only saw Palmerston once 
 after he left office, it is entirely untrue. When violently insisting on 
 the necessity and ease of passing the Conspiracy Bill he came out with 
 this : ' J'ai repete a Palmerston plus d'une fois tons vos raisonnements, 
 et il me dit qu'il n'y a pas un mot de vrai dans tout cela.' It was then 
 I told him that I must do all business at Paris through you, if he saw 
 our opponents and repeated our conversations to them. Before he left 
 Paris, where he was when Palmerston was turned out, he said to several 
 people that in a week he would put him again in his place by forcing 
 us to pass the same bill. I could add half-a-dozen witnesses to this. 
 For three weeks after he returned I heard of nothing but his violent 
 language against Lord Derby and me in every salon, and it was the 
 talk and astonishment of the whole Corps Diplomatique to see a French 
 Ambassador holding forth like an electioneering agent. The fact is that, 
 as his master has always been and always will be a conspirator, so he 
 has always been and will always be a partisan of somebody. These are 
 their idiosyncrasies. Be that as it may, confidence is not an act of 
 volition, and if Persigny came, I should carry on the whole business 
 with you. In doing this I should be still more justified by what I 
 know now of the Emperor's sentiments towards our Government. 
 
 Borthwick, after dinner, told that when the other day in Paris the 
 
 Emperor sent for him, and he never saw a man so irritated as he is 
 against Lord Malmesbury. He said : ' You must write him down ; he 
 has leagued Germany against me, and is entirely opposed to my policy. 
 " I have proof of it by his own hand, in which he says that Austria has 
 the same right to Lombardy as England has to Ireland and India." ' 
 This quotation leaves no doubt as to Borthwick's veracity, for it is the 
 
462 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1809 
 
 very phrase which I used in my letter to you of December 7, as you 
 will sse. Did you give him a copy of it or read it to him? Since the 
 above orders, the ' Morning Post ' attacks me every other day. I have 
 therefore no doubt, and I may say I know, that Persigny is meant to 
 restore our ex-Premier; but this country is not Spain, and a Govern- 
 ment is not to be upset by a foreign ambassador Buol has 
 
 received our counsels of prudence with nearly equal sulkiness, and I 
 think the best attitude for us now is to fold our arms like men who 
 have advised madmen in vain to refrain from mutual follies, look on as 
 if they thought them mad, and leave them with sorrow to their fate. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 January 27th. There is a violent and mischievous article in 
 the 'Morning Post,' accusing me of forming a German league 
 against France, showing the Emperor's anger at our opposing his 
 warlike proclivities. The Princess of Prussia was confined this 
 afternoon of a son. The news reached Windsor by telegraph in 
 six minutes. 
 
 January 2Sth. I went to Windsor to present Lord Lyons 
 and Mr. Paget. Had a long audience. Walpole and Henley 
 have resigned on the Reform Bill ; the former because we go too 
 far, the latter because we don't go far enough. Walpole is a con- 
 scientious man, and a Tory. Henley very shrewd and clever, but 
 crotchety and easily offended ; he is much looked up to in the 
 House of Commons. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office : January 28, 1859. 
 
 My dear Cowley, I cannot but think that your apprehensions will 
 be realised ; Hudson thinks so too. Malaret says the public feeling in 
 France against a war is tremendous and most openly expressed. Dare 
 the Emperor face this ? I think you had better not tell the Emperor 
 that I know of his conversation with Borthwick. A man never forgives 
 being found out in such a treacherous action. It appears he shoived 
 him the extract you gave him of my letter. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 January 31 st. Mr. Henry Greville called and was very 
 friendly, expressing great interest in our success in keeping off 
 
1859 QUEEN OPENS PARLIAMENT IN I'KltSuN. 463 
 
 war. He appeared very favourable to our Government ; if so, it 
 is an extraordinary change. His brother Charles, 1 who is Clerk 
 of the Council, has never attended since Lord Derby has been in 
 office, and did not conceal his omitting to do so on pur]> 
 When Lord Derby's attention was called to this fact, he said * lie 
 had not observed his absence, as he never knew whether it was 
 John or Thomas who answered the bell.' 
 
 February 1st. Lady Ely told me that the Malakoffs expected 
 to be recalled. Pelissier is not in the confidence of his Court, 
 and knows nothing, not even Avhat concerns himself personally. 
 He is certainly not fond of the Emperor, of whom he never e 
 any good. He told me that the French army was not in a state 
 for a campaign. 
 
 February 3rd. The Queen in person opened Parliament to- 
 day. Crowds larger than usual, the weather being beautiful, and 
 her reception very enthusiastic. Lords Wiiichilsea and Ravens - 
 worth were the mover and seconder. Lord Granville was fol- 
 lowed by Lord Derby, who was nervous, and forgot to mention 
 India till I reminded him of it ; but when he began on foreign 
 politics, which was evidently the subject uppermost in his mind, 
 nothing could be more dignified or more eloquent. He declared 
 for upholding all the treaties of 1815, spoke very openly against 
 war, and on the responsibility that would be incurred by any 
 sovereign who disturbed the peace of Europe for pin-poses of 
 aggrandisement or ambition, and announced the firm determi- 
 nation of the English Government to observe perfeet neutrality, 
 declaring that we had neither engagements, obligations, trea- 
 nor understandings which bound us or prevented our follow ing 
 the course we considered best for the honour and interest of 
 England. He was received with great cheering on all sides. It 
 was amusing to watch the faces of Count Corti and Huron 
 Chotek, 2 who were present during Lord Derby's speech, the 
 former looking discomfited and miserable, whilst the latter had 
 an expression of the greatest delight. 
 
 February 6th. I went to Windsor. The Queen has written 
 a letter to Lord Derby insisting upon the Indian army Wing 
 
 1 Author of the well-known memoirs published after his death. 
 
 2 Italian and Austrian Secretaries. 
 
464 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 under the Horse Guards ; but as he cannot, or thinks he cannot, 
 get the House of Commons to repeal that part of the India Bill, 
 he has written to say that if she makes it a sine quA non he must 
 resign. 
 
 February 7th. Returned from Windsor. The Queen and 
 Prince both very gracious and friendly, but much alarmed at the 
 clause in the India Bill relating to the army. 
 
 February Sth. Lord Derby has settled not to disfranchise, 
 and Mr. Walpole objects. It is impossible to please him. This 
 last is opposed by Lord Stanley, which makes it the more strange 
 that it should also be opposed by the other. Napoleon's speech is 
 not so pacific as Lord Cowley informed us it would be. Not a 
 word is said about treaties, but a good deal about the interests 
 and honour of France. I have no confidence in peace being 
 preserved. The French Ministers had a hard fight with him to 
 make as moderate a speech as the one he delivered at the opening 
 of the Chambers. Funds are gone down. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office : February 8, 1859. 
 
 My dear Cowley, The speech has not been taken so ill here as in 
 Paris, and we all feel, I think, that the Emperor must have had great 
 difficulty in backing out handsomely. That he should back out is the 
 great point. ' The treaties ' i.e. of 1815 are the sentence of condem- 
 nation of his uncle, and no wonder the words are hot potatoes in his 
 mouth. It is a good thing that he does believe Europe is arrayed 
 against his ambitious dreams. Have you seen the map of Europe for 
 1860 ? Here they believe it to be issued by his permission. Pray 
 assure "Walewski how much her Majesty's Government appreciate his 
 wise and friendly conduct during the past crisis (if past it is). If we 
 can get a good agreement about the Coolies and the Slave Trade 
 Treaty, of which you gave us hopes, it would do very great good. Your 
 language throughout these difficulties has been most judicious and 
 useful. The Emperor sent me a message by the Duke of Hamilton, 
 expressing his regret for having shown Borthwick my letter to you. 
 The Duke says he told him plainly his mind on the subject. The 
 Emperor also reiterated to him assurances of the value -he placed on 
 our firm alliance. Buol promises everything we wish as to the 
 Danube. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBUBT. 
 
1859 RESIGNATION OF WALPOLE AND HENLEY. 46 J 
 
 February 9th. Cabinet this afternoon. Lord Derby an- 
 nounced the resignation of Walpole and Henley. He has been 
 obliged to have moderate disfraiichisement and redistribution. 
 But this does not satisfy Lord Stanley, who talks of resigning if 
 the measure is not more liberal. Lord Hardwicke and General 
 Peel are dissatisfied because it goes too far already. It may 
 possibly end in Lord Derby's resigning. Disraeli has behaved 
 beautifully throughout, trying to smooth all difficulties and 
 faithful on all points to Lord Derby. So have the others. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowlcy. 
 
 Foreign Office : February 10, 18;*9. 
 
 My clear Cowley, Since telegraphing to you, I have seen Lord 
 Derby, who says with truth that you are the only man who can carry 
 out our views with respect to France, Austria, and the Italian question. 
 If, therefore, you have no decided reasons against it, I would urge you, 
 having first come to an understanding with the Emperor, to go on a 
 special mission to Vienna, and even to Turin afterwards, if necessary. 
 The obstacle that rose to my mind was the Congress on the Princi- 
 palities, 1 but it cannot meet before the 27th, as Mustirus would 
 scarcely be ready sooner. The next question is whether you think it 
 desirable to come over here first, and see Lord Derby and me. He 
 seems to think you should ; but you have the whole business so com- 
 pletely at your fingers' ends, that, unless you prefer it yourself, I would 
 not press it. The great object is to effect such a reconciliation between 
 France and Austria that they would agree to withdraw their armies 
 from the Papal States partly or altogether, and come to an agreement 
 ;o try an amelioration of the Papal Government ; to obtain positive 
 declarations with respect to peaceful intentions, and a partial disarma- 
 ment founded upon them ; to induce, if possible, Austria to amend the 
 treaties obliging her to enter the Italian Duchies -this I doubt. You 
 could at the same time at Vienna sound Buol as to our admitting the 
 double election of Couza, provided we fortified the suzcraintc of the 
 Porte and the divisions of the provinces by stringent declarations, 
 stating our admissions to be favours, and contrary to the original 
 convention. Your full powers might be sent over to you as soon as I 
 
 1 This Congress wa? to meet to decide whether there should be a union of the 
 :wo Principalities under one Hospodar or under two. The Porte and England 
 were for the latter, France and the other Powers for the former. 
 
 II II 
 
466 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 hear from you by telegraph as to substance, and by special messenger 
 as to detail. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 February Ifah. The Queen sent me a letter she had just 
 received from Louis Napoleon. It professes friendship for Eng- 
 land, respect for treaties, and evidently reserves for himself the 
 interpretation he chooses to make as to how the honour and 
 interests of France are concerned in their observance ; and as 
 he says plainly that those are his first objects, it is quite clear 
 that he keeps himself free to act as he himself may judge. The 
 truth is that he is determined to go to war with Austria to 
 propitiate the Italians and to save his own life from assassination, 
 since the attentat of January, 1858. Cavour worked upon this 
 at their interview at Plombieres last autumn, and persuaded him 
 that taking up the cause of Italy will save his life, forfeited 
 according to the laws of the Carbonari. If this is so, there 
 must be war, for a personal motive is generally stronger than a 
 public one, and everybody agrees that his terror of assassination 
 is very great. No wonder, as he knows what a set of villains 
 Carbonari are. I have reason to know he is making immense 
 preparations for war, though he denies it in his letter* to the 
 Queen. 
 
 February 2$rd, We dined at the Palace. The Queen was 
 very amiable, and spoke a great deal to Lady Malmesbury ; and 
 the Princess Alice, who is very charming, talked to me about 
 music, on which subject she must have found me sadly ignorant. 
 
 February 24^7*. I have sent Lord Cowley to Vienna to try 
 and settle matters. , Count Buol is much pleased. Lady Tanker- 
 ville says that Lady Palmerston told her that the attack upon 
 the foreign policy of our Government, for which her husband has 
 given notice to-morrow, was made in compliance with the Empe- 
 ror's wish ! 
 
 March 1st. Two hundred and eleven members of the House 
 of Commons were present at Lord Derby's meeting this morning, 
 and expressed themselves perfectly satisfied with the Reform Bill 
 and determined to support the Government. 
 
 March '3rd. Lord Henry Lennox has resigned. His eldei 
 
1850 THE < CHARLES ET GEORGES' CASE. 467 
 
 brother, Lord March, accepts office, and addresses his constituents, 
 expressing thorough confidence in Lord Derby. Bidwell told 
 Lord Henry that he, "Walpole, and Henley were like the three 
 men who deserted their ship at Calais the other day, thinking she 
 was going down ; they were drowned, but the ship was saved. 
 The Radicals are furious with us for bringing in such a moderate 
 measure, and are holding meetings to get up an agitation against it. 
 
 March ith. The new Ministers, Mr. Sotheron Estcourt as 
 Home Secretary, and Lord Donoughmore as President of the 
 Board of Trade, with Lord Lovaine as Vice-President, were 
 sworn in by the Queen at a Privy Council. 
 
 March 6th. Louis Napoleon means to command his army in 
 person in the event of war. He has an idea that he is a military 
 genius, and used to send plans of operations to the army in the 
 Crimea ; but Pelissier on one occasion made some remarks to me 
 rather derogatory of his master's generalship. 
 
 I went to the Palace at six and had an audience of the Queen, 
 which lasted an hour. 
 
 Lord John Russell means to propose resolutions against the 
 disfraiichisement of the forty- shilling freeholders, which are sure 
 to pass, and if we dissolve we shall have them all against us, pro- 
 bably getting a worse Parliament than we have at present. My 
 idea is that the best move would be to resign at once, before the 
 second reading. The Queen would then send for Palmerston, and 
 the ' old lot ' would come in, to the disgust of the Radicals. 
 
 The case of the * Charles et Georges,' to which I have before 
 alluded, came on this afternoon in both Houses. Lord Wode- 
 house made a violent speech against me, and I replied, showing 
 that I had done all that could be done without going to war with 
 France ; and as the Portuguese never considered it was a casus 
 belli, and M. de Louie admitted they had never asked for any- 
 thing but our good offices (which we gave), the case was a per- 
 fectly clear and simple one. The Opposition are now using every 
 endeavour to damage us before a general election. After a great 
 clatter, Lord Wodehouse withdrew his motion, but the news- 
 papers continue writing everything that is most false on the 
 subject. I wish I could settle the affairs of Italy as satisfac- 
 torily. 
 
468 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER* 
 
 .}[n,'cli $th. I dined at the Palace and came home very tired. 
 I should be glad to resign, as I am worn out. The only people at 
 the Queen's dinner were the Duke of Montrose, Lord Derby, arid 
 myself. Lord Raglan l is still at Berlin, where he was sent by 
 the Queen to represent her at the baptism of the young Prince. 
 To the great joy of his beautiful wife he returns on the 12th. 
 
 The Conservative members of the House of Commons have 
 objected en masse to the proposed disfranchisemeiit of the forty- 
 shilling freeholders, and Disraeli announced a modification of the 
 clause. I fear, however, that nothing will give us a majority at 
 the second reading. There is no doubt that the defection of 
 Walpole and Henley has done great harm to our Government. 
 
 March \Wi, Lord Cowley crossed yesterday in the storm 
 (which amounted to a hurricane), and called this evening. We 
 Aveiit together to Lord Derby, who does not appear sanguine 
 as to the success of Lord Cowley's mission to Vienna, though the 
 Austrians have agreed to all we asked, but he fears Louis Napo- 
 leon wants war, and if so he will not be satisfied with any con- 
 cession. It is said that the Italians have again threatened his 
 life if he draws back. If so, which I believe is the case, such an 
 existence must be misery ; and no wonder he tries to escape from 
 it. The chances of death on the field of battle would be nothing 
 compared to the hourly expectation of the dagger of an assassin. 
 I hear that one of Rossi's murderers formed part of the deputa- 
 tion sent to the Emperor in Paris, and he is constantly going to 
 him with accounts of plots against his life. 
 
 Lady Londonderry called. She dined several times at the 
 Tuileries, and gave us very much the same account of the 
 Emperor, who was in low spirits. She saw Madame de Persigny, 
 who complained of being so poor that she could not afford herself 
 a new gown. This was accompanied with tears ; so she is just 
 as childish and silly as ever. 
 
 A Committee has been formed, with Lord Shaftesbury at its 
 head, to collect subscriptions for Poerio and other refugees who 
 have landed at Cork, into which port they had forced the Ame- 
 rican captain to enter, and are now coming to London, en route 
 for Turin, having broken their parole to the Neapolitan Govern- 
 1 Lord Raglan died in 1884. 
 
1859 BIG BEN REBELS. 469 
 
 merit. Pelissier called this morning ; he is annoyed at the papers 
 having announced that he was at Paris, and considered it as a 
 sort of joke in allusion to his retired life. So I told him he had 
 better give a dinner, and send the list to the ' Morning Post.' 
 
 I went at three o'clock to accompany Count Lavradio, who had 
 an audience of the Queen, but he forgot all about it, and had to 
 apologize to her Majesty, who took it most good-humouredly. 
 
 Big Ben, M.P. for Norfolk, headed a rebellion against the 
 second reading of the Reform Bill. About forty members met, 
 and agreed that Lord Derby ought either to withdraw the bill, or, 
 if beaten, resign without dissolving. They probably mean to effect 
 the last alternative by adding themselves to the majority. 
 
 March 18th. The Duchesse de Malakoff called on Lady 
 Malmesbury. Very amiable, but always in the same low spirits. 
 She makes no effort to amuse herself. Pelissier now never stirs 
 from home. 
 
 To-morrow will be decided whether, in case Lord John 
 Russell's resolution on the Reform Bill passes, we shall withdraw 
 the bill and dissolve Parliament, or wait a fortnight and then 
 dissolve it on our general policy. Lord Cowley telegraphs that 
 the Emperor, in a conversation, suggests a Congress of the five 
 Powers to settle the affairs of Italy, excluding Sardinia. He 
 says that would show the Italians that he had done all he could 
 for them, and that they could not expect him to oppose the will 
 of the rest of Europe. It is evident from this that it is the 
 Italians whom he fears. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 19, 18o9. 
 
 My dear Cowley, We have just had a Cabinet upon your despatch 
 and the proposal it contains for a Congress a proposal which was made 
 to me formally Ly Pelissier yesterday. Also upon your various tele- 
 grams relating to details, and the one from Loftus announcing the 
 adhesion of Austria and her conditions. We think liome too far, and 
 also that to hold a Conference on Italian affairs anywhere in Italy is 
 to be avoided. I cannot see how either France or Austria, after what 
 they have said, can refuse our proposal as to Sardinia disarming ; but 
 Austria should make a declaration besides, and in the most public way, 
 that she will not Attack her. Our guarantee of Sardinia ;vith France 
 
470 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 ought to please the Emperor, and it will take off the edge of leaving her 
 out of the Conference. The further answer to the Liberals, who are 
 sure to find fault with that exclusion, is, that her admission must 
 involve that of Naples, Home, Tuscany, Modena, and Parma, and thus 
 live votes at the Conference. You must make the Emperor under- 
 stand that we can only address ourselves to the four points viz. evacua- 
 tion, reform, security for Sardinia, and substitute for treaties of 1847. 
 If we go farther we shall be at sea. . . . 
 
 Yours truly, MALMESBURY. 
 
 March 2lst. The second reading of the Reform Bill conies on 
 to-day, and Lord John Russell's amendment is to move that the 
 forty-shilling freehold franchise, as hitherto exercised in the 
 counties, shall not be abolished. Russia declares that she prefers 
 a Congress to a Conference on the affairs of Italy, to 1>e attended 
 by the Secretaries of State, which will oblige me to go, and Lord 
 Derby told me to-day I was to do so, also that I should have the 
 G.C.B. 
 
 March 22nd. The Marriage Bill was thrown out in the Lords, 
 by a majority of ten. Lord Derby is annoyed at my having to go 
 to the Conference. The Italian Minister complains that he is so 
 rude to him that he does not dare to speak to him for fear of a 
 quarrel. The fact is, as he himself confessed to me, that he is 
 much too honest and brusque to make a good diplomatist, and go 
 through the necessary humbug of the profession. 
 
 March 21th. Azegiio is going to Paris to meet Cavour, and 
 professes to be quite satisfied with my proposal to admit envoys 
 from the Italian States, to be heard at the Congress, though not 
 to sit at the Council. It is Austria that makes difficulties, and 
 has not as yet agreed, to the basis. The Emperor Louis Napoleon 
 goes on with his preparations for war. I suspect he agrees to the 
 Congress merely to gain time, as he is not ready. If this is the 
 case, it would almost be better to let things take their course. 
 Austria could not crush Sardinia before France could come to the 
 rescue, and it would then be a fair fight between the two Great 
 Powers ; but I feel that it is an imperative duty in me to prevent 
 so awful a calamity as such a bloody war would be. 
 
 March 25th. The arrangements for the Congress do not get 
 011 well, Louis Napoleon is now making difficulties and temporis- 
 
1859 CAVOUK. 47 1 
 
 ing. Cavour is making mischief, and says that he has letters from 
 the Emperor and minutes of his conversation with him at Plom- 
 bieres, ' et qu'il le tieiit.' I fear this is the case. 
 
 The Queen has written a very gracious letter to Lord Derby, 
 giving him leave to dissolve Parliament and to make four Peers. 
 Lady Derby called on Lady Malmesbury, and said that after the 
 Queen's letter it was Lord Derby's duty to stay in as long as he 
 could. 
 
 Austria has agreed to all my propositions, but will not hear of 
 Sardinia being represented at the Congress in any way. I had 
 proposed that the small States of Italy, including Naples, should 
 send representatives to the Congress, though only with a con- 
 sultative title without a vote, and if Austria refuses to consent to 
 this there is an end of the Congress, and war must ensue, as none 
 of the other Powers would allow such an act of injustice. Count 
 Apponyi called, in low spirits, and says that Austria refuses 
 to consent to our proposals, and that there will be no Congress. 
 The position of affairs in England complicates matters and adds 
 to my difficulties, as none of the Great Powers, except Russia, 
 who agrees to everything, would move an inch till it is decided 
 whether Lord Derby's Government can hold on or not. If we 
 were secure, Austria might make the concession we require, which 
 she would not if Lord Palmerston and Lord John were in office ; 
 and Louis Napoleon, seeing a chance of his friends being in power, 
 and of following a policy in accordance with his wishes, throws, 
 of course, every kind of delay in the way of settling the case by 
 negotiation. This is the consequence of the unpatriotic and 
 factious conduct of the Opposition, Avho appear perfectly uncon- 
 cerned at the slaughter their policy will occasion. The ' Morning 
 Post,' which is the organ of the Emperor, Palmerston, and Azeglio, 
 is more violent every day against our peaceful foreign policy. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowlcy. 
 
 Foreign Office : March 25, 1859. 
 
 My dear Cowley, Your letter of yesterday is very alarming, show- 
 ing, as it does, that the Emperor is no longer the same strong man in 
 mind and nerve that he was formerly. Five years ago he would have 
 put his cousin and Cavour in their proper places in five minutes, but 
 
472 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18a9 
 
 now lie seems to be their victim. Firmness on our part may yet s&ve 
 Europe from a war, by giving him courage to do what is right, and even 
 what is best for himself. It is now quite clear to me that we could not, 
 with all your ability and energy, have obtained an immediate disarma- 
 ment. The sulky slowness of Austria herself was as great an obstacle 
 as Cavour's frantic struggles, and, as she is plajdng just as false as the 
 rest (Prussia excepted), no dependence could be placed on her assertions 
 to us. Austria would like to stay the war, see Sardinia made safe, and 
 then have the status quo in Italy. My object, therefore, has been to 
 remove all pretexts of excuse, both on the part of France and of Austria, 
 for preventing a Conference. Sardinia was their mutual pretext, and 
 my proposal that all the Italian States should be invited to attend at 
 but not in the Conference, as Belgium and Holland did at that of Lon- 
 don, is unanswerable in equity, and supported by a precedent of the 
 greatest importance, inasmuch as the question there involved the 
 creation of two new kingdoms. Russia without hesitation, nay, with 
 eagerness, accepted all we proposed viz. the condition restricting the 
 subjects to our four points, and also the above-mentioned invitation to 
 and admission of the Italian States. Prussia has done the same, and 
 is urging the whole scheme at Vienna. If, therefore, the Conferences 
 are to be stopped, it must be there or at Paris. We cannot agree to 
 admit the six Italian States into the body of the Congress, for they 
 would make it a Babel, and Scarlett has ascertained that Parma and 
 Modena have no wish to be so admitted. But if they and Rome are 
 not parties to it, no more can Sardinia (with whose internal relations 
 we do not intend to interfere) have a right to sit there. I think it de- 
 sirable that you should know step by step what course we have followed 
 in this important crisis, as the rapid succession of telegrams crossing 
 one another from every part of Europe is very trying to the memory. 
 
 On Saturday, the 19th, Pelissier brought me a despatch from his 
 Government, informing me that Prussia had suggested a Congress, and 
 asking the opinion of Her Majesty's Government. A Cabinet met at 
 three o'clock, and that evening I wrote a note to the French Ambassador 
 telling him we should consent on condition that the subjects discussed 
 should be confined to four namely, evacuation, reform, security against 
 war between Austria and Sardinia, substitute for Austro-Italiaii treaties. 
 The next day I sent for Briinnow and informed him of the answer 
 which I had sent to Pelissier, and giving him the four points in writing, 
 begged him to inform his Government that such would be our condi- 
 tions if the proposal was made by it to us. He did so by telegraph, and 
 pn the 22nd I received a telegram from Crampton l to say that all our 
 ' Our Ambassador at St. Petersburg, 
 
1859 DEATH OF LORD WATERFORD. 473 
 
 points were accepted. On the same clay Brunnow called to confirm 
 this, and gave me a memorandum to that effect, but he did not give me 
 the official proposal for a Congress until the following day, the 23rd. 
 Subsequently the Kussian and Prussian Governments have accepted 
 our four points, including a distinct declaration that no territorial re- 
 arrangement was to be discussed, and that the treaties of 1815 were to 
 be left intact. Immediately after my note of the 19th to Pelissier, I 
 submitted our conditions to Austria, who, in reply, insisted on the 
 admission of all the Italian States, except Sardinia, to the Congress ; a 
 proposal perfectly inadmissible, which I rejected, but upon which, up to 
 this moment, Austria is apparently not prepared to alter her intentions. 
 The Eussiaii and Prussian Governments have also entirely adhered to 
 my suggestion that the States of Italy should be present at the Congress 
 only en titre consultatif. The only point, therefore, to be settled is this 
 last one, and I hope you will be able to show the French Government, 
 as Loftus, I trust, will be able to convince the Austrian Government, 
 that it was the only alternative desirable. With regard to the question 
 of Conference or Congress, we agree with you, and have recommended 
 the former, but as we are not the proposers of either we cannot urge it 
 very strongly. If the adoption of the latter name involves a general 
 representation by Cabinet Ministers, I must go, because the Queen must 
 be placed on the same footing as the other sovereigns, and, such boing 
 the case, I do not see how Walewski can avoid being present ergo, 
 you, also. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 April 1st. The division took place in the House of Commons 
 on Lord John Russell's resolution, and we were beaten by 39. A 
 Cabinet Council took place to-day, and immediately afterwards 
 Lord Derby went to the Queen, but the result of his interview is 
 to be secret till Monday, when he and Disraeli are to acquaint the 
 Houses of Parliament with our decision. Lord Derby will not 
 resign, but dissolve Parliament. 
 
 Lord Waterford was killed out hunting, near Curraghmore, a 
 few days ago. His horse stumbled over a small fence, and, falling 
 on his head, Lord Waterford dislocated his neck a singular death 
 for a man who had had so many escapes. Lady Stuart de Rotlu'say 
 started immediately to go to her daughter, who is said to be quite 
 composed, but is probably stunned by the shock. 
 
 April 4th. Lord Derby made his explanation this afternoon 
 
474 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 in the House of Lords. Disraeli spoke in the other House, and 
 was best, as his speech was shorter. 
 
 April $th. Bad news from Paris. Lord Cowley had a long 
 conversation with the Emperor yesterday, and it is quite clear 
 that he is determined upon war. He will not induce Sardinia to 
 disarm, and says he thinks war inevitable, as the Congress will 
 only patch up matters and retard it. This agrees in every point 
 with a report which I received from Turin, saying that the Sar- 
 dinians were determined to go to war, and were sure of the 
 Emperor's support ; that they would be satisfied with nothing but 
 the expulsion of Austria from Italy and the annexation of Lom- 
 bardy ; and that France is to get Savoy and Nice in return for 
 her assistance. This is very annoying after having done all we 
 could to prevent hostilities. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office: April 9, 1859. 
 
 My clear Cowley, Your very interesting and important letter has 
 just been read to the Cabinet, and they all agreed that you did not say 
 a word too much to the man who broke his word to you, and who, it 
 is evident to me, has from the first meant an Italian war, but has 
 wanted both to gain time and, if possible, to put Austria in the wrong. 
 It appears now that Austria is reverting to her first obstinate language 
 about Sardinian disarmament, or that Loftus misunderstood Buol in 
 thinking that he included her in the scheme of general disarmament. 
 I have telegraphed to say that I will let the point stand as you put 
 it to the Emperor, who, if he refuses (which apparently he will do), 
 will place himself in the wrong. I send you a copy of Buol's telegram 
 to Apponyi, received this morning. If you will write a private letter 
 to Buol to show him how well he will stand if the negotiations break 
 off by France refusing ah offer of general disarmament as a principle, 
 the detail to be carried out in Congress, and the free corps specified as 
 part of the troops to be disbanded, I think you will do good. We are 
 not prepared to give any guarantee as against France or upon eventu- 
 alities ; but the unanimous sentiment of the Cabinet was, that you 
 might let it be felt by your manner and by mezze parole, that if France 
 adopts a course of violence after the language held to you both before 
 and after your Vienna mission, and after encouraging Russia to humbug 
 us into these negotiations for a Congress, we shall look upon the whole 
 proceeding as an affront as well as an unwarranted act of political 
 profligacy; A reserved and cool demeanour is proper at this juncture, 
 
18o9 SIR JAMES IIUDSOX. 475 
 
 and I believe it will be the best and most useful line to take. I can only 
 add, therefore, that I wish you to adopt it towards France on the sub- 
 ject of the Congress and Italy, and at once to write to Count Buol, 
 saying that his proposal, as we understood it, and as you made it at 
 Paris, is the only one we can support among those he now suggests. 
 We will not ask Sardinia to disarm without being able to offer her a 
 guarantee, and that France, by refusing to join, prevents. I have been 
 so harassed to-day between the Court and the Cabinet, that I must 
 have written very confusedly. 
 
 P.S. You will not entertain at present any other proposal but the 
 one you submitted to the Emperor. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 April 10th. I hear that Massimo d'Azeglio is coming to Eng- 
 land 011 a special mission, which gives hopes that some arrange- 
 ment may be made. He is a very distinguished and prudent 
 man, and has been Prime Minister at Turin. Lord Palmerston 
 announces that his Government is ready. It is the * old lot/ Sir 
 Charles Wood, Yernon Smith, Lord Granville, etc. This Cabinet 
 would not have the Radicals. 
 
 April llth. Sir James Hudson arrived this morning from 
 Turin, having travelled day and night. He breakfasted with us, 
 and talks confidently of the possibility of preventing war. I 
 gave him all the Italian papers to read. He came in a state of 
 great alarm, fearing he might not be allowed to return to Turin 
 as Minister, and took leave of Cavour, saying it was doubtful 
 whether he would see him again. The fact is that he is more Italian 
 than the Italians themselves, and he lives almost entirely with 
 the ultras of that cause. I had reason to complain of his silence, 
 and quite understand how disagreeable to him it must have been 
 to aid, however indirectly, in preventing a war which he thought 
 would bring about his favourite object namely, the unification of 
 Italy. France having agreed to a general disarmament, it remains 
 to be seen what Austria will say; but I fear her obstinacy will 
 throw some obstacle in the way of peace. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Oftu-e : April 11. is.v.). 
 
 My dear Cowley, I am quite determined to withdraw from this 
 fool's paradise about a Congress if we cannot settle the matter on the 
 
476 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 present basis of a general disarmament. I will agree, of course, to 
 the detail being before or after the Congress as the armed Powers may 
 please to arrange, but I cannot think we should risk the public fiasco 
 of being refused by Cavour en plein Congres. I send you my proposal 
 as dictated to Pelissier on Monday last, which Walewski has, of course, 
 received, and in which you will see that Sardinia is specifically men- 
 tioned. I have also telegraphed to West l this day, and send you a 
 copy of it. It will be followed, should he refuse, by a note raisonnce, 
 which I shall send him alone, should the other Powers decline ad- 
 dressing him in the same sense. England cannot go on running from 
 one to the other like an old aunt trying to make up family squabbles, 
 and when I wind up, it will be to put the saddle on the right horse. 
 The papers will show that you and I have done our best to prevent a 
 war, and to obtain a Congress which nobody biit Prussia and ourselves 
 ever intended should take place. Briinnow writes me a long paper to 
 prove that no disarmament should take place before the Congress. My 
 impression is that France, Russia, and Sardinia want to gain time, 
 because every day costs Austria 50,000?. for her army, and France will 
 pay Sardinia. 
 
 G P.M. I am glad to add that Azeglio has just been here, and has 
 written a most urgent telegram to Cavour to induce him to agree to 
 general disarmament. The debate coming on Friday has done this. 
 
 6.30 P.M. Your telegram has arrived, and only confirms me in my 
 determination not to go to a Congress without a positive agreement 
 among all parties to disarm. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 April l'2tk. The Emperor Louis Napoleon refuses to ask 
 Sardinia to disarm, which, of course, makes his offer for France 
 to disarm perfectly useless. Lord Cowley writes that he has 
 good information that^ Louis Napoleon told Cavour he must wait 
 till July, and not mind in the meantime what he says or does. 
 If this is true, it is clear that he is playing a deep game towards 
 England and Austria, as well as to Italy, by waiting to see if 
 Palmerston comes in. 
 
 April I4cth. We went to the Drawing Room, and were intro- 
 duced to the new Lady Eglinton, Lord Essex's daughter. 
 
 April 1.5th. The Emperor will not consent to the disarmament 
 of Sardinia, but makes a ridiculous counter-proposition namely, 
 
 I Lord De la W.-rr's son, Charge d' Affaires at Twin. 
 
1869 AUSTRIAN FAIRXESS. 477 
 
 that ' Austria should disarm under a guarantee from France and 
 England that she will not be attacked by Sardinia/ It is clear 
 that all he wants is to gain time. Lord Clarendon quite approves 
 of my Italian policy. He told me so himself to-day in the House 
 of Lords, adding that he had triei to prevent Lord Palmerston 
 and Lord John from making their intended inflammatory speeches 
 011 behalf of Italy next Monday, in which Mr. Gladstone intends 
 also to join. This will do immense harm at this moment, for it 
 will encourage Louis Napoleon. 
 
 Lord M. io Lord Cowley, 
 
 Foreign Office : April 15, 18,'f). 
 
 My clear Cowley, If you wish for more proofs than those you have 
 personally received, in broken promises, of the falseness of the Em- 
 peror, you will have them in the paper I send you, written by the 
 surest informer I ever employed. His knowledge of what we have 
 been doing is of itself corroborative security for the truth of the rest. 
 Now, we cannot stand before England and Europe on a better base 
 than the last Austrian proposal, which is good in common sense and 
 common equity. It is better than ours, because simpler and safer. I 
 would of course go into Congress upon ours ; but if Austria insists on 
 hers, I cannot oppose her by insisting on mine against hers. I wish 
 you distinctly to let this be understood by Walewski and the Emperor, 
 and that if Sardinia refuses to agree to disarm with Austria and France, 
 we shall withdraw from any further negotiations, as we do not mean to 
 be dragged into being accessories before the war, whatever we may lie 
 obliged to become afterwards. You may depend upon it that to the 
 common sense of Englishmen, of whatever party they may be, the 
 fairness of the Austrian proposal will be convincing. I expect the 
 French will try to ride off iipon our proposal of A previous agreement 
 to disarm and a post-Congress execution because Austria has declared 
 she will not consent. It is necessary, therefore, that you should stat- 
 at once we will not insist on ours as against Austria's plan if she 
 persists in it. If Sardinia refuses disarmament now, and Austria 
 makes it a casus belli, accompanying it with a note showing her cruel 
 position in being made to wait and bleed to death, or till her enemies 
 are ready, I believe public opinion will be with her. I shall not 
 mention the Emperor personally at all on Monday. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
478 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 (Paper referred to in foregoing.) 
 
 Londres, 15 avril 1859. 
 
 L'une des raisons principales (peut-etre la cause essentielle) qui 
 forceront le gouvernement franeais a admettre le Congres, c'est qu'en 
 depit de tout ce que ses journaux semi-officiels declarent, il ii'est pas 
 encore prepare pour la guerre. Je tiens du - , que la nouvelle 
 artillerie ne repond pas a 1'attente qu'on en avait concue, qne les pro- 
 jectiles fabriques pour les canons rayes ii'offrent pas assez de resistance 
 et eclatent bien avant de toucher au but, que tons ceux deja fores ont 
 dii etre repeses ; que les nouveaux, pour etre prets et efficaces, de- 
 mandent des essais et des delais de fabrication qui exigeront deux niois 
 au moins. Deux ouvriers employes dans le temps a Newcastle par Sir 
 William Armstrong sont en effet employes aVincennes; aujourd'hui 
 1'insucces des nouveaux projectiles on les appelle ' bolt ' a Vincennes 
 fait dire que ces hornmes ont ete induits en erreur. D'un autre cote, 
 le desarmement general propose par 1'Autriche et appuye, m'a-t-on 
 assure, par Votre Seigneurie, embarrasse singulierement le gouverne- 
 ment fran9ais : ou il doit conseiller au Piemont de desarmer, et alors 
 il humilie mortellement le Comte Cavour ; ou il prouve au monde que 
 ses protestations pour la paix etaient mensongeres. Le General Ulloa, 
 refugie venitien, et intermediaire du Prince Napoleon, se retranche 
 derriere ' 1'independance du Piemont ' pour laisser ce pays libre de 
 desarmer ou non. Des renseignements recus de diverses sources, toutes 
 dignes de foi, m'imposent le devoir d'apprendi-e a Votre Seigneurie 
 qu'a Yienne on ne fait pas mystere d'accepter des negociations qui font 
 perdre un temps precieux, et compromettent, en temporisant, 1'excel- 
 lente position militaire de 1'Autriche aux instances du gouvernement 
 britannique. S'il n'y avait pas de Congres, ou si le Congres n'allait 
 pas aboutir, il est a craindre que, dans le cas ou les liostilites seraient 
 funestes a 1'Autriche, celle-ci ne reprochat alors a son gouvernement 
 d'avoir trop ecoute 1'Ahgleterre. 
 
 April \Qth. Madame Bernstorff 1 called. She told us that 
 great laughter was created at the Drawing Room by Mr. Uiider- 
 SherifF Thomas Jones passing the Queen with his wife's cloak on 
 his arm. I had an audience at the Palace afterwards. The 
 Queen did me the honour to say she was pleased at Lord John 
 Russell praising me in his speech yesterday in the City. So 
 
 1 Wife of the Prussian Minister. 
 
1859 DISARMAMENT INSISTED ON, 479 
 
 friendly an interest on the part of her Majesty is a great satis- 
 faction to me in the midst of my labours and anxiety. 
 
 April 18th. Went to the House of Lords to make my state- 
 ment. Nervous at not having any good news to announce, and 
 the subject being one of such extreme delicacy, that it was 
 necessary to weigh every word. But I am satisfied with my 
 speech, which was much cheered. Lord Derby made a very 
 fine impromptu one, which had a great effect, and the debate 
 was altogether in our favour. Lord Clarendon made a friendly 
 speech. The French, not being ready, are in a state of alarm, 
 and willing to do almost anything we choose, having received 
 news that the Austrians have marched on the Ticino, and are 
 going to send a summons to Sardinia to disarm instantly, or 
 they will attack them without further delay. They have applied 
 for aid to France, which has sent two divisions to the foot of 
 the Alps, but can render no further assistance, being still so 
 unprepared for war that General Renaud has refused to take 
 the command of the army in its present state. Walewski has 
 telegraphed to Malakoff and to me imploring me to consent to 
 admit Sardinia at the Congress, and he will urge her to disarm 
 under a guarantee. I refused, and sent the following proposition, 
 which, if not accepted by France and Austria, is the last I will 
 make namely, ' A general and simultaneous disarmament />/>- 
 vious to the Congress, under the superintendence of a niUiturii 
 commission to ensure its being efficiently carried out. Sardinia 
 to be invited to attend the Congress with the other Italian 
 States, after the precedent of the Congress of Lay bach in 18:2 1 : 
 but, in accordance with the agreement entered into by Fraiu-r 
 and Austria, Sardinia is not to sit in the Congress as one of 
 the Great Powers.' If these propositions are rejected, I will 
 give up all further negotiation ; and if Austria is aware of her 
 position, she will probably attack Sardinia at once, and crush ln-r 
 before France or Russia can come to her assistance. 
 
 April 19th. Sardinia accepts the general disarmament on 
 the condition proposed by me, that she and the other Italian 
 States shall be admitted into the Congress on the same footing 
 as at Laybach. It remains to be seen \\hrtluT Austria consent s. 
 If she does, all the difficulties preparatory to the Congress aiv 
 
480 MEMOIRS OP AX ES-MHCISTER. 1850 
 
 overcome. If she refuses, our Government will withdraw from 
 the office of mediator, and leave the three disputants to settle 
 their affairs as they like. I went to Windsor with Massimo 
 d'Azeglio, We dined and slept there. 
 
 April 20th. Austria has returned no answer yet to my last 
 proposal. If she refuses the case becomes very complicated, and 
 it is impossible to say what will happen. 
 
 Lady Cowley called on Lady Malmesbury, and spoke in high 
 terms of the agreeable footing established between her husband 
 and myself in our official capacities. She expressed herself much 
 pleased also at Lord Clarendon's taking the same view of Italian 
 politics as I do. 
 
 April 2lst. The French, to whom the Sardinians have 
 applied for advice and assistance, recommend them to disarm, 
 as they cannot send any troops to help them in sufficient force 
 under ten days, w T heii they could land a hundred thousand men 
 at Genoa ; but before that the Sardinians would be crushed, 
 and Turin taken. This information comes from Pelissier. 
 
 The Staffords, Shaftesburys, the Sardinian Minister, his 
 uncle Massimo d'Azeglio, and Sir James Hudson, dined with 
 us. The warlike news cast a gloom over the whole party, and 
 the only laugh created was by my telling them that when a 
 circular was sent to the foreign Courts announcing the confirma- 
 tion of the Princess Alice, which took place to-day, it was 
 discovered that in the Foreign Office cypher the same figures 
 stood for confirmation and confinement. 
 
 April 2otk. The Austrian summons to Sardinia to disarm 
 was given at Turin on the 23rd. The Queen was very anxious 
 about the war when we went down to Windsor for a Council. 
 
 April 26th. Due de Malakoff is recalled from London, and 
 is to command the Army of Observation on the Rhine. Persigiiy 
 is said to be appointed Ambassador here in his place. If true, 
 it is a hostile demonstration on the part of the Emperor towards 
 our Administration, for he well knows how Persigny and his 
 wife behaved when last in England, and how disagreeable it 
 will be for us to have them here, and for me to transact business 
 with him almost daily. He will go and repeat everything I 
 say to Lord Palmerston. Lord Cowley has begged me not to 
 
'1859 VICTOli EMAJJUEL DlCTATOlL 481 
 
 Object to him, and M. de Malaret told me tliat the Emperor 
 objected to the Due de Gramoiit, about \vhoin there was a 
 question, coming here as Ambassador, because he married Miss 
 Mackinnon, an Englishwoman, Several thousand French troops 
 have landed at Genoa, whilst another division is crossing the 
 Alps. 
 
 April 29th. All Italy is now up ; some of the Tuscan 
 superior officers required the Grand Duke either to abdicate 
 or declare himself for Sardinia. He refused to do either, and 
 left Florence. Victor Emanuel has been proclaimed Dictator. 
 The French have experienced great difficulties in crossing the 
 Mont Cenis, on account of the snow. Four thousand workmen 
 were employed in clearing the way. 
 
 April 30th. The elections are going on badly for our Govern- 
 ment. Count Kielmansegge, the Hanoverian Minister, says 
 openly that Germany ought to declare war with France at 
 once, and tells me that the Germans are very anxious to do so. 
 This summons of the Austrians to Sardinia is a great dis- 
 advantage to us at the elections, but we must try to localise the 
 war outside the bounds of the Confederation. If the French 
 enter the Tyrol the German Confederation would be bound to 
 assist the Austrians, which Prussia is very anxious to do. It 
 is for this reason, and to minimize the war as much as possible, 
 that our Government has urged Prussia ! to remain tranquil, 
 and I have written a strong despatch on the subject. The 
 French Emperor would naturally be glad to manoeuvre on his 
 left flank, but would find himself in a hornets' nest, and all 
 Europe would be in a blaze. The Duke of Saxe-Coburg, whom 
 I saw at Windsor, is very eager to command the Prussian ann\. 
 I went to Windsor this morning to meet him, but by some 
 mistake he came up to London to see me. 
 
 This despatch to Prussia, which is in my Blue Book, was (unknown at the 
 time to me) never shown to the Emperor, and when, three years later, I saw him 
 and he stated that I had encouraged Germany to act against him, I proved to him 
 the contrary by sending him a copy of it through the Duke of Hamilton. I con- 
 clude that Lord Cow ley, to whom I sent it, at the time showed it to Walewski, 
 and that the latter purposely suppressed it. The reader will find it given at full 
 length further on, 
 
 I I 
 
482 MEMOIRS OP AN EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowlcy. 
 
 Foreign Office : May 2, 1859. 
 
 My dear Cowley, Before the Emperor leaves Paris, make a 
 great effort to keep us out of the war, by obtaining his consent, with 
 that of Kussia and ourselves, to neutralise the Adriatic and Baltic. 
 Ask for both, and if he consents, get both. Ask for the east shore of 
 the Adriatic up to Trieste and the Baltic ; and if you cannot get 
 that, the Baltic alone. To iis the former signifies less, although 
 attacks on Austrian territory in the north-east corner of the Adriatic 
 might bring Turkey into play, and so have us into it. But the 
 neutrality of the Baltic would be a great security for our remaining 
 neutral, and I think the Emperor must see it. If Germany goes 
 to war with France, the blockade of her ports by France or Russia 
 must eventually drag us into the war, as our trade would be ruined, 
 and this is the only question besides the Turkish one that would do 
 so. Urge it, therefore, in your best style. I telegraph to Crampton 
 to moot it at St. Petersburg. 
 
 Now for yourself. I am told that if the Emperor goes to Italy you 
 ought to be with him I mean near him, because an Ambassador is 
 accredited to the sovereign himself. The Queen thinks it would look 
 too French, but I do not agree. What I am convinced would be 
 valuable, would be your advice and coup d'aeil at critical moments, 
 when a gleam of light might break in to give a chance for pacific 
 counsels and mediation. I have seen the Duke of Coburg, who is red 
 hot. He says Prussia cannot resist the pressure of public opinion, and 
 has therefore armed, and his aide-de-camp goes so far as to hope that 
 the Austrians will be beaten this week, because then all Germany will 
 rise as one man and invade France. I told his Eoyal Highness that if 
 they did, and France attacked them in the Baltic, not one atom of help 
 would they get from us. He then stated that as long as the fighting 
 was confined to Piedmont, Germany would look on, but if the Austrians 
 were repulsed and the French followed over the Ticino, they would at 
 once say, ' So far, but no farther, or it is a German war.' If this is 
 true, you see how useful it would be in such an eventuality to have 
 a man like you by Louis Napoleon to stop him, and the war too, at the 
 Rubicon. If you come over with your daughters, I shall see you, 
 which would be, at all events, desirable, but do not start till yon have 
 done your best for the maritime neutralities. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALJIESBURY. 
 
1859 DUG DE MALAKOFF RECALLED. 483 
 
 May 5th. I had visits from the two Counts Hallwyl, Loth 
 gentlemen-like young men. They are Swiss and of a great family, 
 being descended from the elder branch of the Hapsburgs, in con- 
 sequence of which the late Emperor of Austria at his Court is 
 said to have given them precedence over the Archdukes. I went 
 to the Palace at three, to present the Due de Malakoff, who had 
 an audience to deliver his letters of recall. He very nearly cried 
 when he left the room, and when he got to the top of the staircase 
 he embraced me, and went downstairs crying like a child. He is 
 miserable at leaving England. The Queen was quite touched, and 
 when I returned to her Majesty she desired me to write in her 
 name to the Duchess to say how much she regretted her departure. 
 Disraeli says that 315 members are pledged to him to support the 
 Government, and is in great spirits. 
 
 The Austrians have crossed the Po at Cambio, advancing upon 
 Sala, and are entrenching themselves, nobody knows why, as they 
 are said to have 90,000 infantry, 13,000 cavalry, and 200 guns ; 
 against 70,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry, anil 80 guns. They will, 
 however, lose all by their slowness ; when the snow is melted on 
 the Cenis the French artillery will be able to cross and their 
 opportunity will be lost. 
 
 May Qth. The Duchesse de Malakoff, accompanied by Lady 
 Ely, paid us a parting visit. She looked ill and very low, and 
 cried so much at taking leave of Lady Malmesbury that Lady 
 Ely said she would bring her back again to-morrow to wish her 
 good-bye. Lord Cowley told me this morning that he had remon- 
 strated with Walewski against M. de Persigny being named as 
 Pelissier's successor, and had received a promise that he would not 
 send him. If he does I shall transact business only through Lord 
 Cowley and the French Foreign Minister at Paris namely, 
 Walewski. 
 
 May 8th. Lady Palmerston is quite sure of turning us out, 
 and of her husband being sent for, and will not hear of Lord 
 John Russell being a more likely man. She says that Lord 
 Palmerston had already formed his Government, and was quito 
 ready to accept office. Lady Mary Craven, who is just returned 
 from Paris, told me that all the English were rushing home from 
 Italy and France, and that six hundred English left Paris the 
 
 i i _> 
 
484 MEMOIRS OF Att EX-MINISTE. 1859 
 
 day before she did, as there is a strong feeling that Paris will not 
 be safe after the departure of the Emperor. 
 
 The Emperor has been obliged to leave many more troops than 
 he at first intended, owing to the excitement and dissatisfaction 
 known to exist at Paris. All his best friends have warned him 
 against the course he is pursuing, but he has been obstinately bent 
 upon war. If he is beaten he will lose his crown, for his defeat 
 and that of a legitimate sovereign would not have the same con- 
 sequences, the relative positions not being equal. 
 
 Sir John Lawrence dined with us. He is, in appearance as 
 well as intellect, just the man to govern a rebellious India. He 
 lias the most determined expression of countenance I ever saw, 
 and no one who met him this evening felt a doubt that he would 
 hesitate for a single moment in doing what he thought necessary 
 for the safety of the country he governed, however arbitrary the 
 measures required might be. 
 
 May IQtk. M. de Malaret called at the Foreign Office, much 
 disturbed because I had not yet returned any answer to the 
 announcement of Persigny's appointment ; and he was not satisfied 
 with my message, which was simply that ' the Queen would receive 
 anyone that was sent by the Emperor of the French.' M. de 
 Malaret observed that the answer was ' very short ; ' but I replied 
 that ' it would be the more easy for him to telegraph.' M. de 
 Malaret then, without my having made a single remark, began a 
 vindication of Persigny's conduct last year, which I received very 
 coldly, so they must be perfectly aware at the French Embassy 
 how disagreeable the appointment is to us. 
 
 May 12th. Lord Clarendon called upon me this morning, 
 and stayed for an hour talking politics. 
 
 May 14^, Persigny called upon me at the Foreign Office, 
 and I received him in a friendly manner, as he appears anxious to 
 be on good terms with our Government. He spoke very frankly, 
 and gave the same account as Lord Cowley of his nomination 
 namely, that the Emperor had given him the Foreign Office in the 
 place of Walewski, when, at the last moment, Madame "VValewska 
 went to the Emperor, threw herself at his feet, and persuaded 
 him to reinstate her husband. The Emperor then desired 
 Walewski to send Persigny to London as Ambassador, ' et sans 
 
I'ERSIGNY FRENCH AMBASSADOR. 485 
 
 raisomiements.' His credentials are not signed, and must be sent 
 to Italy for the Emperor's signature, so in the meantime lie 
 returns to Paris. Qttcere, whether this was not done to prepare 
 an honourable retreat for him if the Queen had objected to his 
 appointment ? 
 
 MU IGt/t. Prince and Princess Obrcnovitch called on us. 
 He is son of Prince Milosch, Prince of Scrvia. She is a 
 Hungarian, and has a great reputation for beauty. They are very 
 anxious to have children, and have come to consult the English 
 doctors, 
 
 Lord M, to Lord Cowlcy. 
 
 Foreign Office : May 17, 1859. 
 My dear Cowley, 
 
 Persigny gave Lord Derby and rne three hours of assurances re- 
 specting himself and the entire innocence of the Emperor of all previous 
 intention to go to war against Austria before the 15th of last month ! ! 
 We received him very civilly, but he said with some confusion that his 
 letters would have to go all the way to Italy to be signed. I suspect 
 that he and his master are waiting to see what the 7th June may bring 
 about, and perhaps it is as well it should be so. He told me the 
 Emperor could win a couple of victories, and, having driven the 
 Austrians into their tanierc, leave a Marshal to enjoy the marshes of 
 Mantua, and return to Paris. Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 May ISth. Persigny has returned from Paris, and I presented 
 him to-day to the Queen to deliver his credentials. Her Majesty 
 received him civilly, but coldly, and he made no speech. He did 
 not appear satisfied with his reception, and did not speak for five 
 minutes after he left her Majesty. He is very anxious at the 
 menacing attitude of Germany and Prussia, and with reason ; but 
 the casus belli depends on the Emperor and his ally not crossing 
 the bounds of the German Confederation. We are doing all wo 
 can to localise the war in the Lombard provinces. 
 
 I dined at the Palace ; as did the Duchess of Manchester. 
 
 May \Wi. We went to the Drawing Room, which was very 
 full, Mrs. Dallas presented a Mrs, Morgan, wife of the United 
 
486 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1850 
 
 States Minister at Lisbon. Her appearance was peculiar, her dress 
 consisting of a green silk train, and a white petticoat, without a 
 bit of tulle or ribbon nothing but a plain hem at the bottom, and, I 
 should think, nothing but a chemise under. She looked as if she 
 had forgotten her gown and petticoat altogether, and had come in 
 her slip. 
 
 I gave my diplomatic dinner this evening. Persigny looked 
 very melancholy, so I went up to him in a friendly manner, at 
 which he seemed quite pleased. 
 
 Count Yitzthum, the Saxon Minister, called in the most excited 
 state about the war, and says that, if the Austrians are defeated, 
 nothing will prevent Germany from rising, and if the allies gain 
 a battle, 400,000 men will at once march upon Paris. The French 
 have no army to oppose them on the Rhine, and Pelissier would 
 be crushed. Azeglio has sent a telegram to the Duke of Cambridge 
 announcing a victory gained by the Sardinians and French at 
 Montebello. The French admit a loss of 500 killed and wounded. 
 May 2'2nd. A telegram from Sir J. Hudson confirming the 
 above gives some additional details. The first troops engaged were 
 the Sardinian cavalry, under General Sonnaz, who charged six 
 times, and kept the Austrians in check until the arrival of Forey's 
 division, which took the town of Montebello, house by house, at 
 the point of the bayonet. The Austrians then retreated, leaving 
 200 prisoners. This happened on the 20th, and the next day 
 Cialdmi is said to have forced the passage of the Sesia. The 
 Austrian version, which I received this afternoon, was, that 
 General Gyulai sent Count Stadion to make a forced reconnais- 
 sance of the French position. He fell in with a superior force, and 
 retired according to orders. He makes no mention of Cialdini's 
 victory. General Count de Flahault, who was with me, seemed 
 to think it an affair of outposts. He is much pleased with me for 
 having accepted him when it was proposed to send him here as 
 Ambassador, and told me that I had done more for him than his 
 friends the Whigs ever had, Lord Palmers ton having once posi- 
 tively refused to have him. Lord John Russell is said to be ready 
 to serve under Lord Palmerston. 
 
 May 23rd. The King of Naples, alias Bomba, is dead. I hear 
 the Austrians boast of having resisted, with 15,000 men, 40,000 
 
13-30 BATTLE OF MOXTKBKLLO. 487 
 
 of the Allies, for four hours, and only retreating before over- 
 whelming masses without losing a gun ; but the natural question 
 is, Where was the rest of their army ? and why was it not 
 present ? 
 
 Lord Norinanby, who is at Florence, says that Sardinia now 
 pays taxes to the amount of 55 per cent, for the support of the 
 army. At this moment the poor peasants are in a lamentable 
 state, the mulberry trees cut down, which feed the silkworms 
 their great article of trade. 
 
 May 2th. The French papers give an account of the battle 
 of Montebello, making out they were only 4,000, and the Austrians 
 18,000. Lord Cowley told Walewski he wondered he was not 
 ashamed of putting such statements in the ' Moniteur,' to which he 
 returned no answer. The account from Turin, dated May 21, says 
 that the Piedmontese cavalry were driven out of Casteggio 
 by the Austrians, and followed by them to Montebello. The 
 French, under Forey, arrived to their support, but after a severe 
 contest of two hours the Allies were driven out of Montebello. 
 They were then reinforced, and recaptured the village after much 
 lighting and slaughter, the Austrians suffering severely during the 
 retreat. At Casteggio they rallied and waited for the French, 
 who were repulsed, and retired in disorder to Montebello, both 
 parties entering the village pell-mell with fearful slaughter. The 
 French admit having had between six and seven hundred men hors 
 de combat. It is said that General Baraguay d'Hilliers sent to 
 wake Louis Napoleon in the middle of the night of the 19th and 
 20th, telling him he expected to be attacked before daybreak. 
 The Emperor replied, ' Est-ce la tout ? Ce n'ctait vraiment pas la 
 peine de nous deranger ! ' and went the next morning to visit tin- 
 battle-field of Marengo. 
 
 May 27th. The Queen returned to London yesterday, and we 
 are invited to dinner to-morrow. 
 
 Hudson telegraphs that Garibaldi has beaten the Austrians at 
 Y arose. 
 
 The Dowager Duchess of Hamilton died last night. She hail 
 been one of the handsomest women of her time, and fraa tin- 
 daughter of Mr. Beckford, well known for his love of art and Ins 
 collections, 
 
488 MEMOIKS OF AN EX-M1NISTEK. 18-39 
 
 It is said the Emperor is at Alessandria, and following the 
 dangerous precedent of Marc Antony in Egypt. 
 
 May 29th. The Queen and Prince feel very strongly the defeat 
 of the Austrians, and are anxious to take their part, but I told 
 her Majesty that was quite impossible ; this country would not 
 go to war even in support of Italian independence, and there would 
 not be ten men in the House of Commons who would do so on be- 
 half of Austria. Her Majesty and his Royal Highness are quite 
 aware of this. 
 
 Garibaldi is reported to have gained three victories. 
 
 The number of French killed at Montebello is now officially 
 announced as being 1,163. 
 
 Very little joy is shown at Paris at the French victory. It 
 seems well ascertained that the Emperor went off sight-seeing at 
 Marengo instead of joining his troops or sending reinforcements 
 to the front ! The Piedmontese say they have crossed the Sesia 
 and defeated the Austrians at Palestro, and that Garibaldi is at 
 Como. At these last battles the King of Sardinia showed great 
 intrepidity. He headed his troops and was in the thick of the. 
 melee. 
 
 June Is'. I hear there is to be no vote of censure on our 
 Government, but 110 doubt Lords Palmerston and John Russell, 
 with thoje who expect to form part of their Government, are 
 most factious, and determined to turn us out if they possibly can. 
 
 Madame de Persigny was at the Queen's concert last night, 
 dressed like a little girl, in white, with pink ribbons, without 
 jewels or flowers. 
 
 June 3rd. The newspapers are beginning to make remarks 
 on the difference between Victor Emanuel and Louis Napoleon 
 the former fighting for three consecutive days at the head of 
 his soldiers, and bivouacking with them on the field of battle, 
 
 whilst the latter picnics with Madame C . However untrue 
 
 this may be, there is no doubt that the French are giving the 
 (Sardinians the roughest portion of the business to perform. 
 
 June 4th. Lords Palmerston and John Russell and Sidney 
 Herbert have issued a paper signed by them, to call a meeting 
 at "Willis's Rqoms, and to agree upon an amendment to t}i9 
 Address. 
 
18-30 BATTLE OF MAGENTA. 489 
 
 June Qth. I received this morning from Lord Cowley a 
 telegram announcing a great victory gained by the French at 
 Magenta. The Emperor's message to the Empress admits 3,000 
 French killed and wounded, and 15,000 Austrians horsde combat. 
 After the battle of Palestro, in which the French took no part, 
 the King asked for a French division to assist him and enable 
 him to get a little rest, as his forces were exhausted after twelve 
 hours' fighting. The French, though they had 50,000 men near 
 or in the town, refused, and the King had to entrench himself, 
 and his men slept with their muskets piled before them. The 
 Austrians attacked them the next day, and drove them back. A 
 French division came up, but remained some distance behind, 
 and when the King sent to General Trocliu to beg him to advance, 
 he refused to engage in the action without orders from the Em- 
 peror, who was not there. The Sardinians would have been 
 completely crushed if the Colonel of the 3rd Regiment of Zouaves 
 had not rushed to their rescue without orders, crying, ' Mais, ces 
 malheureux vont etre abimes ! ' and then made the famous charge 
 which resulted in taking the Austrian battery and saving the 
 Piedmontese army. 
 
 JiniG 7th. The Queen opened Parliament. I acted, as Lord 
 Willoughby's substitute, as Lord Great Chamberlain. 
 
 There are no details of the battle of Magenta, but the French 
 loss is so great that they do not dare announce it in Paris. Two 
 generals, Espinasse and Claire, are killed. At Castelnovello, near 
 Mortara, wounded Austrians were murdered by the peasants. 
 
 J'lineSth. Telegram from Lord Augustus Loftus from Vienna, 
 saying the fighting continued all Sunday, the bridge of Magenta 
 being taken and re- taken six times, and the slaughter great on 
 both sides. The Austrians had not retreated or the French 
 gained an inch. 
 
 June 9th. I received a telegram from Paris, announcing the 
 entry into Milan of the Emperor and King. I cannot understand 
 why the French were so long entering Milan, as the battle of 
 Magenta was fought on June 4, and it was not till the morning 
 of the 8th that the two sovereigns made their entry. The distance 
 is only twelve miles. General Baraguay d'Hilliers and Marshal 
 Yaillant have been superseded by M;ir-lm! I;UM!M:I and (Jo:- 
 
490 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18-39 
 
 Forey. The former is accused of allowing himself to be surprised 
 at Moiitebello, and the latter is too heavy to ride, and is obliged 
 to go about in a carriage. The retirement of Baraguay cl'Hilliers 
 throws great doubt on whether Montebello was a victory to the 
 French. If it was, this is the first instance of a general in 
 command of a victorious army being superseded. 
 
 Lady Palmerston told Lady Tankerville that we should be 
 beaten by twelve on the Address. I am also of that opinion, 
 and, as far as I am personally concerned, shall be glad, as I am 
 ill and tired. 
 
 June 10 tk. I had an audience of the Queen to-day. Both 
 her Majesty and the Prince appeared to be anxious about the 
 position of the Government, and the events of the Avar in Italy, 
 which must affect all Germany. They know Lord Palrnerston's 
 sympathies with France and Sardinia against Austria. 
 
 Jutie llth. Lord Derby's Government was beaten this morn- 
 ing by a majority of 13 323 for the amendment to the Address, 
 310 against. The division took place at half-past two, and the 
 result was received with tremendous cheers by the Opposition. 
 Azeglio and some other foreigners were waiting in the lobby 
 outside, and when Lord Palmerston appeared redoubled, their 
 vociferations. Azeglio is said to have thrown his hat in the air, 
 and himself in the arms of Jaucourt, the French Attache, which 
 probably no Ambassador, or even Italian, ever did before in so 
 public a place. We held a Cabinet Council at eleven A.M., and 
 at twelve Lord Derby went to the Queen to tender his resignation 
 and that of his colleagues. The Queen wrote him a very kind 
 letter this morning, saying that she was much grieved at his 
 Government being defeated, but would not part from him a second 
 time without a mark of her favour, and gave him the Garter, 
 making him an extra knight, which is hardly ever done, except 
 for Royalties, and at the same time she told him she would give 
 Sir John Pakington and me the Grand Cross of the Bath, on 
 which I was congratulated in the kindest manner by all my 
 colleagues. It is much better for our credit to resign now, than 
 to struggle through another session with a majority against us, 
 hampering every measure brought forward, and obliging us to 
 make humiliating concessions derogatory to the character of the 
 
1859 DERBY GOVERNMENT RESIGNS. 491 
 
 party. We have now been turned out by a mere trial of strength. 
 Nothing serious has been brought forward against us, only vague 
 and general accusations of having mismanaged Reform and not 
 preventing ivar ; but, as the Italian papers have not yet been 
 given to Parliament, they have condemned us without evidence 
 on the latter point. 
 
 June I'2tk. It is said that Lord Clarendon refuses positively 
 to join Lord Palmerston. The same authority declares there is 
 110 doubt that Persigny came with orders not to spare money in 
 getting votes against us at the election ; that one gentleman 
 received 480J.,- the cost of his late election, is well known. 
 
 Thus fell the second Administration of Lord Derby. With a 
 dead majority against him, it is evident that he could not for 
 long have maintained his ground, but it is equally certain that he 
 would not have been defeated 011 the Address if Disraeli had 
 previously laid on the table the Blue-Book containing the Italian 
 and French correspondence with the Foreign Office. Why he 
 chose not to do so I never knew, nor did he ever explain it to 
 me ; but I presented it to the House of Lords at the last moment 
 when I found he would not give it to the House of Commons, 
 and at least twelve or fourteen members of Parliament who voted 
 against us in the fatal division came out of their way at different 
 times and places to assure me that, had they read that corre- 
 spondence before the debate, they never would have voted for an 
 amendment which, as far as our conduct respecting thr War was 
 concerned, was thoroughly undeserved, we having done every thing 
 that was possible to maintain peace. Mr. Cobden was one of 
 these, and expressed himself most strongly to me on tin? subject, 
 It may be asked why Lord Derby did not himself ordrr this 
 1 Hue-Book to be produced ; but the fact was that lir wished to 
 resign, worn out by repeated attacks of gout and the toil of his 
 office, and was indifferent to con! inn ing the struggle. Wln-n. a 
 few days after, the Blue-Book was ivad I recehvd a> many 
 congratulations upon its contents as during tin* ]>a>t year I had 
 sunVml attacks from the Opposition and from tho Pivss.' and 
 
492 MEMOIRS OK AN EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 many members repeated over and -over again that, had they read 
 it, they would not have supported the amendment. 
 
 June l&h. Everybody is at Ascot. The Queen is gone to 
 Windsor, but returns to hold a Council, when the new Ministers 
 will be sworn in if their Government is formed. At present only 
 Lord John Russell is appointed as Foreign Secretary. Lord 
 Palmerston. wished for Lord Clarendon, but the former insisted 
 on having it himself. Our party are very much displeased with 
 Disraeli for not laying the French and Italian correspondence on 
 the table of the House of Commons in time, as all agree now that 
 we should have had a majority if that had been done, 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office : June 14, 1859. 
 
 My dear Cowley, It only remains for me to thank you for all the 
 aLle and cheerful assistance you have given me. You have been my 
 right-hand man, and I hope the future Government will continue to 
 avail themselves of your services 
 
 They are squabbling about the Chancellor at this moment, as to 
 whether he should be Cranworth, Bethell, Cockburn, or Komilly. I 
 conclude Hudson is dancing about with joy at the development of his 
 lucubrations. Azeglio was waiting at the House of Commons door, 
 and when the division was announced, cheered and drummed 011 his 
 hat, to the indignation of our defeated M.P.s. Fancy you, the English 
 Ambassador, playing such antics at the gates of the Tuileries ! What 
 mountebanks Italians are ! He and Jaucourt embraced and halloed 
 in the most frantic way when Palmerston walked out of the House. 
 Persigny has not been near me for above a week. Dizzy would not let 
 me lay the Italian pap-ers the first night, and Clarendon says this lost 
 us the division ! If I had not insisted on Friday, they could not have 
 appeared at all. Adieu, Yours tnily, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 June 16th. Lord Derby made a short statement about his 
 resignation of office, and attacked Lord Granville for having 
 repeated Avhat had passed between the Queen and him. The 
 substance of their conversation appeared in the 'Times' next 
 morning, and must have been either sent by him or repeated to 
 some one who sent it, the only people present being the Queen, 
 
THE NEW CABINET. 493 
 
 Prince, and Lord Granville. I hear her Majesty was very much 
 displeased when she read the article. Lord Granville confessed 
 he had been indiscreet, and had repeated his conversation with 
 her Majesty to his political friends, and as Mr. Delane dined 
 with him on that day, there is little doubt how the statement got 
 into the ' Times.' 
 
 June I&th. We all went to Windsor to give up our seals of 
 office. I had a long audience of the Queen, who was most kind 
 and gracious, and went so far as to say she was sorry to lose my 
 services. All my colleagues, as they were coming back in the 
 railway carriage, praised the Blue-Book on Italy, except Disraeli, 
 who never said a word. 
 
 The new Cabinet is as follows : Prime Minister, Lord Pal- 
 merston ; Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Gladstone ; Foreign 
 Secretary, Lord John Russell ; Home Secretary, Sir George 
 Cornewall Lewis ; Colonial Secretary, Duke of Newcastle ; War 
 Secretary, Mr. Sidney Herbert ; Indian Secretary, Sir Charles 
 Wood ; Admiralty, Duke of Somerset ; Lord Chancellor, Lord 
 Campbell ; President of the Council, Lord Granville ; Privy Seal, 
 Duke of Argyll ; Postmaster-General, Lord Elgin ; President of 
 the Board of Trade, Mr. Cobden ; Poor Law Board, Mr. Milner 
 Gibson ; Secretary for Ireland, Mr. Cardwell ; Chancellor of the 
 Duchy of Lancaster, Sir George Grey. 
 
 Lord John Russell came to see me at seven o'clock this after- 
 noon, as is customary for the new Secretary to do, in order to get 
 a resume of the state of foreign affairs. He expressed himself 
 anxious to keep up the navy and defences of the country, and 
 observe strict neutrality, although we know that Lord Palmerston 
 wishes the w r ar to proceed at any cost for the emancipation of 
 Italy. Gladstone announces his intention of cutting down our 
 expenditure, and has refused to take our estimates. I foresee in 
 all this the seeds of future discord ; and the amount of talent in 
 the Cabinet, instead of facilitating legislation, will impede it. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Cowley. 
 
 Foreign Office : June 18, 1850. 
 
 My clear Cowley, I am just come from Windsor, whore the last 
 act was consummated, and I am about to have a long hour's conversa- 
 
494 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 tion with Lord John. The Cabinet is remarkable for its personnel 
 of talent, and for having three Dukes in it. The successes of the 
 French army give serious cause of reflection. Here is a man profess- 
 ing to be unprepared, who has in six weeks sent an army of 150,000 
 men and 400 guns, with pontoons, &c., from France to the Mincio, 
 driving the finest army possible before him like sheep. To believe he will 
 stop or be stopped is what I cannot do. The next year will be one oi 
 triumph and debauchery. Then will come the Rhine quarrel, but he 
 will fight shy if he can of England. It is a superstition with him to 
 do that. You still seem to believe in Walewski and Louis Napoleon ; 
 I cannot do so. Now our Blue-Book is together, it is evident that he 
 never meant a Congress. The proofs are the Russian proposal, which 
 floored you, and his refusal to make Sardinia disarm on our guarantee. 
 Our Blue -Book for it is yours and mine has had the most wonderful 
 success, and completely turned the tide which the newspapers had 
 driven against us ; but Disraeli would not let me lay it the first day. 
 Clarendon, and all the Whigs, and our men say that it would have 
 saved us if it had come out. If I had not laid it myself on the Friday, it 
 would never have appeared at all ! His real reason for this strange line 
 was that he liad not read it, and could not have fought it in debate. 
 The absence of the document enabled both Palmerston and J. Russell 
 to make the most unfounded assertions that we ' had threatened 
 France,' &c. I suppose all this will end in a Congress at last. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 Mr. J. T. Delano to Lord M. 
 
 10 Serjeants' Inn : June 20, 1850. 
 
 Dear Lord Malmesbury, Allow me to suggest in reply to your phrase 
 ' posthumous praise,' that it was not my fault that the praise came too 
 late. I sincerely believe that if you had published your despatches a 
 fortnight earlier they would have had a very important influence on 
 the division, and I think it has been sufficiently proved that I should 
 have done you justice irrespective of party interests. 
 
 i i i 
 
 Faithfully yours, 
 
 JOHN T. DELANE.* 
 
 1 I wrote to thank Mr. Delano for his posthumous praise of my Italian corre- 
 spondence in the Blue-Book. Mr. Delane was the celebrated editor of the Times, 
 and a man of great intelligence, much appreciated in society by both political 
 parties. 
 
1850 DEATH OF LORD TANKERVlLLK. 495 
 
 This was an answer to a note which I wrote to Mr. Delane, 
 the editor of the 'Times/ for praising my Blue-Book on the 
 Italian war, after a long course of abuse. 
 
 June 2lst. Ferdinand St. Maur, the Duke of Somerset's son, 
 called to thank me for the letter of introduction which Count 
 Apponyi has given him at my request to Count Rechberg, the 
 Austrian Prime Minister. Ferdinand wishes to join the Austrian 
 army and see the campaign. 
 
 June 22nd. Mr. Burrell called. He came from Hamburg, 
 and travelled in the train with a French colonel, who was going 
 to join the army in Italy, and who said they were sadly in want 
 of officers, an immense number having been killed. They were 
 picked off by the Tyrolese riflemen. 
 
 June 23rd. An order has been given by Lord John Russell 
 that everything without exception is to be sent to Lord Palmerston 
 and the Queen without his marking it. I suppose this is to make 
 a contrast with Lord Palmerston's conduct when Foreign Secretary 
 under him, and when he turned him out for not sending the famous 
 despatch to the Queen and himself. 
 
 June 25th. My father-in- law, Lord Tankerville, died last 
 night. He was above eighty. He walked to his bed without any 
 assistance, and his valet found him dead in the morning. He had 
 always been most kind and friendly to me. 
 
 June 26th. The French gained another great victory 1 on the 
 24th, owing, it is said, to the folly of the Emperor of Austria, 
 who, contrary to every rule of strategy, crossed the Mincio to 
 offer battle to the Allies, with the river in his rear. The battle 
 lasted twelve hours. The right wing of the Austrians, under 
 Benedek, had defeated the Piedmontese, but their centre being 
 broken, they were forced to retire, which they seem to have done 
 in good order, not having lost any of their field artillery. The 
 French claim three flags and 7,000 prisoners, but say nothing of 
 their own losses, which must have been great, as they were unul>l> 
 to pursue the Austrians ; and it is roinarknble that in both tho 
 last combats, after desperate fighting, the Allies have novor UMMI 
 able to follow up the beaten army. They arc. thnvfoiv. very 
 much of the nature of drawn battles. 
 
 1 Ou the plain of Sulft'rino. 
 
496 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTE&. l8-3'J 
 
 At Magenta it was quite so, for on tlie second day they were 
 held in check, and the greater part of their army retired across 
 the Ticino to reorganise, which they did not effect till three days 
 after the battle, when they entered Milan, only twelve miles off. 
 The Austrians had the best of the battle till one o'clock, when 
 MacMahon came up and saved the day. 
 
 June 29t/i. The French losses must be very heavy, as they 
 have been three days inactive since the battle of Solferino, and, 
 according to the telegrams, are only just crossing the Mincio. 
 The Sardinian cavalry have been nearly annihilated. 
 
 June 30th. Colonel Claremont, our Commissioner with the 
 French army, writes that it has lost 15,000 killed and wounded, 
 among whom are two generals, Dieu and L'Admirault. He says 
 that the wounded suffered horribly from the intense heat and 
 want of w r ater ; the drought in the country where the French are 
 encamped being so great that many children belonging to the 
 peasantry in the villages have died of thirst. Colonel Claremont 
 says also that the Austrians retreated in perfect order, and at 
 that moment a tremendous storm came on ; the sky was perfectly 
 black, and the constant flash of the lightning, the hurricane, and 
 deluge of rain and hail, all mingled with the roar of cannon, 
 made the most awful scene that can be imagined. When the sun 
 again shone forth, the Austrian columns were just visible in the 
 distance. The French, though victorious, had suffered so much 
 that they could not pursue. The feeling at Vienna is very bad. 
 They accuse the Emperor of having sacrificed the army by his 
 own and Gyulai's mismanagement. This is supposed to be the 
 reason of his return to Vienna. 
 
 I went at three o'clock to the Palace to attend the chapter of 
 the Bath and to receive the Cross from her Majesty's hands. 
 
 July 1st. Ossulston, Lord Wrottesley, and I attended Lord 
 Tankerville's funeral, which took place at Harlington, in the 
 churchyard of which stands, I believe, the largest yew tree in 
 England. I never saw one so enormous, excepting perhaps that 
 at Broomfield, in Somersetshire. 
 
 July 2nd. The losses of the French and Austrians are begin- 
 ning to ooze out. They are apparently terrible, judging by what 
 they admit. The ' Moniteur ' confesses to the French loss being 
 
I8o9 FRENCH AND AUSTRIAN LOSSES. 497 
 
 F20 officers hors de combat, 120 of whom are killed, and 12,000 
 privates killed and wounded ; but private accounts state the 
 lumbers to be three times as great. The French Chasseurs 
 1'Afrique, who were sent in pursuit of the Austrians on the 24th, 
 were completely ridden over by the Uhlans. The Sardinians own 
 to having lost 5,000 killed and wounded. The Emperor Louis 
 Napoleon announced in a despatch to the Empress, dated July 1, 
 :hat the arrival of Prince Napoleon at Villaggio with 35,000 men 
 lias enabled him to approach Verona ; that he has left the corps 
 i'armee at Goito to watch Mantua, and is about to assemble 
 another at Brescia to watch the passes of the Tyrol. The Aus- 
 trians own to having lost 2,000 killed and 8,000 wounded. 
 
 July 4th. The King of the Belgians sent for me to-day, but 
 lad nothing particular to say, so it was evidently only a compli- 
 nent. He sent for Lord Derby in the same way yesterday. He 
 told me, however, that Lord John Russell had sent a very sneer- 
 ing despatch to Prussia, but he did not think Prussia would go to 
 war, and that he meant to fortify Antwerp. 
 
 The heat is becoming fearful, and the smell from the Thames 
 so bad in Whitehall Gardens, where we live, that we cannot open 
 the windows. 
 
 Lord John Russell has cancelled Sir Arthur Magenis' appoint- 
 ment to Naples, and recalled Lord Chelsea, who is Secretary of 
 Embassy at Paris. Lord John's brother-in-law, Elliot, is to havo 
 Naples, and a Grey gets Lord Chelsea's place in Paris, so the 
 old favourites of fortune are sitting on the sunny side of the 
 ledge. 
 
 Prince Esterhazy called upon me, and admitted the mistakes 
 of the Austrian generals, but said that the troops fought heroic- 
 ally. The Emperor Francis crossed the Mincio, contrary to 
 Marshal Hesse's advice. His army marched fifteen miles, fought 
 for fourteen hours, and then marched back fifteen miles without 
 tasting food, and under a burning sun. Many who were un- 
 wounded left the battle-field, lay down, and died from pure 
 exhaustion. 
 
 July 8th. This great heat is increasing. Fahrenheit stands 
 at 90 in the shade by day, and 80 at night. The French and 
 Austrians have agreed upon an armistice, in consequence of which 
 
 K K 
 
498 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 
 
 Lords Stratford and Elcho will withdraw their resolutions tend- 
 ing to force the Government to keep peace. So it is saved. The 
 demand for the armistice came from the French Emperor. I 
 believe our Ministers telegraphed to tell him the danger they were 
 in, should these motions be carried, as the effect would be, even if 
 they were not turned out, to tie their hands and prevent their 
 being of use to him during the recess. A very bad fever has 
 broken out in the French army, and this, combined with his losses 
 at Solferino, has obliged the Emperor to ask for an armistice. 
 The request came from himself; it is to last till August 15. 
 Another report is that the two Emperors are to settle everything 
 between them without the interference of any other Power. 
 
 ' Bear Ellice ' is just returned from Paris, where he dined with 
 M. Fould, and he says the French Ministers, now they have read 
 my Blue-Book, do me justice, and profess to be satisfied that I 
 behaved impartially and fairly towards them. 
 
 July IQth. I hear that the Emperor Napoleon and Cavour 
 are quarrelling. The latter wants to annex everything to Sar- 
 dinia, and the former will not agree, and is alarmed at the state 
 of Homagna. TheJ^Pope threatens to excommunicate Victor 
 Emanuel ; the French clergy take the Pope's part, and it was 
 w T ith"great difficulty^ that the Archbishop of Paris was persuaded 
 to officiate at the Te Deum in honour of the battle of Solferino. 
 
 Madame Appoiiyi called. She said, respecting the armistice, 
 that though it was Louis Napoleon who asked for it, there were 
 some things which made it advisable to grant it ; but that 110 
 unreasonable concessions would be made, and quite scouted the 
 line of the Adige, saying the Austrians would not give up the 
 Quadrilateral. She, spoke bitterly of the present Government, 
 saying, when I/ mentioned that they promised neutrality, * Elle 
 est jolie, leur neutrality. ' 
 
 July \\th. Hotter than ever. Persigiiy called on me, and 
 told me he thought there was a good chance of peace. The two 
 Emperors were to have a conference this morning at nine. Louis 
 Napoleon goes directly to Paris. He has issued an address to his 
 army announcing his departure, and that Marshal Vaillaiit is to 
 have the command in his absence. At the first shot he will return 
 to them. 
 
THE run-; JIO.M>I;AKY 
 
 The thermometer is 97 Fahrenheit in the shade, and the 
 French are devoured by flies and other insects. 
 
 July 1227*. I got a letter from Persigny announcing that peace 
 was signed between the two Emperors, and the conditions, saying 
 that the Emperor of Austria gives up Lombardy, to the line of 
 the Mincio, to Louis Napoleon, who gives it to the King of S ir- 
 dinia. This is a repetition of the ' Cagliari ' story, and is humiliat- 
 ing to Sardinia, for in both cases the concession has not been 
 made to her but to her protectors. In the ' Cagliari ' case, the 
 ship was given to England and made over by her to Sardinia. 
 In this one, Lombardy has been conquered by France, who has 
 assumed the whole glory of the campaign. 
 
 Parma, Modena, and Tuscany are restored to their former 
 possessors, and the Pope is to be the head of an Italian Con- 
 federation, but this never can be carried out. Venice and its 
 territories still belong to Austria, but are in some way to be in- 
 dependent. This part I do not understand, and the whole arrange- 
 ment must be very unsatisfactory to the Italians, who have every 
 reason to think themselves sold ; the more so that the French get 
 Nice and Savoy, which are the most ancient of Victor Emanuel's 
 family possessions. 
 
 July \Wi. A fresh breeze, which makes the heat more 
 endurable, though 90 in the shade and 84 in the house. Every- 
 body is laughing at the peace, particularly at the Pope's title of 
 ' honorary president/ which is certainly absurd. The whole 
 arrangement is astounding, as pretending to be a solution of the 
 Italian question, and as giving independence to Italy. Lombardy, 
 up to the Mincio, is annexed to Sardinia not made a free State, 
 as the Lombards wished, for they hate the Piedmontese. Modena, 
 Parma, and Tuscany are forced to return to their allegiance and 
 rejected sovereigns ; and the Pope, whose territories are worse 
 governed and more miserable than any part of Italy, is made 
 honorary president over the whole confederation. And it is for 
 this miserable humbug that a hundred thousand lives have b 
 sacrificed. 
 
 Count Cavour has resigned in a rage at the way in which the 
 Italians and his master have been sold, as he intended to !. 
 annexed the whole of Italy to Sardinia. He is especially furious 
 
500 MEMOIRS OF -AN EX-MINISTER. 1859 
 
 at Louis Napoleon annexing Savoy. 1 It is said a very angry 
 scene took place between them, and that Cavour was so violent 
 and insolent in his language, that the Emperor threatened to have 
 him arrested, when he replied, ' Arretez-moi, et vous serez force 
 de retourner en France par le Tyrol.' 
 
 July IQth. We went to the banquet given to the late Ministers 
 at Merchant Taylors' Hall ; very splendid. Lord Derby made a 
 fine speech. Disraeli followed ; after which my health was pro- 
 posed. 
 
 July 2Qth. The papers give an account of Louis Napoleon's 
 reception at Turin, which was a very cold one, he and the King 
 entering the town together in an open carriage. The latter was 
 cheered, but there was not a single cry of ' Viva 1'Imperatore ! ' 
 or ' Viva la Fraiicia ! ' Cavour, who was alone in the next car- 
 riage, was received with showers of nosegays. The Emperor left 
 the following morning at 6 o'clock, arriving at St. Cloud at 
 8.30 P.M. next day. 
 
 July 2lst. Persigny came to give me the account of how the 
 peace was brought about. M. de Persigny, after the armistice, 
 by the Emperor's order, went to Lord Palmerston and said that 
 the time was come for mediation, and suggested conditions 
 namely, Venice and its territories to be taken from Austria, not 
 annexed to Sardinia, but made into a separate and independent 
 State. There were other conditions, but this was the principal 
 one. That Lord Palmerston agreed to this, and rode down to 
 Richmond to tell Lord John Russell, who was equally delighted ; 
 and that the proposal was adopted by them and sent to the 
 Queen, who was at Aldershot, which occasioned some delay. That 
 her Majesty refused her consent, saying the time was not come 
 yet to make these proposals, as the fortresses were not taken. 
 That, however, in the meantime, Persigny had telegraphed the 
 consent of the English Government to his master, who immediately 
 asked for an interview with the Emperor of Austria, showed 
 him Persigny's despatch, saying, ' Here are the conditions pro- 
 
 1 This fury of Cavour at the cession of Savoy was the consummation of his 
 histrionic powers. He had promised it to Louis Napoleon ever since their 
 meeting at Plombieres two years before, and it was in fact the condition of the 
 Emperor's assistance. 
 
1859 HOW PEACE WAS BROUGHT ABOUT. 501 
 
 posed by England and agreed to also by Prussia. Now listen to 
 mine, which though those of an enemy, are much more favourable. 
 So let us settle everything together, without reference to the 
 neutral Powers, whose conditions are not nearly so advantageous 
 to you as those I am ready to grant.' 
 
 The Emperor of Austria, not suspecting any reservation, and 
 not knowing that the Queen had refused her consent to these 
 proposals, which, though agreed to by her Government, were sug- 
 gested by Persigny evidently to give his master the opportunity of 
 outbidding us, and making Francis. Joseph think that he Mas 
 thrown over by England and Prussia, accepted the offer, and 
 peace was instantly concluded. 
 
 Louis Napoleon in his speech to the Senate and Chamber, who 
 waited upon him at St. Cloud, acknowledged fairly that he could 
 not have taken the fortresses, if at all, without too great a sacri- 
 fice of life, and also that it would have entailed a general war 
 and revolution all over Europe. 
 
 I think it right in this place to interrupt my diary, and 
 passing over two years for a time, to relate a conversation which 
 I had with Napoleon III., on the subject of my tenure of the 
 Foreign Office, previous to and after the war in Italy. 
 
 The Emperor entertained throughout Lord Derby's Adminis- 
 tration of 1858-9 a real or pretended conviction, encouraged by 
 Walewski and the English ex-Ministers, that we were irreconcil- 
 ably hostile to the liberation of Italy, and to the French Govern- 
 ment, which had determined to effect it, as far as concerned the 
 Northern part. It was therefore that, being on a tour through 
 France in 1861, I wrote to Persigny from Tours to say that 1 
 should be soon at Paris, and wished to have an audience of 
 the Emperor. To this his Majesty consented. I had not 
 him since Cherbourg, where I attended the Queen in August 1 G 
 and when I found him still resenting our coming into omoc upon 
 the question which arose from Orsini's attempt on his life. Tin- 
 House of Commons had refused to pass Lord Palmerston's bill 
 to alter the law under which Dr. IJmuml was to be tried I 
 accomplice, and Lord Palmerston had resigned in conseqiu 
 
502 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 18.'>0 
 
 Since then, being at the head of the Foreign Office, I received 
 various hints from the Emperor's Ambassadors that he considered 
 our party hostile to himself, and all my attempts to check his in- 
 terference with Lombardy had confirmed his dislike. Palmerston 
 and his then slave, Persigny, with all their following, male and 
 female, both hi London and Paris, aggravated the Emperor's 
 prejudices to such an absurd degree as to make him believe that I 
 was getting up a German coalition against him. These impres- 
 sions,,. I knew, remained ; and my object was to remove them 
 for the sake of the two countries, should the Conservatives again 
 return to power. 
 
 He received me on April 6, at two P.M., in a room on the 
 ground floor, opening out of the central pavilion of the Tuileries. 
 I told him why I wished for an interview, and he said it was quite 
 true that my party had behaved to him in the most hostile man- 
 lier, but that he did not wish to go over the past. I insisted on 
 doing so, and told him that, on Bernard's affair, when we first 
 came into office, Persigny was so excited with the defeat of Lord 
 Palmerston and his quarrels with Walewski, that I never could 
 have a moment's reasonable conversation with him, or get any 
 notion of his Majesty's ideas ; that when Pelissier came we all 
 liked him, but that never once could I have an open and argumenta- 
 tive discussion with him on any points of policy, as he apparently 
 had no information or orders from Paris, so that, in fact, for the 
 fifteen months I was Foreign Secretary, I never had a chance of 
 personally holding frank communication with any French Ambas- 
 sador. As to planning a German coalition against him, I said 
 my despatches were printed and extant, to prove that it was our 
 Government who had* prevented the Prussians and other German 
 States from joining Austria when he and his allies crossed the 
 Ticino. He was very much struck with this statement, and said : 
 It is always so, when one hears from one's Ministers at the small 
 Courts, as I did this from the Court at Saxe- Weimar.' 
 
 The Emperor then held forth on the hatred of the aristocracy 
 in England and of the Press against himself, though he believed 
 that the people had no such feeling. He abused our suspicious 
 fears and useless preparations. I replied that no man could 
 astonish the world as he had done lately by his performances in 
 
18.VJ INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS XAPOLI 503 
 
 Italy, without frightening it also, and that all we did was for 
 defensive purposes. 
 
 His Majesty was as abusive and evidently as ignorant of the 
 nature and power of the English Press as I had always found him, 
 exaggerating both its vices and its influence. He was much out 
 of humour with Lord Palmerston's Government, which suspected 
 all he did, and was always complaining of his building ships, and 
 he ridiculed it as childish. ' Let each build what he considers 
 the right number ; you ought to have twice as many as I, as they 
 are your principal protection.' 
 
 He confessed he did not know what to do with the Pope, who, 
 though defended and protected by him, harboured his enemi<-> 
 under his own flag, meaning the French Royalists. 
 
 He then plunged into the history and results of the Lombard 
 war. 
 
 ' When I determined to support the Piedmontese in the event 
 of Austria crossing the Ticino, and saw Cavour in 1858, it was 
 agreed between us that France should expel the Austrians from 
 the whole North of Italy, and that the Piedmontese should pay 
 the cost. At the battle of Solferino the French victory left my 
 army very short of ammunition, with a loss of 17,000 of its prime 
 troops, 150 miles from my base of operations, and with fever, still 
 more fatal than the battle, raging in its ranks. I could not ad- 
 vance, and my retreat must have been through a hostile country, 
 as the Italian peasants east of Milan were strongly for the 
 Austrians. Fortunately for myself and the shattered Italian 
 army, I obtained the Peace of Villafranca ; but Cavour, who i* no 
 soldier, and either did not or would not comprehend the situation, 
 was furious, and declared that the Piedmontese Government, us I 
 had not fulfilled my "covenant by conquering Venetia, was not bound 
 to pay the expenses of the war. It was impossible for me to 
 return to Paris with a loss of 50,000 of my soldiers, and ask the 
 French to pay 30,000,000?. without any e<|im alent. There would 
 have been one in the glory and political and national influence of 
 my victories if Piedmont paid the cost ; but as that was refused, 
 I was obliged to take the material eompensit ion of annexing 
 Savoy, which might bo considered by 1-Yam-e to be worth th-- pri.v 
 of her men and money.' 
 
504 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1850 
 
 Such was tlie Emperor's account to me of this great trans- 
 action ; and no doubt the Piedmontese Government found it easier 
 to pay in territory than in cash, and were in reality better pleased 
 with the bargain, for, besides this, they eventually annexed Modena 
 and Tuscany to Turin. 
 
 The following is the circular addressed in a despatch to her 
 Majesty's representatives at the German Courts, a copy of which 
 was sent to Paris but ivhich the JZmperor never saw, and which I 
 therefore subsequently gave to the Duke of Hamilton, who showed 
 it him to prove that our Government had done all they could to 
 localise the Italian war and prevent a general one. 
 
 Foreign Office : May '2, 1859. 
 
 Sir, I have to acquaint yon that her Majesty's Government 
 witness with great anxiety the disposition shown by the States of 
 Germany to enter at once into a contest with France. Her Majesty's 
 Government cannot perceive that at the present moment Germany has 
 any grounds for declaring war against that Power, and still less would 
 the Confederation, in their opinion, be justified in prematurely adopting 
 any course which would bring on a European war. 
 
 It is desirable, however, that the Governments of Germany should 
 entertain no doubt as to the course which in such a case her Majesty's 
 Government would pursue, and therefore you will explicitly state to 
 the Government to which you are accredited that if Germany should 
 at present, and without a casus fcederis, be so ill-advised as to provoke 
 a war with France, and should, without any sufficient cause, make 
 general a war which 011 every account ought, if possible, to be localised, 
 her Majesty's Government determine to maintain a strict neutrality, 
 can give to Germany no assistance, nor contribute by the interposition 
 of the naval forces of* this country to protect her coast from hostile 
 attack. 
 
 The elections now proceeding afford an undeniable test of public 
 feeling on this point, and it may be said to be the only one in which 
 the English people appear to be at the present moment absorbed. 
 That Germany should arm and prepare for eventualities is natural and 
 right, but in the opinion of her Majesty's Government no act has as 
 yet been committed by France against Germany, and no treaty 
 obligation subsists which justifies her to provoke an attack on her own 
 territory or an invasion of France. I am, &c., 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
1859 CHINA. 
 
 Both Count Walewski and I had received intelligence that 
 the whole of the Prussian army was to be mobilised in consequence 
 of the strong feeling in Germany against France. 
 
 July 23rd. Louis Napoleon is evidently alarmed at the results 
 which the peace may have for him, as he loses no occasion for 
 giving explanations ; but all he says appears to me to make the 
 matter worse. In his speech to the Diplomatic Body he said 
 Europe was so unjust to him that he was compelled to conclude 
 the peace to show his moderation and his wish not to engage 
 Europe in a general war. The tone of this speech was considered 
 so unsatisfactory that the Funds fell directly. 
 
 August 5tk. Sir John Burgoyne, who had paid us a visit at 
 Heron Court to survey the site of Hengistbury Head for military 
 defences, left. He stated that if there were an accessible harbour 
 at Christchurch there must be a fortress to defend it, but that at 
 present it was not required. 
 
 August \\th. Left London for Achnacarry. We travelled 
 all the way by land. 
 
 September 1st. I went to the Forest of Gusach, killing three 
 good stags. I was obliged to help to carry them down the hill, so 
 that I did not get home till ten o'clock. 
 
 September 5th. The Tuscans have offered the sovereignty of 
 Tuscany to Victor Emanuel, who declines giving a positive answer, 
 saying that he would willingly accept their offer, but must first 
 consult European Powers, and hints at a Congress. 
 
 September IQth. Accounts from China very sad, and, if true, 
 Mr. Bruce is to blame. It is reported in a private letter published 
 by the * Times ' that the Chinese authorities sent word that the 
 Peiho was blocked up, and no ships of war would be allowed t-> 
 go up to Pekin ; but that if they went by another road t'artlu-r 
 north, they would be received. Mr. Bruce determined to force 
 the passage in spite of this warning, and a disastrous defeat has 
 been the result. Admiral Hope never sent any reconnaissam 
 that he was ignorant of the erection of the batteries, which were 
 carefully masked. He then landed the crews of the gunboats 
 without knowing the nature of the ground. The men floundered 
 through a deep morass, their ammunition got wet, they wen 
 
506 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MIXISTER. 1859 
 
 unable to take scaling-ladders, and after a hard struggle, under a 
 heavy fire, found themselves close to the walls of the battery 
 without the means of defence or attack ; but not a man thought 
 of retreating until orders were sent from the rear, when they 
 retired with great reluctance, carrying ofF all their wounded, 
 among whom was Admiral Hope himself. 
 
 September 19th. Duke of" Manchester's servants arrived, 
 bringing the news that the Duke and Duchess had reached 
 Tomadown, and, being unable to procure ponies, had started on 
 foot across the mountains. They had 110 guide and no gillies, so 
 we could not help fearing that they had either lost their way or 
 that the Duchess had knocked up and been unable to proceed, for 
 they started at eleven and ought to have arrived by five. I imme- 
 diately sent off ponies, and Mr. Bidwell went with them ; but re- 
 turned saying he had gone three miles along Glen. Keich to a point 
 where he could see five miles along the road to Glengarry, and 
 with the exception of a stag, which he put up, there was not a 
 living creature visible. Upon this I despatched John Macdonald 
 the stalker, though one might as well look for a boat in the 
 Atlantic as search for anybody in these wild hills. We therefore 
 remained very anxious until nine o'clock, when we heard the door- 
 bell ring. We all rushed into the hall, and the Duke and Duchess 
 were gladly welcomed by the whole party. They had walked the 
 whole way from Tomadown, mistook the path, and found themselves 
 overlooking Loch Lochy, eight miles from Achnacarry. They 
 descended Clunes with great difficulty and some danger, and came 
 along the shore of the lake, where there is a safe road. It was a 
 most imprudent expedition. 
 
 September 30th. 'Lady Chesterfield and Lady Evelyn Stanhope 
 arrived. The former caught several salmoferox in Loch Arkaig. 
 
 October Qth. Sir James Hudson arrived yesterday, and to-day 
 went out and killed an enormous stag in Gerraran, not getting 
 home until eleven at night. The wind was contrary, and so strong 
 that the men could not pull down the lake against it, and were 
 obliged to beach the boat in a sheltered place, and walk eight 
 miles along the shore. News of Lord Jersey's death, on the 3rd, 
 at above eighty. 
 
 October 10th. Sir James Hudson 'went to Glen Kiimurhruy, 
 
1839 < THE KXCIIAXTKI) STAG.' 507 
 
 intending to sleep at the shepherd's hut in order to be on his 
 ground early the following day. 
 
 October llth. Sir James returned for dinner, having killed 
 nothing, and gave a very amusing account of his night at the 
 bothy. He said there were seven men, five dogs, three women, 
 and a cat in two small rooms, more like hencoops than rooms, and 
 only three beds for the whole party. The maid-of-all-work asked 
 him with whom he would like to sleep, and he answered that if he 
 couldn't sleep with her he would prefer Macoll, the stalker. The 
 latter, however, replied, ' Methinks you had better sleep alone 
 So Sir James had a bed to himself, as far as I know. 
 
 October 15th. Mr. Ogle, the photographer, arrived, and made; 
 some excellent photographs of the beautiful scenery here and of 
 our party. The cold is intense, and we are buried in snow. 
 
 October '20th. A heavy snowstorm came on, lasting all day. 
 The mountains in all directions are covered with snow. The news- 
 papers announce that a treaty of peace has been signed between 
 France and Austria at Zurich, but there is to be a Congress, in 
 which the five Great Powers join. 
 
 October 2lst. News of Lord Westmoreland's death arrived. 
 I went to the Pine Forest and had it driven. The twelve-pointer, 
 uli'is 'the enchanted stag,' came out, and stood staring at the 
 beaters several minutes at not more than ten paces, but I did not 
 get a shot. The Highlanders are more than ever convinced that 
 the life of this enormous beast is charmed. Saw a flock of wild 
 swans going south a broad hint to me to do the same. 
 
 October 25th. I beat the woods of Auchnasoul, and killed six 
 Avoodcocks, twelve blackcocks, also the stag whose leg I broke 
 two days ago. This good day's sport and luck has closed my 
 connection with Achnacarry, which has lasted for fifteen years of 
 the prime of my life. I rowed home from Moieh with a heavy 
 heart. Loch Arkaig was motionless, and of the colour of obsidian. 
 The sun, after a bright day, had set behind a heavy mass of clouds, 
 against which the mountains of Scaurnahat and Murligan looked 
 ghastly in their garments of snow, whilst the northern slopes and 
 corries of the Pine Forest retained every flake that had fallen. 
 The stags, as is usual in a hard frost, were roaring with redoubled 
 passion in the wilds of Gosach and < ;erraran. Tin- hm-ns were 
 
508 MEMOIRS OP AN EX-MINISTER. 1850 
 
 screaming as I disturbed them from their shelter in the islands ; 
 and then again the roaring of the harts re-echoed through the 
 forest. As I landed at the pier, a freezing mist fell over the 
 whole scene, and thus we parted. Vale ! 
 
 November 4th, Chillingham. Lord Wemyss told me to-day 
 that Lord Elcho had seen a letter from Louis Napoleon to M. 
 de Flahault, saying that he still was attached to the English 
 alliance more than to any other, but that the feeling in France was 
 getting too strong for him to resist it. 
 
 November \\th. The dinner at the Mansion House on the 9th 
 was a very flat affair. Lord Palmerston and Lord John Russell 
 were both absent the former at Windsor, the latter ill.' Sir G. 
 C. Lewis made some sort of speech on foreign affairs, the only 
 important point being that England had received no invitation to 
 the Congress. None of the foreign Ministers were present, except 
 the Turkish Ambassador, which probably Lord Palmerston knew 
 would be the case, and paid them in the same coin. 
 
 November IQth. My ex-private secretary, Bidwell, is gone to 
 Australia for his health. 
 
 We went to Windsor, where we w^ere invited. The party at 
 the Castle consists of Prince and Princess Frederick William of 
 Prussia, Prince Hohenzollern, Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Herbert, 
 Countess Bliicher, the Duchess of Athole, Count Perponcher, &c. 
 Prince Albert told me that Balmoral was the driest place in 
 Great Britain. Only sixteen inches of rain fell during the year, 
 whilst in Glasgow they have an average of sixty-two, and in 
 London twenty-five. 
 
 November 18th. Returned to London. 
 
 November 26i$.-+Lord CoAvley called on me, and told me that 
 he distrusted the Emperor, and has urged the Government not to 
 relax in their preparations. Louis Napoleon is in very bad 
 health, and though he has lost his energy he has become restless, 
 and it is impossible to know w^hat he will do next. 
 
 November 27th. I hear that neither Lord John Russell nor 
 Lord Clarendon will go to the Congress. It will be held in Paris, 
 and may last six months. The former could not well go if he 
 wished it. 
 
 December '2nd. I returned from Buckenham, Mr. Baring's 
 
18.59 BOMBARDMENT OF TETUAX. 509 
 
 place in Norfolk. Mrs. Baring is French, a dau-litrr ,f ilx- Due 
 de J3assano. Jem Macdonald 1 was there in great spirits, and, as 
 usual, the soul of the party. 
 
 The reported bombardment of Tetuan is untrue. What 
 happened is this : a French line-of-battle ship approached too 
 near a small mud fort at the entrance of the river, and was fired 
 at by the fort, but it is doubtful whether the guns were shotted. 
 The captain did not return the fire, but joined the Frencli squadron 
 for orders, and, returning the next day with four ships of war, 
 destroyed the fort an outrage. 
 
 December 4th. The Duke of Somerset called and told me that 
 Lord Palmerstoii was not going to the Congress, and they had 
 great difficulty in finding a proper person. 
 
 December Stk. Lord Derby says he will not support Lord 
 Grey's amendment to the Address, but will vote for the loan for 
 the national defences, and for a 101, franchise for the counties, 
 and SI. for boroughs. 
 
 i860 
 
 January 1st. The principal news is that Lord Palmerston 
 has agreed to a 61. franchise, and has determined to dissolve 
 Parliament if beaten. It remains to be seen whether the Qun-n 
 will consent to this. 
 
 Persigny is in Paris, intriguing to get rid of Walowski, and 
 to try to prevent our party coming to office. He is completely 
 managed by Lord Palmerston, and the two together do all th<*v 
 can to persuade the Emperor that the Tories are opposed to him. 
 The person who gave me this information said that if we came in 
 again the Emperor means to ask for me as AiuUissulor at Paris. 
 I told him honestly I should refuse. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knmvjiley : January !.", 1860. 
 
 My dear Malmosbury, I return the well-known handwriting 
 enclosed in your letter of the 13th. The information there given tallii - 
 i General the Honourable J. MacdonaW, A.D.C. to ILK. II. the Duke of Cam- 
 bridge, died 1882. 
 
510 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. I860 
 
 with what I have received from other quarters, among others from 
 Madame de Flahault, whom I met at Bretby. The offer of a commercial 
 treaty was, however, coupled, though she did not tell me so, with the 
 proposal of an alliance, offensive and defensive, with France, and a 
 joint guarantee of the independence of Central Italy ! Cowley came 
 here specially to urge the adoption of these two measures ; but my 
 latest intelligence is that they were debated in the Cabinet on Tuesday 
 last, strenuously urged by Palmerston and J. Russell, who had confi- 
 dently assured the Emperor of their success, acquiesced in by Gladstone 
 by the double inducement of his Italomania and his Free Trade policy, 
 but, on discussion, rejected by a majority of the Cabinet ! l This, if 
 true, and I am assured it is, is very damaging to Palmerston, and will 
 be both embarrassing and irritating to the Emperor. It is added, and 
 not improbably, that the Court has had a good deal to do with the 
 Cabinet decision. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 January 2 2nd. Captain Harrison, of the ' Great Eastern/ was 
 drowned yesterday morning at the entrance of the Southampton 
 Docks in crossing from Hythe in a gig with a lug-sail. It was 
 blowing a hurricane. The 'Great Eastern' is a most unlucky 
 ship, and I remember saying, when I heard the ridiculous way in 
 which people boasted that such a ship had never been built before, 
 that we had at last overcome the power of the waves, and 110 one 
 would be sea-sick, that such language was a defiance of fate. The 
 event has proved it. The first mishap was in launching her, when 
 she stuck fast and it took six weeks to get her to move, and 
 an additional expenditure of 70,000. The disappointment and 
 excitement killed Brunei, the celebrated engineer. When she 
 started 011 her trial trip, she nearly went ashore at Greenwich. 
 On arriving at the Nore one of her boilers burst, killing several 
 men, and people became so distrustful about her that she could 
 get 110 passengers, and was laid up for the winter at Southampton. 
 Now she has reached the climax of misfortune by the death oi 
 Captain Harrison, a very clever seaman and gentlemanlike man. 
 
 1 This monstrous policy is confirmed in Mr. Ashley's Life of Palmerston. 11 
 this is a true account, the Court showed its -wisdom. What would have been GUI 
 position in 1870 if -we had had an offensive and defensive alliance -\vith France ? 
 
1860 AUSTKIAX (JKM-iltAI..-. 511 
 
 January 2th. Lord Grey means to propose an amendment 
 to the Address about tlie Chinese war. We shall not vote \\itli 
 him, but intend to express our opinion of Mr. Bruce's conduct in 
 that country. Disraeli is against the loan for the national 
 defences. If he opposes it in Parliament he is done for, both 
 with his party and the country. There is a very strong feeling 
 in favour of it. There is a hitch in the commercial treaty, and 
 the ' Times ' is writing against it. 
 
 January 25tk. The Queen opened Parliament yesterday the 
 longest Speech ever known, and abominably written. Debate 
 dull and flat. Lord Derby praised the volunteers, Lord Cunning, 
 Admiral Hope, and the seamen who fought so gallantly in the 
 unfortunate attack on the Peiho ; but he reserved his opinion 
 upon Mr. Bruce and upon other subjects mentioned in the Speech, 
 one of which was the commercial treaty. 
 
 February 3rd, Heron Court. Lord and Lady Somerton, Mr. 
 and Lady Rose Lovell, and Lord Seymour arrived ; also Mr. A. 
 Lane and Major Nevill. The latter is the second son of Lady 
 Georgina Nevill, Lord Lucan's sister. He is in the Austrian 
 army, and was aide-de-camp to the Commander-in- Chief in the 
 late war, Gyulai. He said that nothing could be worse than the 
 Austrian generals, and that Gyulai himself had been named to the 
 command by the influence of the Jesuits, whom he toadied. 
 Hesse very old and worn out ; Benedek good, but in a subordinate 
 position. We passed a very merry evening. 
 
 Lord M. to Lord Derby. 
 
 Heron Court : February ;, ; 
 
 My clear Derby, I am much obliged to you for your note, and I 
 will come up on Tuesday. I was going to London on AYednesday lor 
 a meeting which Colville has called on the subject of our party \ 
 My impression was. that we would take no .part in what is joing on 
 abroad, and that any connection with Nonnanby and his moves would 
 rather bring down odium (not to say ridicule) on our party. All hi? 
 does is in a strong Codino spirit, in which neither you nor I 1m 
 sympathy, and our traducers wish for nothing more than to identity 
 us with that bigoted and unpopular set. As to our coming into oilier. 
 I confess I have the ' strongest repugnance to do so upon our former 
 
512 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. I860 
 
 basis, twice tried, and twice with the same result namely, ten or twelve 
 months of sufferance, then a beating, then a dissolution, and then an 
 ejection. Personally, none of us can desire to play so disagreeable a 
 role once more with the same play and the same parts, and still less 
 can we wish it for the good of the country. It is, therefore, with great 
 satisfaction I hear you say that we must help to keep these cripples 
 on their legs. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 MALMESBURY. 
 
 February 7th. Lord Derby has written to me to come to 
 London for Lord Normanby's motion about Savoy and Nice. 
 
 February Sth. The debate was good, Lord Derby speaking 
 beautifully. Lord Normanby withdrew his motion, but it gave 
 the House an opportunity to show their feeling on the question of 
 the annexation of Savoy and Nice to France, and it was evident 
 that the great majority, if not the whole House, was against 
 France. There is a great outcry against the treaty, which, I 
 believe, was signed by France and Sardinia for the cession of 
 Savoy on January 18, 1859, and that Marshal Niel signed it for 
 France. 
 
 Lord Clarendon to Lord M. 
 
 Grosvenor Crescent : February 8, 18CO. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I think you ought to see the enclosed, which 
 I received this morning. The commercial treaty is, in my opinion, 
 thoroughly unsound, and a great mistake ; but I am sure that rejecting 
 it, making an enemy of the Emperor by delighting his foes and dis- 
 pleasing his friends in France, would be a far greater mistake for all 
 concerned in it. Pray t return the letter. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 CLARENDON. 
 
 February Qth. Persigny is furious at the debate on Savoy in 
 the House of Lords, and I suppose he will be more so if he knows 
 that the petition from Chambery, addressed to the English people 
 against the annexation, was sent to the newspapers by Lord Derby, 
 to whom it had been addressed by the petitioners. 
 
 February 15th. I went down with Lord Derby to Heron 
 
1860 THE MOUTH OF THE PEIHO. 513 
 
 Court after the Lavee. We hastened home and caught the three 
 o'clock train after changing our dress quick work ! Lord Dcrl.y 
 was in great spirits about his last meeting, which was fully 
 attended, and he seems ready to come in again. 
 
 Lord John Russell to Lord M. 
 
 Chcsham Place : February 15, 1860. 
 
 My dear Lord, I see in the ' Times ' and ' Daily News ' of this 
 morning that you are represented to have said that I had stated in 
 the House of Commons that Mr. Bruce, in forcing the passage of the 
 Peiho, had acted exactly according to his instructions. It is always 
 dangerous to rely on reports of what passes in another House of 
 Parliament, and perhaps you never made the remarks I have mentioned. 
 With regard to myself, however, it is due to you to state what I did 
 say. 
 
 I said that Mr. Bruce by his instructions was ordered to go to the 
 mouth of the Peiho with a sufficient force, and I read to the House of 
 Commons the words of your instructions. But I said the case of 
 resistance by force to his proceeding up the river in a friendly manner 
 was not contemplated by those instructions, though I did not blame 
 you for the omission. I said that consequently Mr. Bruce found him- 
 self with a considerable naval force at the mouth of the Peiho, in face 
 of probable resistance, without instructions. 
 
 That no case could be more embarrassing, for, if he returned, he 
 would be blamed for retreating before a force which in the past year 
 had been easily overcome, and if he advanced he ran the risk of the 
 defeat and repulse he had actually experienced. 
 
 That no situation could be more embarrassing, nor could anyone 
 pretend to say what Mr. Bruce should have done, having no instructions 
 for such a case. 
 
 I think I did justice both to your Lordship and to Mr. Bruce. I 
 am sure I meant to do so. Yours, &c. J. RUSSELL. 
 
 /'t'/H-Hftri/ IGth. Gloomy day, with a high gale. We went out 
 and shot over the rivers, killing sixty head of wild-fowl. Sidney 
 Herbert seems determined to abolish the place of Commander-m- 
 Chief, and to put the army under the House of Commons. If so, 
 the Queen has every right to be indignant at this interference 
 with the rights of the Crown. Nothing will dissuade him from 
 the plan. 
 
 L L 
 
514 MEMOIRS OF 1 AN EX-MINISTER. i860 
 
 February 2lst. The Government had a majority of 63 
 on Mr. Disraeli's amendment to discuss the treaty before the 
 Budget. Lord Palmerston lost his temper and made a most angry 
 speech. 
 
 February 29th. The Government will carry their Budget. 
 Lord John has declared what we all along suspected, though 
 Lord Palmerston never would give a straightforward answer 
 namely, that though Parliament may alter any article of the 
 Budget or treaty, yet that any alteration may cancel the whole, 
 as the Emperor, of course, will not be bound by them. It is 
 cleverly managed, but in a very underhand way. 
 
 March 4cth. It is now certain that the Emperor means to 
 annex Savoy and Nice without the sanction of the other Great 
 Powers. He now says that he merely meant that he would 
 explain to them his reasons for doing so, but he evidently intends 
 to listen to no objections. The subject was alluded to in the 
 House of Commons, and Sir Robert Peel spoke against the 
 annexation, upon which Bright got up and made the most un- 
 English speech ever heard in Parliament. He was answered in an 
 eloquent and spirited one by Lord John Manners. Mr. Kiiiglake 
 has given notice that he will move an address to the Queen, con- 
 demning the annexation. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 St. James's Square : March 5, 1860. 
 
 My dear Mahnesbury, I have received your precis books, which 
 with the other volumes I will keep safely till I have an opportunity of 
 returning them to you here. I do not think we shall do any good by 
 moving for the papers' of 1852, but we shall be quite justified in stating, 
 if necessary, the positive assurances which we had from Louis 
 Napoleon previous to our recognition, not of the Empire but of the 
 numeral. He does not, however, deny these assurances, but rests his 
 demand of Savoy on the readjustment which is taking place of the 
 territorial limits of Northern Italy. The plea is futile enough ; but it 
 relieves him from the necessity of denying his former engagements, 
 while it leaves him free, in his own mind, to dispense with them. 
 There is likely to be a very interesting discussion in the Commons to- 
 night on the Address ; and from what I hear I think it is likely that 
 Savoy may again be brought on the tapis by Sir Robert Peel, and 
 
1860 THE ADDKESS. 515 
 
 )ossibly a motion made by some outsider, if not by him, for the addition 
 >f words condemnatory of the proposed annexation. There may, how- 
 sver, be a preliminary discussion as to the effect which the adoption 
 >r rejection of the Address would have on the treaty, of which a 
 word by-and-by. Meanwhile Palmerston is unwell, threatened with 
 in attack of gout ; John Russell very much out of humour, and on very 
 >ad terms with the Emperor, who complains that he has not been 
 >roperly defended by the Government, the truth being, as I believe, 
 hat J. Eussell and Palmerston are on different tacks the first opposed 
 o the projects of France, and fancying that he is supporting the cause 
 )f Liberal Sardinia ; the second hampered by private engagements 
 contracted with the Emperor before his accession to office, which he is 
 ifraid either to repudiate or avow. 
 
 I saw Lord Chelmsford yesterday, and had a long conversation 
 with him on the subject of Grey's suggestions. I agree with you that 
 we ought not to attempt by a vote of the House of Lords to set aside 
 he French treaty, objectionable as I think it ; and our course will 
 equire careful consideration, after the elucidation which we shall 
 eceive from to-night's debate in the Commons. Lord Chelmsford 
 emains firm in the opinion, which is shared by Cairns and Kelly, that 
 although the passing of the Customs Acts by Parliament may be held 
 o be such an assent as the treaty requires to the commercial articles, 
 ,he eleventh article, that on coal, cannot be sanctioned but by an Act 
 >f Parliament. The Queen, under an Act of Parliament, has the power 
 >f prohibiting the export of certain articles, or rather of articles which 
 she may deem to come under certain conditions ; and she has no power 
 o divest herself of that which Parliament has given her for the security 
 >f the country by any contract with a foreign Power, except under the 
 ,ame authority of an Act of Parliament. If this be so, the Address is 
 in unmeaning form, unnecessary for the commercial object, valueless 
 'or the political ; and it may be adopted or rejected without in the 
 east degree affecting the treaty. If the Government contend suc- 
 cessfully that the Address is such a signification of the Parliamentary 
 issent as is required by the treaty, and is necessary as a supplement to 
 commercial legislation, I should pause before I took the responsibility 
 >f attempting to reject it ; and in that case I would wish to carry my 
 >pposition no farther than would enable me to record a protest, if the 
 orms of the House will allow me, against the Address, that is, against 
 ,he terms of the treaty. But my final decision must be influenced by 
 tvhat may take place to-night in the Commons. In any case, we ought 
 io have one good debate in our House, embracing the treaty, the 
 Budget, and Savoy. They ought not to be frittered away in separate 
 
 iL 2 
 
516 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1860 
 
 discussions. This may come on, if the Commons pass the Address to- 
 night, as early as Thursday or Friday. I am not disposed to fight for 
 delay, as I do not want a division. Yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 March 8^A.v The papers give Cavour's answers to the Em- 
 peror's proposals, which were to annex Parma and Modena to 
 Sardinia, to govern Romagna under the Pope, and to leave Tuscany 
 an independent State : and in case of a refusal of these propo- 
 sitions, he threatens to withdraw his army, and leave the King of 
 Sardinia and the Italians to fight their own battles as well as 
 they can. Cavour has refused a bold, not to say a most rash 
 and imprudent step ; but with him it is tout ou rien per fas aut 
 nefas. 
 
 Mr t KinglaJcs io Lord M. 
 
 12 St. James's Place : March 9, 1860. | 
 
 Bear Lord Malmesbury, I never made any communication to yourj 
 Lordship personally, but I conveyed the intelligence privately to 
 Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald, who then represented the Foreign Office in 
 the House of Commons. 
 
 What passed was as follows : About this time last year I received a 
 communication from Turin disclosing the scheme for the annexation to 
 France of Savoy and Nice, and it came to me from such a quarter that 
 I could not doubt its truth. In the then state of Europe I did not 
 think it prudent to state the intelligence publicly in the House, but I 
 thought the knowledge of it might be useful to Her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment. Lord Palmerston agreed with me that it would be right to 
 communicate it to the Government, but he suggested that the best way 
 to do this would be by speaking to Seymour Fitzgerald. I accordingly 
 told Seymour Fitzgerald that I wished to speak to him, and after in. 
 dicating the grounds on which I believed my information to be accurate, 
 I read to him twice over the words of which the enclosed paper is a 
 copy. He seemed to be impressed and much interested. I begged hinc 
 to remember that the paper signed by the Emperor was a ' pacte d< 
 famille,' and not a ' treaty.' This took place in the month of Marcl 
 of last year as well as I can recollect. 
 
 I trust that this statement will convey to your Lordship, witl 
 sufficient clearness, the information you desired to receive. 
 
 Yours, &c. A. W. KINGLAKE. 
 
1860 'PACTE DE FAMILLE.' 517 
 
 [ENCLOSURE. ' On the evening before the marriage with the 
 Princess Clothilde, a paper was signed by the Emperor of the French 
 which was called a " Pacte de famille " (not a treaty or convention), 
 premising aid, offensive and defensive, to Sardinia, the King on his 
 side promising Savoy and Nice in return for whatever possessions he 
 nay gain in Lombardy. The paper was signed by Walewski.'] 
 
 March 16^. Went to the House of Lords for the debate on 
 :he Address for the treaty. The debate was a very fine one. The 
 Address was seconded by Lord Cork. Lord Grey then made a 
 fine speech, objecting to it. Lord Wodehouse answered him, and 
 then I was followed by Lord Grey. 1 Lord Overstone spoke 
 against the treaty. Lord Grey persisted in dividing the House, 
 ;hough Lord Derby asked him to abstain from doing so. The 
 division took place, and the Government had a majority of 30. 
 
 March \lth. Naples is in a dreadful state. The tyranny of 
 the present King far exceeds that of his father, and the exaspera- 
 bion is so great that a revolution may take place at any moment. 
 But events in the North of Italy have much to say to these feel- 
 ings, and naturally encourage the Neapolitans to imitate them. 
 
 Lord John last night in the House of Commons announced 
 that he had read a very important despatch written by M. de 
 Thouvenel to Persigny relating to Savoy, that he had not yet laid 
 it before the Cabinet, but when he had done so, and was in a 
 position to answer it, he would lose no time in laying the despatch 
 on the table of the House. This statement produced an extra- 
 ordinary sensation amongst the occupants of the Treasury Bench, 
 for it is contrary to all rule that the Foreign Minister should 
 announce to either House the receipt of a despatch before his 
 colleagues have seen it. 
 
 March \Wi. The Municipality of Nice has protested against 
 the annexation, and sent a deputation to Turin to lay their peti- 
 tion before the King, asking to form an independent State if it 
 should be necessary to separate them from Sardinia. 
 
 March 23rd. Lady Derby and Lady Edward Thynne called, 
 and both said that there has been a secret correspondence between 
 the Emperor and Lord Palmerston, and it was said in the House 
 
 1 |?ow Marquis of Eipon, and late Viceroy of India, 
 
518 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1860 
 
 of Commons the night that Lord John Russell mentioned M. cle 
 Thouvenel's despatch, adding that he had not yet shown it to his 
 colleagues, that he had discovered Lord Palmerston's correspond- 
 ence, and was so angry that he did this out of revenge. The 
 Emperor seems to have betrayed Palmerston's confidence, for all 
 Paris is talking of these letters, and expressing their astonishment 
 at such a transaction. Louis Napoleon has evidently done this to 
 revenge himself for the Government's not being as subservient 
 about the Savoy business as he expected ; and it is easy to under- 
 stand now why the Ministers were so eager to please him about 
 the treaty, in hopes, probably, that he would overlook their re- 
 monstrances on the annexation of Savoy, which the tone of the 
 Houses of Parliament obliged them to make. It is evident from 
 their desperate attempts to silence all discussion that they were 
 very anxious not to interfere with the Emperor's projects. The 
 annexation of Savoy, together with the neutral States of Chablais 
 and Faucigny, which is now a fait accompli, has shaken the'confi- 
 dence of the people in the Government. There is a bon mot of 
 the Princess Clothilde on this subject which is worth recording. 
 Alluding to the transfer of Savoy to France and her own unwel- 
 come marriage, she said : ' Quand on a vendu 1'enfant, on pent 
 bien. vendre le berceau.' 
 
 March 26th. Lord John Russell made a violent speech against 
 Louis Napoleon last night in the House of Commons, and said 
 that England must not sacrifice the alliances of the rest of Europe 
 for the sake of France. I hear that Persigny was in the House 
 and w r as in a dreadful state, exclaiming : ' Quel langage ! Faut- 
 il entendre de pareilles choses contre mon maitre ! C'est a ne pas 
 y tenir ! ' Lady Palmerston told Lady Tankerville that they are 
 dreadfully afraid of Louis Napoleon that she believed he had 
 promised to allow Russia to take Constantinople, had promised 
 Saxony to Prussia, and meant to take Belgium for himself ; but 
 this is not credible. 
 
 Hon, E. A. J. Harris to Lord M. (on the annexation of Savoy). 
 
 Berne : March 26, 1860. 
 
 Dear Malmesbury, ... I wrote to you on October 15, 1858, 
 officially the first intimation of this business which I received from the 
 
1860 SECRET CORRESPONDENCE. 519 
 
 Swiss President, sending it under flying seal to Lord Cowley, and 
 calling his attention to it in a separate despatch. The rumour was not 
 believed at the time. I again wrote to you officially on the subject 
 May 7, 1859. Neither of these has been comprised in the published 
 despatches. 
 
 I do not believe in the signed ' Pacte de famille.' I think there 
 was a verbal understanding between Louis Napoleon and Cavour in 
 the autumn of 1858 at Biarritz. This verbal understanding was re- 
 peated between Cavour and Walewski in January 1859, but they kept 
 clear of written agreements in order to be able to say, ' There has 
 been no treaty, agreement, &c., to cede, &c., &c.' But it was a compact 
 between the giant and the dwarf in the fable from which the results 
 followed which might have been anticipated. 
 
 t t t i 
 
 Ever your affectionate brother, 
 
 E. A. J. HARRIS. 
 
 March 3Qth. I dined at the Palace yesterday. The Prince 
 told me that Louis Napoleon had given them hopes that he would 
 not annex Chablais and Faucigny, but that the Queen had received 
 the news that the Emperor had sent for Lord Cowley, and had 
 told him that he regretted very much being unable to keep his 
 promise, but that Benedetti had made a mistake in drawing up 
 the treaty, and it could not now be altered. I observed that it 
 was of course easy to judge of events after they had occurred, but 
 I could not understand why, when the Government became aware 
 of the Emperor's intention to annex Savoy, they did not imme- 
 diately apply to the Great Powers to join in a protest with 
 England against the annexation. His Royal Highness answered, 
 ' Of course they ought to have done so.' 
 
 March 31 st. Lord Grey brought on the question of China, 
 and I was obliged to speak, as Lord Derby is at Knowsley. 
 
 April 2nd. At the Duchess of Somerset's party Lord Palmer- 
 ston came up to me when I was talking to Lord Wodehouse, and 
 shook hands in a very friendly manner, saying : ' Are you two 
 settling the affairs of Europe ? ' and continued talking. Whilst 
 the conversation was going on, Persigny passed and hardly bowed 
 to Lord Palmerston. He afterwards came to me and abused the 
 Government and Lord John for his speech on the 26th ; adding, 
 
520 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1860 
 
 what was perfectly true, that his threat of making other alliances 
 was most imprudent, and, of course, would oblige the Emperor to 
 do the same. He concluded, ' Et c'est deja fait.' 
 
 There is a report that the Persignys are to return to Paris. 
 He had a serious quarrel with Lady Palmerston at Countess 
 Appoiiyi's a few days ago, lost his temper and all control, abusing 
 her and Lord Palmerston in an audible voice. He was obliged 
 afterwards to make an apology, but after such a scene he will 
 probably be replaced. 
 
 M. de la Rive has arrived from Switzerland. He says that 
 they are in a state of great alarm for their independence, as Louis 
 Napoleon is now intriguing with the Catholic party at Geneva to 
 get them 'to ask to be annexed to France, and if half a dozen 
 rascals can be found to do it, he will call that the ' voice of the 
 people/ and seize Geneva at once. The part of the Channel fleet 
 which was at Lisbon was telegraphed for after Lord John Russell's 
 speech. 
 
 April 14:th. It rained, snowed, and hailed at intervals all 
 through the day, with north-east wind and fog. This sort of 
 weather has now lasted six months. 
 
 April IGth. It is said that the Emperor lias offered Mr. 
 Whitworth 10,000?. a year for life if he will come to France and 
 manufacture his newly-invented cannon for him exclusively, and 
 Mr. Whitworth has had the patriotism to refuse. 
 
 April l$th. A debate in the House of Lords on the Reform 
 Bill, on Lord Grey's motion for a Committee. 
 
 Madam Bernstorff told me that Persigny said to her before he 
 went to Paris, * Je vous jure, par tout ce qu'il y a de plus sacre, 
 par la tete de mes enfants (et vous savez comme j'aime mes 
 enfants), que FEmpereur n'a pas de vues ambitieuses. II lie desire 
 et ne veut rien, et il ne preiidrait rien si on le lui offrait.' M. 
 d'Azeglio told Lady Malmesbury that he believed the report of the 
 Emperor being in bad health. D'Azeglio also said Persigny had 
 made him a terrible scene, accusing him ' de faire la propagande ' 
 in England against the annexation of Savoy. He added that it 
 was an unjust accusation, as he had known for a long time that 
 Cavour intended to give up Savoy to France. This last assertion 
 is certainly true, as he always held it out as a bait to Louis 
 
 
1SGO LANDING OF GARIBALDI IN SICILY. 521 
 
 Napoleon, though he pretended to be furious when the event 
 happened. 
 
 May 3rd At the fancy ball at the Hotel d'Albe, the Princess 
 Mathilde was, I hear, dressed as an Indian, and had had her skin 
 dyed brown. Her dress was of the scantiest, very decolletee, her 
 arms bare up to the shoulders, with a narrow band by way of 
 sleeve, fastened with a brooch. The body was slit under the arm 
 to the waist, showing the skin. The drapery behind was trans- 
 parent, which she was probably not aware of, as she had not dyed 
 her skin in that particular place, and the effect was awful. 
 
 May 7th. The Government are on very bad terms with France. 
 The Emperor told Lord Cowley that he could no longer curb his 
 people if England did not change her line of policy. This accounts 
 for the gloomy looks of the Government in the House of Lords, 
 and their request to postpone the discussion on Savoy, which was 
 to have taken place to-day. 
 
 May 9th. Concert at the Palace, where the heat was so great 
 that several ladies fainted, as did Mr. Dallas, the American 
 Minister. Sidney Herbert was very cordial to me, which I am 
 glad of. 
 
 May \3th. I hear that all sorts of stories are going about in 
 consequence of my having been seen talking to Lady Palmerston. 
 at her party yesterday ' a coalition, &c.' But no one knows the 
 real truth, which is, that I was deputed by Lord Derby and 
 Disraeli to tell her that we meant to throw out the Duty on Paper 
 Bill (for which she thanked us), and, further, to say that if 
 Mackinnon's motion for postponing the Reform Bill until after 
 the census of 1861 passed, and if Lord John and other members 
 of the Government (meaning Gladstone and Milner Gibson) went 
 out in consequence, and joined the Radicals against the Govern- 
 ment, we would engage ourselves to support Lord Palmerston 
 against them for this session. Lady Palmerston expressed herself 
 as being very grateful for the offer, but said she did not think 
 Lord John would go out if beaten. 
 
 May 15th. Garibaldi has landed in Sicily, and it is said that 
 some English ships prevented the Neapolitan ships from firing 
 upon him. 
 
 Jfay 21xL I wont to the debate in the House of Lords on 
 
522 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1860 
 
 the Paper Duty. I never saw any place so crowded as the Peers' 
 benches, the ladies' gallery and the steps of the throne, while the 
 bar and the strangers' gallery were crammed. 
 
 Lord Lyndhurst opened the debate, showing a clearness of intel- 
 lect and a memory which seemed hardly possible at his age ; his 
 language forcible and eloquent, great information, no repetitions, 
 altogether a most miraculous effort for a man of eighty-eight. It 
 was his birthday, and he left a party of his children and grand- 
 children (who had assembled at his house to celebrate the occasion) 
 in order to come and render this service, perhaps the last, to his 
 country. Lord Monteagle then proposed his amendment, which 
 was the rejection of the bill, and Lord Derby closed the debate 
 by a splendid speech. The bill was thrown out by a majority 
 of 89. 
 
 June 1st. Garibaldi has stormed Palermo, so Sicily is now 
 free, and, it is thought, will pronounce for annexation to Sardinia. 
 
 The Government are in convulsions. Lord John threatens to 
 resign if the Reform Bill is not proceeded with, and Gladstone 
 makes the same threat unless the Government propose a resolution 
 to censure the House of Lords for rejecting their bill to repeal 
 the paper duty, and that resolution is sanctioned by the Commons. 
 In this critical state of public affairs, Lord Derby had desired me 
 to go to Lady Palmerston and assure her of the support of our 
 whole party against the Radicals, and to give a positive promise 
 that we will not coalesce with them in or out of office. Disraeli 
 is equally determined on this point. 
 
 June 2nd. I had a satisfactory interview with Lord and Lady 
 Palmerston yesterday. They are as anxious as we are to get rid 
 of the Reform Bill, but do not exactly see their way. It is evident 
 he does not wish to lose Lord John, though he would be very glad 
 if Gladstone resigned. 
 
 Rumours of Lord John's and Gladstone's resignation continue. 
 Some of the Whigs signed the round-robin blaming the former 
 for his foreign policy, and asking him to resign. His only remark 
 was ' Blackguards ! ' 
 
 June 8th. The adjourned debate upon Mr. Mackinnon's amend- 
 ment to postpone the Reform Bill until after the census of 1861 
 came on yesterday. Sir James Fergusson rose to move that it be 
 
1860 GARIBALDI TAKES PALERMO. 523 
 
 adjourned until the Scotch and Irish bills were introduced, but he 
 was beaten by a majority of 21. The Government, except Lord 
 John and Mr. Gladstone, are as much against the measure as we 
 are. 
 
 June 12th. The Emperor Napoleon went to Baden-Baden, to 
 have a conference with the Prince Regent of Prussia, probably in 
 the hope of making some arrangement about the Rhenish pro- 
 vinces, by promising some aggrandisement in another direction 
 perhaps Saxony ; or to get him on his side, and by this means 
 destroy the German League, which may interfere with his ambi- 
 tious projects. But the Prince was on his guard, and invited all 
 the German sovereigns and reigning princes to Baden to meet the 
 Emperor. They all came, even the blind King of Hanover ; no 
 doubt to the disappointment of Louis Napoleon, who hoped to 
 have a tete-ct-tete with the Prince of Prussia. 1 He, however, 
 seems to have put a good face on the matter and stayed from the 
 15th to the 17th, when he returned to Paris. All diplomatists 
 consider it a coup manque. 
 
 Garibaldi has taken Palermo by assault. The King's troops 
 were, however, allowed to return to Naples. It is said that the 
 King, by the advice of Louis Napoleon, means to give a constitu- 
 tion to his subjects, but they place no dependence upon him, and 
 it will not save him. 
 
 June 19^. The Bill for the Abolition of Church Bates is re- 
 jected by the House of Lords by a majority of 97 on the second 
 reading. 
 
 June 23rd. The Queen reviewed the Volunteers in Hyde Park. 
 I went to Disraeli's house at Grosvenor Gate to see the sight, which 
 was very fine. The enthusiasm of the men and spectators 
 exceeded all description. There were 20,000 Volunteers, all. 
 active young men between eighteen and thirty. They went 
 through their evolutions with the greatest steadiness and precision, 
 and at the final advance in line, when they halted within a short 
 distance of the Queen, and the band had ceased playing 'God 
 save the Queen,' they raised a cheer which might have been heard 
 for miles. This was taken up by the spectators, and the scene 
 was so exciting that the Queen was quite overcome, and I saw 
 J Xow Emperor of Germany, 1884. 
 
524 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1860 
 
 many people the same. It was enough to make an Englishman 
 proud of his country to see this wonderful demonstration of 
 patriotism and loyalty, and, as Lord Derby truly said in his speech 
 the same evening at Merchant Taylors' Hall : ' If the bare possi- 
 bility of an insult to England could in six months raise a force 
 of 130,000 Volunteers, there is no doubt that, were the danger 
 imminent, we should have three times that number/ 
 
 July Qth. Lord Palmerston has made a very good speech on 
 the resolution he proposes with respect to the Lords' rejection of the 
 Paper Bill. Lord Derby said ' it was the best tight- rope dancing 
 he ever saw.' It was, anyhow, a judicious act to prevent a col- 
 lision between the two Houses. 
 
 July 8th. Gladstone has not resigned, to the surprise of 
 everybody, for it was generally thought that he must do so after 
 his violent speech against Lord Palmerston. 
 
 July 2'2nd. Lord Elphinstone is dead. He returned very ill 
 from India, having had the Bombay fever. He acted with great 
 courage and ability during the mutiny. I was at Eton with him, 
 and he afterwards entered the Life Guards. 
 
 July 24th. Lord Palmerston made a very plucky speech last 
 night in bringing in a bill to provide for the defences of the 
 country. The French will be furious, for he said openly that 
 France was the only nation against which we had to defend our- 
 selves. And he did not conceal the fact that all our prepa- 
 rations were against the French. Many consider his speech 
 imprudent, but that kind of imprudence is often the best policy. 
 
 Gladstone, who was always fond of music, is now quite enthu- 
 siastic about negro melodies, singing them with the greatest spirit 
 and enjoyment, never leaving out a verse, and evidently preferring 
 such as ' Camp Down Races.' 
 
 August 1st. Lord Claiiwilliam came to breakfast. The 
 ' Times ' publishes a letter from Louis Napoleon to Persigny, 
 professing great friendship for England, and a desire for peace 
 with the whole world. I attribute this letter to his fear of the 
 Volunteer movement, and his wish to stop our fortification, ship- 
 building, &c. 
 
 August 3rd. Lord Palmerston's resolutions respecting the 
 loan to be raised for fortifying the dockyards were discussed in 
 
1860 PROPOSED BANQUET TO LORD DERBY. 625 
 
 Committee. Mr. Lindsay proposed an amendment, ' That, as the 
 main defence of Great Britain against aggression depends on an 
 efficient navy, it is not now expedient to enter into a large expen- 
 diture on permanent fortifications.' This, after a long debate, 
 was negatived by 268 to 39, and the resolution passed. 
 
 August 7th. The Government had a majority of 33 on the 
 Paper Duty Bill last night. 
 
 August 8th. We got a letter from Lady Derby, announcing 
 her daughter's marriage with Colonel Talbot. 
 
 August 2lst, Heron Court. Went to Christchurch to see my 
 Volunteers reviewed by Colonel Luard, who appeared satisfied with 
 them. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Taymoutb Castle : August 29, 1860. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, The Liverpool Conservatives have got up 
 an address to me, which I understand is most numerously signed, ex- 
 pressive of entire approval of the course of our Government, and of 
 their ' increased confidence,' &c., and they are very desirous that the 
 presentation of the Address should be followed by a dinner (or, as they 
 call it, a banquet), to celebrate at the same time the Conservative 
 triumph in South Lancashire. They are particularly anxious for your 
 presence and Disraeli's, and if you could manage it I think it would 
 both please them and do good. I have told them that you are in 
 Scotland, and that I thought you would not return until the latter end 
 of October. They wish me to fix a day, with your concurrence, 
 between Saturday, the 13th, and Thursday, the 25th, and before I write 
 to them or to D. I should be glad to know whether this will suit you. 
 The later you can come, within these limits, the better probably it 
 would suit your Scotch plans. 
 
 * 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 September Qth. Lady Adela Ibbotson died last Tuesday. 
 Lady Jersey has now lost all her children. Lady Adela was her 
 last daughter, and though for many years they saw very little of 
 her, as they did not forgive her marriage, yet since Lady Clemen- 
 tina's death Lady Jersey seems to have become fond of her, and 
 the blow will therefore be much heavier now than if it had fallen 
 
526 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. ISGO 
 
 a few years ago. I went to see her, and she expresses herself 
 resigned to the will of God. 
 
 September 7th. I went to Weymouth, where my yacht is to 
 meet me. 
 
 Garibaldi entered Naples, accompanied only by his staff; the 
 town is perfectly quiet, as all parties unite on the same side, and 
 therefore there is no inducement to make a disturbance. All the 
 forts have surrendered. Garibaldi and the English Admiral have 
 exchanged visits. The former has given up the Neapolitan fleet 
 to the Sardinian Admiral. The Sardinian troops have disembarked 
 by order of the Dictator, as he is called. The whole army will 
 arrive in Naples, and comprises 80,000 men, including the insur- 
 gent bands. The Sardinians have invaded the Papal States with- 
 out any declaration of war. They have taken Pesaro, where they 
 have made 1,200 Germans prisoners, also Fano and TJr^ino. 
 General Lamoriciere has concentrated his troops, amounting to 
 8,000 men, in Ancona, in defence of the Pope, and where it is 
 said he will be attacked by 45,000 Sardinians. 
 
 September \5th. In consequence of this violent act of invad- 
 ing Romagiia, Louis Napoleon has recalled his Minister from 
 Turin, leaving a charge d'affaires. Is this a sham, intended to 
 make the Courts of Europe believe that he disapproves of the in- 
 vasion of the Roman States ? There can be little doubt of it, as 
 he had an interview with Cavour at Chambery, and with General 
 Cialdini at Nice, and that the whole of this violent proceeding 
 was arranged with him, for the invasion took place directly after. 
 This is too transparent to take anyone in, and will only confirm 
 the distrust which of late years everything he says and does 
 inspires.* ' 
 
 September ISth. I went out shooting, and could only kill 
 three brace of partridges with great difficulty ; they are so rare 
 this year all over England that they fetch twelve shillings a brace 
 in London. 
 
 September 2lst. The newspapers announce that a battle has 
 
 been fought between Cialdini and Lamoriciere, 1 in which the latter 
 
 was completely defeated, as Lamoriciere's whole army capitulated, 
 
 and he, accompanied by a few horsemen, escaped through the 
 
 1 Lamoriciere Avas one of the best Algerian generals. 
 
1860 fiATTLE OF CASTEL FIDARDO. 527 
 
 mountains and threw himself into Ancona. Great agitation 
 reigns at Turin. Some suspicion is beginning to be felt respecting 
 Garibaldi's intentions. His naming Saffi, an ultra-Radical, to be 
 pro-Dictator of Sicily, and the arrival of Mazzini at Naples, 
 coupled with Garibaldi's declaration that he will only proclaim the 
 annexation of Naples to Sardinia from the top of the Quirinal, 
 rather looks as if he would prefer being the head of an indepen- 
 dent Republic to abdicating his authority in favour of Victor 
 Emaiiuel. ; 
 
 September 2th. News from Italy bad. Everything seems 
 to be in confusion. Complete anarchy in Sicily. Great discord 
 at Naples ; the roads infested with banditti, and no security for 
 life. The King remains at Gaeta, and has a large army still faith- 
 ful to him. The Sardinians have laid siege to Ancona by sea and 
 land. 
 
 September %8th. I have decided on buying Lord Wemyss's 
 house in Stratford Place. 
 
 Garibaldi has been defeated at Capua by the King's troops. 
 He has appointed Dumas, the novelist, Keeper of the Museum at 
 Naples, and this has given immense dissatisfaction. 
 
 September IWi. News from Italy is unfavourable for Gari- 
 baldi, for it now would appear that his successes did not proceed 
 from his generalship, but from his meeting with no opposition ; as 
 at Capua, when he and his best generals attacked the King of 
 Naples' army, they were out-inanceuvred and ran away. Whole 
 regiments ran without firing a shot, but from the bare report that 
 cavalry was coming to attack them, not even waiting to see if it 
 were the case. It was a regular panic. 
 
 October 1st. Letters from Ancona give a different account of 
 the battle of Castel Fidardo from that published at Turin. It 
 began at ten A.M. on September 18 ; the Papal troops had made a 
 forced march of sixty leagues in six days ; the Sardinian army 
 blocked the road to Ancona, and occupied with artillery the heights 
 commanding it. Lamoriciere's army fought gallantly against over- 
 whelming odds ; 8,000 against 35,000. Numbers were cut down 
 by grape-shot, and the Piedmontese thought they could easily 
 capture the remainder, when Lamoriciere commanded a charge 
 with the bayonet, and succeeded in cutting through the compact 
 
528 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. I860 
 
 mass of the Sardinian army, entering Ancona with, it is said, 
 1,500 men* The Papal army capitulated, with General Fanti, on 
 September 29, and Lamoriciere and his whole garrison are 
 prisoners. 
 
 October 2Ist. Victor Emanuel has entered the Neapolitan 
 States, though the King of Naples is still at Gaeta. 
 
 October 24th. The sovereigns of Russia and Austria, the 
 Prince Regent of Prussia, and some minor German princes, met 
 at Warsaw on the 20th. The reconciliation between the two 
 Emperors is said to be complete. Louis Napoleon wanted very 
 much to attend the conference, but could not get an invitation. 
 
 November 1st. We were invited to Windsor ; the party con- 
 sists of Lord and Lady de Grey, Sir George and Lady Theresa 
 Lewis. I sat by the Queen, and Lady M. by the Prince, at dinner. 
 They are anxious that the Austrians should not go to war with 
 Piedmont. Her Majesty was very anxious about Lord Derby, and 
 made many inquiries about his health. The Holsteins dined at 
 the Castle. After dinner the Prince, came up to Lady de Grey 
 and Lady Malmesbury, and amused them immensely by giving an 
 account of some ridiculous incidents that occurred at Levees. On 
 one occasion a clergyman was to be presented. He, as the Prince 
 said, ' overshot his mark,' and passed the Queen without the 
 slightest notice. Lord De la Warr was very much put out, and 
 began making signs to him to return. He stopped and stared at 
 Lord De la Warr, imitating his gestures as exactly as he could, 
 but nothing could induce him to return. Everybody was convulsed 
 with laughter, for no etiquette could prevail against such a 
 ridiculous scene. 
 
 November 5th. I hear from the best authority that Lord 
 John Russell wrote his last despatch to Mr. Hudson, dated 
 October 27, 1860, without showing it to any of his colleagues, 
 and that they are all indignant about it. The despatch in ques- 
 tion is an unjustifiable one, approving of Victor Emanuel's inva- 
 sion of the Roman States and Naples. 1 Lord John's first 
 despatch, which was published, it is supposed, by order of Cavour, 
 
 1 Sir J. Hudson told me that Lord John verbally encouraged the King to 
 invade Naples, by asking his A.D.C. at Richmond whether he, the King, was not 
 afraid. This was quite enough to send Victor Emanuel anywhere. 
 
1860 -CONTRADICTORY DESPATCHES. 529 
 
 lost him his popularity with the Radicals, who were furious at his 
 admitting the right of the Austrians to Yenetia. He then wrote 
 this, which is a direct recantation of the former one. The ' Times ' 
 of this morning attacks him violently for both despatches. 
 Madame de Flahault told me that she heard it was Lord Palmer- 
 ston who wrote the last despatch to Hudson, but I don't believe 
 it, especially as she said she saw Lady John a short time ago, and 
 she was much annoyed at the abuse in the ' Times ' of Lord John's 
 first despatch. She possibly made him write the last to try and 
 set himself right with the public ; but all he has got is a still 
 more severe article in the * Times.' 
 
 Capua was bombarded on November 1, and capitulated on the 
 2nd. 
 
 November 10th. When Briinnow read Lord John Russell's 
 despatch of the 27th to Hudson, he observed, ' Ce n'est pas de la 
 diplomatic, c'est de la polissonnerie.' It did not produce this 
 effect upon Cavour, who, when Hudson read it to him, nearly 
 fainted from joy. On the 8th, Garibaldi, accompanied by the 
 Ministry, formally presented to the King the result of the 
 lebiscite in the Throne-room. The Minister, Signer Conforto, 
 spoke as follows : ' Sire, the Neapolitan people assembled in their 
 Electoral Comitia have proclaimed you King by an immense 
 majority ; 9,000,000 Italians are uniting themselves to the other 
 provinces, which your Majesty governs with so much wisdom, 
 verifying your solemn promise that Italy should belong to the 
 Italians.' 
 
 The King said a few Avords, which are not recorded. The deed 
 of annexation was then drawn up. The Dictatorship ceased, aild 
 the Ministry resigned. The following day, November 9, Garibaldi 
 left Naples to return to his residence in the island of Caprera, 
 having apparently accepted neither honours nor money. 
 
 The speeches at the Lord Mayor's dinner yesterday were unin- 
 teresting, and no declaration of policy on the part of the Govern- 
 ment. Palmcrston praised the glorious successes of our troops in 
 China, and the Volunteers. Several of our party were present 
 to do honour to the Lord Mayor, who is a Tory. None of the 
 foreign Ministers were there, except Persigny and d'Azeglio ; the 
 former spoke very well in French. 
 
 M M 
 
530 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1860 
 
 Novel-fiber I3th. A leading article of the ' Times ' to-day is a 
 panegyric upon Hudson and a great abuse of Lord John Russell, 
 but more damaging to the former than to the latter, as it praises 
 Hudson for having disobeyed the instructions of two successive 
 Governments, and acted according to the wishes of the people of 
 England. 
 
 November 14^. Lord Dundonald's funeral took place this j 
 morning in Westminster Abbey. He died on October 31, having 
 lived just long enough to complete his memoirs, of which he sent 
 a copy to the Prince Consort. Admiral Sir Charles Napier only 
 survived him a few days. 
 
 The Prince of Wales, who has been to Canada, arrived this 
 morning at Plymouth. His ship, the ' Hero,' was so slow, that he 
 was detained long enough to cause considerable anxiety. 
 
 November \$th. The Empress of the French arrived in 
 London, and drove with her suite to Claridge's Hotel in hack 
 cabs. The following morning she went out shopping on foot, and 
 to the Crystal Palace in the afternoon. The object of her journey 
 is not known. Some say she is in bad health, and is going to 
 Hamilton Palace for change of air ; another report is that she is 
 unhappy at her sister's death. 
 
 The King of Italy seems to have treated his new subjects with 
 very little consideration. His entry into Naples was a failure, as j 
 he fixed three different days ; and when he did at last arrive it I 
 was an hour too soon, and none of the preparations were com- 
 pleted. He must feel humiliated, for it is Garibaldi who has 
 conquered the kingdom for him. He givfes it him, refusing all 
 rewards, resisting all entreaties to remain ; and, after giving up 
 the Dictatorship and saluting Victor Emanuel as King of Italy, 
 embarks the next morning, the 8th, before daylight, for his home 
 in Caprera, paying Admiral Mundy a farewell visit on his way. 
 Something must have occurred to disgust him with the King. It 
 is said that at a great banquet on the day of the King's arrival in 
 Naples, the officers of the Piedmontese army drank the health of 
 Victor Emanuel but not Garibaldi's, whose name was never even 
 mentioned. 
 
 November 19^. I went to Buckenha,m. 
 November 25th. The Empress Eugenie is going to Osborne 
 on December 5. 
 
I860 PERSIGNY RECALLED. 531 
 
 November 2Qth. M. de Flahault is named Ambassador in 
 place of M. de Persigny, who was recalled in consequence of a 
 quarrel he had with Lord Palmerston. Calling on her, I found 
 her much pleased, but anxious for her husband's health, which is 
 not strong. 
 
 The relations between England and France are not satisfacv ^ . 
 Lord Palmerston, who only sees through the eyes of d'Azeglio, is 
 angry with the Emperor for his uncertain policy in Italy, which 
 favours the Reactionists ; and certainly things are going on badly 
 for Victor Emanuel at Naples, Mr. Elliot, our Minister, having 
 written to Lord John, saying that, bad as the late Government 
 was, this one is much worse. 
 
 November 28th. Lady Tankerville called and told me she 
 went to see Lady Palmerston this morning. Whilst she was there 
 Lord Palmerston came in in a furious passion with the Emperor 
 of the French for preventing the bombardment of Gaeta, and 
 saying the atrocities committed by Francis II. were dreadful ; 
 that he had ordered people's eyes to be put out, their noses cut off, 
 &c., and that it was necessary to put an end to this state of things. 
 Lady Tankerville expressed her disbelief of this story ; at which 
 Lord Palmerston got more angry and said it was official and 
 therefore must be true. 
 
 December \st. Saw de Persigny, who abused Palmerston, 
 saying he is not at all the man he used to be ; that he was com- 
 pletely led by d'Azeglio, and believed everything he told him. 
 He said the Emperor never would have annexed Savoy or Nice if 
 it had not been for the English Government, who would not abide 
 by the Treaty of Villafranca. He told them from the beginning 
 that if Sardinia annexed Tuscany he must then have Savoy, as 
 he could not sacrifice 50,000 Frenchmen merely to aggrandise 
 Sardinia without some compensation to France. The dispute at 
 present between our two Governments is about Gaeta, the French 
 forbidding the bombardment, and Lord Palmerston, pushed on by 
 Azeglio, being for it. They had a violent quarrel, and Lord 
 Palmerston applied for Persigny's recall. 
 
 M M 2 
 
532 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1860 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : December 4, 1860. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I have been lazily intending to write to you 
 for the last two or three days, when, * to fire my flagging zeal,' I received 
 this morning your letter of yesterday, and for which, and the political 
 gossip it contains, many thanks. You disappoint me, however, by 
 saying you must make this an exceptional year to your shooting visits, 
 as I had hoped to catch you for the week after Bath's party, by which 
 time I may hope to be about again, though I hardly expect to have a 
 gun in hand this season. I am only afraid, if we have a hard frost at 
 Christmas, that it may drive our woodcocks at present it looks like 
 the best year I have ever known. We have tried no coverts, but the 
 park has been full. About the 14th of last month Freddy and Pat 
 Talbot killed twelve : on the 24th Talbot alone killed twenty-two of 
 twenty-four which he saw ; and yesterday the two went again into the 
 park to see if any more were come, and killed sixteen, and they say 
 ought to have killed four or five more. Fifty in three days over the 
 same ground. Of yesterday's sixteen, my Lady has sent you up four 
 with a hare. We have yet no pheasants, and I hardly know how I 
 shall get through my shooting, even with the aid of two sons and a 
 son-in-law, when they are here. I shall be very glad to see you at any 
 time for a political chat, and if you will give me forty-eight, or even 
 thirty-six hours, bring your gun also, and I will give you a nice little 
 day over ground which I believe you have never been on ! Don't 
 come, however, for a fortnight, as my Lady and I shall be absolutely 
 tete-a-tete, except next Saturday and Sunday. I had a message 
 yesterday from Taylor, who is on a visit at Gerard's, to know if I 
 would see him to-day or to-morrow, to which of course I said yes, but 
 am not surprised that he did not come over such a day as to-day has 
 been. I shall hear from .him all the little party details ; but I appre- 
 hend that our policy this year as well as last must be the ' masterly in- 
 activity ' which was found so successful. Italy is a grand imbroglio, 
 in which, however, France has the game in her hand so far as Rome is 
 concerned, with the full power, of which she seems to mean to avail 
 herself, of thwarting the Sardinian and united policy. Her conduct at 
 Gaeta has been incomprehensible, except on the supposition that she 
 wishes to keep the pot boiling, in hopes, in some way or another, of 
 profiting by its boiling over. John Russell must not be let off his last 
 despatch when Parliament meets, which I hear, as I supposed, is to be 
 on Tuesday, February 5. Flahault's appointment is, I think, a good 
 
1860 ENGLISH AND FRENCH IN CHINA. 533 
 
 one, in spite of his age, but' I hear the ladies of his family say it will 
 be too much for him. I am amused at Persigny, at last, having to 
 confide his woes and grievances to your friendly bosom ! Madame is 
 of course tout eploree. 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 December IQtk. The English and French in China hate each 
 other. The latter are allowed to plunder, whilst our men are 
 flogged if they take the smallest trifle without payment for it. 
 Parkes and Loch are returned safe to the camp, 1 but it is feared 
 that Captain Brabazoii has been taken by the Chinese and mur- 
 dered. Two others are missing, one of whom is the 'Times' 
 correspondent. 
 
 The French Empress has been to Windsor, and the Queen and 
 Prince, with Princess Alice, returned the visit. 
 
 December 19th, Heron Court. Colonel Charteris, Mr. Bar- 
 rington, and Lochiel had a good day up the Moor's river, killing 
 seventy-two head of wild-fowl. Twelve degrees of frost. Matilda 
 Butler's" marriage with Lord Otho Fitzgerald is just announced, 
 but it is not to take place until she is better, and may likely 
 never do so at all, as she is in a dangerous state of health from 
 an affection of the lungs, and the doctors will not allow her to be 
 married at present. 2 
 
 December 2Uh. Sixteen degrees of frost last night. I went 
 to London. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : December 26, 1860. 
 
 My dear Malnicsbury, I am obliged to you for a sight of Disraeli's 
 letter, which I return. He had not written to me on the subject ; and 
 I hope has not taken offence at my telling him in my last letter that I 
 
 1 This refers to the surrender of Mr. (now Sir Harry) 1'arkcs and Mr. (now Sir 
 Henry) Loch by the Chinese, after their confinement for a month or more in a 
 temple at Pekin, under hourly apprehension, and indeed threats, that at auy 
 moment they might be taken into the courtyard and executed. 
 
 2 She died soon after, and Lord Otho married Lady Londesborough ; both the 
 last dying iu 1884. 
 
534 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1860 
 
 thought he had gone rather too far in his declaration of ' no com- 
 promise ' on the subject of Church-rates. In principle he is right ; but 
 it was our moderation and the refusal of the other side to listen to any 
 terms which mainly caused the dwindling of the House of Commons 
 majority and thus made our work the easier. I am afraid that 
 Disraeli's outspoken declaration will lose us this advantage, which will 
 not be counterbalanced by the increased support of the thoroughgoing 
 Churchmen ; and though the House of Lords will no doubt stand to 
 their colours, yet an increased House of Commons majority, which I 
 apprehend, will add to our difficulties. Observe that I am entirely 
 against our originating any measure ; but I doubt the policy of shutting 
 the door beforehand against any overtures of our opponents. As to the 
 main question of Disraeli's letter to you, I am very glad to find that 
 he takes the view he does of our policy ; and I shall be pleased to hear 
 of the renewal of your confidential communications with the Palmer- 
 stons, for I suppose my Lady counts pour quelque chose. I should 
 not be .afraid of entering on these quasi negotiations too soon. I believe 
 Disraeli is quite accurate in his estimate of the relations between the 
 Government and the Bright and Cobden party. 
 
 I think that in your communications with Palmerston you cannot 
 be too explicit. He is a gentleman, and will know that you and I are 
 dealing with him de bonne foi, and will not suspect a ' dodge,' if we 
 make any exception to our promise of support. I should, however, be 
 quite ready to assure him that, though we might, in debate, object to 
 some of the 'sayings and doings' of the Foreign Office (and chiefly the 
 sayings, or rather writings), we would not countenance any movement 
 on the subject of foreign policy calculated to defeat the Government, 
 unless it were on the impossible supposition that they should desire us 
 to take an active part in an attack by Sardinia and France on Venetia. 
 I cannot believe that the Government will be so mad as to sanction 
 such a policy ; but an exception made in such a case from our promise 
 of support will rather serve to strengthen than to shake a belief in the 
 sincerity of our general profession. 
 
 You seem to have had good sport with the wild-fowl. I am afraid 
 my shooting will be quite spoilt by the intense severity of the weather, 
 compared to which yours is a summer climate. You talk of the ther- 
 mometer at eighteen : we had it at five the night before last, and last 
 night one degree above zero, and at Windham Hornby's house, which 
 lies lower and damper than this, it is said to have been, the night before 
 last, at five below zero ; what it was last night I do not know. Except 
 that it keeps me from going out of the house, I do not find that this 
 severe cold retards my recovery, which goes on, though slowly. I 
 
i860 PEACE WlfH CHINA SIGNED* 535 
 
 hobble about the house, though I am still obliged to be carried down 
 stairs. 
 
 i > t < i 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, 
 
 December 28th. Intense cold. Peace with China was signed 
 at Pekin. on October 24 by Lord Elgin and Prince Kung, 
 brother of the Emperor. The Summer Palace of the Emperor has 
 been plundered and burnt by order of Lord Elgin, in revenge for 
 the cruelties committed upon the English and French prisoners 
 whom they took treacherously on September 10. They were 
 taken to the Summer Palace and tortured with the Emperor's 
 sanction, so it was considered by our diplomatists and generals 
 that the most just punishment was to destroy his property and 
 not to burn the town, which would only have punished his 
 subjects. 
 
 After the two armies had carried off everything they could, 
 they destroyed property, it is said, amounting to at least two 
 millions sterling. The town of Pekin disappointed everybody ; 
 it has been very magnificent, but is now in a state of complete 
 decay, and so ruinous that it was with the greatest difficulty they 
 could find a house to lodge Lord Elgin. It is feared that Captain 
 Brabazon has been beheaded with the French Abbe Hue. They 
 were taken to a Chinese general who had just been wounded by 
 the English, and who in his rage ordered their execution. 
 
 From Mr. Bidivell to Lord M. 
 
 Foreign Office : December 28, 1860. 
 
 My dear Lord, .... I wanted much to see you, as I have 
 learnt much of many things while I have been away, and from two 
 distinguished people I heard you spoken of to my immense pleasure. 
 
 I went away, as I intended, right away to the south, and I spent 
 five agreeable days at Algiers, basking in sunshine or shading myself 
 under palm-trees, eating green peas and fresh strawberries, and I have 
 come back to this ! I went o'ver to Algiers and lived there with 
 Cobden ! "When we started I thought of Jonah, and was almost 
 tempted to suggest a similar fate, for it came on to blow awfully, and 
 we were knocked about off Minorca in great style. 
 
536 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1860 
 
 However, Cobclen and I became immense friends, for he gained my 
 heart by the way he spoke of you. He said he had never been so 
 struck or so surprised as on reading the Italian Blue-Book, and he 
 should certainly have voted .with the Government, and wondered why 
 it had not been laid on the table before the want of confidence vote. 
 We got on famously together, for I puzzled him with an apt quotation 
 from Horace in one of our first conversations, and he frankly confessed 
 that he had forgotten his classics so ever afterwards, whenever he got 
 the better of me on subjects! of political economy, I brought up 
 Numidia, Jugurtha, and Masinissa, and so we discussed Algiers and his 
 
 treaty I also had a long talk with Lord Cowley at Paris. 
 
 He does not hit it off with Lord J., and once when I happened to 
 mention you, he burst out : ' I wish to God he was back at the Foreign 
 Office again ! ' 
 
 Ever yours faithfully, 
 
 BID WELL. 
 
 1861 
 
 January \st, Heron Court. After three weeks of very hard 
 weather, the wind veered to the south-west, with heavy rains, 
 which flooded the river. 
 
 January 8th. Thermometer again down to sixteen degrees. 
 
 January 12th. My old servant, John Brenton, who has been 
 with me five-and-twenty years, suddenly went out of his mind, 
 and is, I am afraid, hopelessly insane. He has been a most 
 faithful follower, and I feel for him as if he were a friend and 
 relation. I have sent him to a private asylum at Salisbury, but 
 with very little hope of his recovery. 
 
 January 2Ist. I heard to-day a good story of the present 
 Duke of Wellington! He and the Duchess were invited to 
 "Windsor. She was in London, and went ; but the Duke, having 
 a party at Strathfieldsaye, which he did not like to put off, sent an 
 excuse, and when he was told of the offence he had given, he 
 replied, ' Her Majesty has no right to be angry ; I obeyed the 
 back of the card, and the Duchess obeyed the front.' The 
 invitation cards have printed directions on the back, desiring that 
 the card should be returned should the ladies and gentlemen 
 invited be away from London. 
 
 January 23rd.- I received a bad account of my servant from 
 
1861 STOPPAGE OF MIEES' BANK. 537 
 
 the asylum. They have been obliged to put him under chloroform, 
 and give him medicine and nourishment by means of a stomach- 
 pump. He has a room to himself, well fitted up, and two men to 
 take care of him. 
 
 January 31st. A flock of wild swans pitched in Parley 
 Heath. I posted the gentlemen, and the swans were driven to 
 them. Mr. Mills and I killed three. 
 
 Lord Bath arrived. 
 
 February 5th, London. No amendment to the Address was 
 proposed in the House of Lords, but Lord Derby made one of 
 his slashing speeches 011 the foreign policy of the Government. 
 In the Commons, Mr. White moved an amendment in favour of 
 Reform, which was negatived. 
 
 February 10th. Mr. H. Yernon, Lady Selina's husband, died 
 a few days ago of rheumatic fever at Tottenham. 
 
 February 16th. Gaeta surrendered on the 13th, and the 
 King, Queen, and royal family embarked on board a French vessel. 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord M. 
 
 House of Lords : February 22, 18G1. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I fear Fitzgerald is shaky about the great 
 battle on Wednesday Church-rates ! Pray write to him decidedly ; it 
 will never do to have our own men run riot. 
 
 The fact is, in internal politics there is only one question now, the 
 maintenance of the Church. There can be no refraining or false 
 Liberalism on such a subject. They are both out of fashion, too* 
 
 Your House of Lords' pens and ink must be my excuse for this 
 miserable scrawl. Yours ever, D. 
 
 March th. The affair of Mires, the banker, is making a 
 great noise in Paris. Some time ago he had a great quarrel with 
 one of his ex-partners, and the latter accused him of frauds in 
 connection with a speculation called Roman Railways. A pro- 
 secution was instituted against him, but he went to the Emperor, 
 who stopped the course of justice. It is supposed that he would 
 have made revelations implicating high personages about the 
 Court. As the distress consequent on the stoppage of Mires' 
 bank is very great, and falls principally on the lower classes, it 
 must make the Court very unpopular. M. Jules Favre declared 
 
538 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1861 
 
 that he would, on the approaching discussion on the Address, 
 denounce the extraction of a wealthy man from the fangs of the 
 law, when a poor man who offends from want is relentlessly pro- 
 secuted. The threat caused alarm in high quarters. A Cabinet 
 Council was held ; most of the Ministers were of opinion that 
 Mires ought to be protected from prosecution for the reason that 
 many persons, some of them pillars of the State, might turn out 
 to be implicated in his acts. Count de Persigny, however, 
 insisted that he should be treated like everybody else. The 
 Emperor took the same view, and Mires has been sent to prison, 
 where he is to be kept in solitary confinement. One of the 
 council of surveillance of his bank, Yicomte de Bichemont, has 
 committed suicide, and another, Count Simeon, has left France. 
 Storms seem to be collecting round the Emperor on all sides. 
 The bishops and clergy are denouncing him from the pulpit and 
 in pastoral letters as the enemy of the Pope and the Catholic 
 religion. 
 
 March I3th. Lord Palmerston yesterday moved two resolu- 
 tions for the appointment of a select committee to consider the 
 system of promotion and retirement in the Royal Navy, and that 
 it be an instruction to the select committee to inquire into the 
 Board of Admiralty. The first resolution was agreed to without 
 a division, and the second was carried on a division by 96 to 33. 
 
 March 14th. The House of Commons threw out Mr. Locke- 
 King's bill for reducing the county franchise to 10Z., by a majority 
 of 28. "We had agreed with the Government that if they helped 
 us to throw out this bill we would help them to pass Lord 
 Palmerston's resolution, reversing their former vote on the pay- 
 ment of the Navy. 
 
 March 23rd. I crossed to Paris, and thence proceeded by 
 the Western Railway to Brittany. I am much struck with 
 the appearance of the country. Laval is a most interesting 
 town ; the inn not at all a bad one, and a good dinner at the 
 table d'hfae. The waiter had a face and figure which nobody can 
 forget, and boasted to me that he could fold a napkin in twenty- 
 four different ways. The bridge at Laval once divided the 
 English from the French portions of France. The Castle is an old 
 donjon, with the most frightful oubliettes. 
 
1861 C LA GROTTE DES F&ES.* 539 
 
 March 28th. I took a carriage and post-horses to Vitre, 
 stopping on my road to see a very curious Druidical circle, 
 in the middle of an oak-wood, and composed of immense stones 
 supported by others of equal size, called * La Grotte des Fees.' 
 At Vitre there is a very fine mediaeval gateway with two 
 round towers. 
 
 March 29th. Went on to Reniies. Very good inn and 
 curiosity shop, in which I bought a box which the archbishop 
 wished to sell. It was of old enamel inlaid on gold, which 
 the prelate had used for holding the holy wafer, and with that 
 view had the sacred monogram engraved inside. It had been 
 given by Louis XII. to his Minister, Cardinal Ainboise, whose 
 arms, with ihefleur de lys, are on it, with a burning mountain as 
 a rebus on the name of his place of residence Chaumont. 
 
 March 31 st. From Rennes I went to the Baie des Trepasses, 
 the wildest sea-view it is possible to imagine, where there is 
 a picturesque rock called the Torch of Penmarch, on which a 
 chapel has been erected, and round which the sea is continually 
 breaking. There is a current here which washes those who 
 perish in the Bay of Biscay up on this shore, and it is seldom 
 that the rocks on this stormy coast are without a dead body, 
 which circumstance gives its sinister name to this fatal place. 
 From thence I went to Quimper, with its beautiful spires and 
 churches, and thence made expeditions to the dolmens of Carnac 1 
 and to St. Auray. Here, in a vault some hundred feet deep, 
 looking very like a large well, lie, in full view, the bones of 
 the Royalists who were taken and murdered by the Republican 
 soldiers during the great French Revolution after our fatal 
 expedition at Quiberon. A very old man, evidently one of that 
 terrible epoch, was looking down with his eyes full of tears. 
 
 April IQth, London. I had an audience of the Emperor 
 before leaving Paris, and found him very much prejudiced against 
 the whole Tory party, having been told an enormous quantity of 
 lies, which he apparently believed. I spoke very openly to him, 
 
 i Here I met a very intelligent priest, "who went round with me to show me 
 this mile of Druidical stones, and the great barrow of St. Michel. He had studied 
 the origin of these mysterious remains, and proved, I think satisfactorily, that they 
 were sepulchres. 
 
540 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MIXISTER. 1861 
 
 and think I succeeded in undeceiving him on some points, 
 but one never can be sure, as he carries dissimulation to the 
 greatest pitch. I think the party he would like to see governing 
 England are the Radicals. He fears our aristocracy, whom he 
 knows to be thoroughly English, and the most energetic of all 
 the classes ; and he would like a Government who would diminish 
 our army and navy, and so weaken our influence abroad. He 
 entered into the whole question of Italy, and confessed that he 
 was now much perplexed what to do about Rome. He evidently 
 would like to throw over the Pope, but fears the Church party. 
 He abused Palmerston. Madame Walewska was very friendly. 
 She is in greater favour with the Emperor than ever. I also 
 saw the Persignys, and was well received by both. Madame de 
 Persigny regrets England, and perhaps hopes, as they were 
 recalled in consequence of a quarrel with Lord Palmerston, that 
 the return of Tories to office might enable them to go back. 
 
 April ISth. Our party last night threw out in the House of ' 
 Commons Mr. Moncktoii Millies' bill for legalising marriage with 
 a deceased wife's sister by a majority of 5, and the Trustees 
 of Charities Bill by 29 ; the latter being a question of Church 
 versus Dissenters. 
 
 May 1st. Dined at the Mansion House, where there was 
 a great dinner to Lord Derby. 
 
 May 3rd. Mr. Horsf all's amendment to reduce the tea duty to 
 a shilling was rejected in the House of Commons by 18. 
 
 May 5tk. The state of affairs in America is getting worse 
 every day, and civil war has actually begun. The first shot was 
 fired by the Secessionists on April 1 2 against Fort Sumter, 
 in Charleston Harbour, and after a bombardment of forty hours 
 Major Anderson surrendered. The fort was completely de- 
 stroyed, but not a single man killed on either side. The last news 
 mentions the destruction of Norfolk Dockyard, with eleven ships 
 of war, to prevent their falling into the hands of the insurgents. 
 
 May 13th. There are dreadful accounts from the country, 
 which makes one fear a worse harvest than the last. Captain 
 McClintock, who has just returned from the Polar regions, 
 has reported to the Admiralty that there is an accumulation 
 of three years' ice. 
 
861 DEATH OF CAVOUR. 541 
 
 May 1 4:th. The Due de Richelieu told me that the only thing 
 hich could prevent a war with France was Lord Derby's return 
 o office. His late speech, in which he advocated two kingdoms of 
 taly divided by the Papal States, was admirable, and his policy 
 he only one to follow to ensure a sincere friendship between 
 England and France. 
 
 May 31 st. The adjourned debate upon the Paper Duty came 
 11, and the Government had a majority of 15. 
 
 June 2nd. Lord Ossulston attributes the bad division on the 
 'aper Duty to the stupid dislike of our party to Disraeli 
 nd their wish not to turn out the Government to put him in 
 ffice ; but I think it more probable that they feared a dis- 
 olution. 
 
 June 5th. I received a letter this morning from my agent, 
 ith the melancholy news that my poor old servant, John 
 Jrenton, had cut his throat yesterday. On a post-mortem 
 xamination they found a drop of blood on the brain, which 
 o doubt was the cause of his insanity ; and this resulted from a 
 ill he had from his pony, when he was stunned, but not ap- 
 arently injured, and took no notice of it. He was the last man 
 kely to go mad, as he was shrewd and practical to a degree, 
 nd remarkable for his common-sense and good nerve. He 
 ad served my grandfather, father, and myself for forty years, 
 nd was of that class of servant, now long extinct, born on the 
 lace and brought up in the family, who treated him as one of 
 biemselves, and on the same footing by my friends and acquaint- 
 nces, who were much amused at his dry wit and intelligence. 1 
 
 June 6th. I dined with the Duke of Cambridge, and there 
 card of the death of Count Cavour, which took place this morning, 
 t is too soon to judge of his character, although he was certainly 
 great statesman and deep intriguer. 
 
 June 7th. We had a dinner for the Duchess of Cambridge 
 nd Princess Mary. Tankervilles, Lady Chesterfield, Carnarvons, 
 
 1 I remember a specimen of the former which amused me much at the time, 
 wad lishing in Loch Arkaig, which is fifteen miles long, and having great sport, 
 exclaimed to John Brenton in my excitement, I wish I had this lake at Heron 
 ourt! ' I don't,' cried John, 'as it would drown your miserable estate and half 
 ie couutv besides.' 
 
542 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1861 
 
 Lord Dunkellin, Lord Loughborough, Lord Hardwicke, Lord 
 Stanhope, Mr. Barrington, &c. Afterwards to Madame Appoiiyi's 
 ball. 
 
 June \3>tli. Sir John and Lady Crampton called. She was 
 Miss Balfe, and sang for one or two seasons at Covent Garden ; 
 Sir John then married her and took her to St. Petersburg, 
 where he was Minister, and they are now just going to Madrid. 
 She is very pretty and ladylike. 
 
 June I4:th. Dined with the Buccleuchs, and went to Lady 
 Craven's ball. The marriage of her second daughter with Lord 
 Ernest Bruce's eldest son is arranged. 
 
 June 18th. Called on the Duchess of Marlborough, where 
 Count Brandenburg told me that Louis Napoleon is going to send 
 an Ambassador to Turin ; so Azeglio will be Ambassador ini 
 England. All the Corps Diplomatique have heard of my sending 
 him an invitation as Sardinian Minister, and seem greatly de- 
 lighted ; but nothing I can say will persuade them that I did soj 
 by mistake. 
 
 I went to Lady Molesworth's theatricals. The first piece, ' Ui^ 
 Caprice/ beautifully acted by Mesdemoiselles Duverger and Colas 
 and Mr. Fechter ; the latter piece is mauvais ton. 
 
 June \Wi. Went to the fullest Drawing Room I ever saw! 
 and in the evening to Lady Derby's a small and pleasant party] 
 Count Vitzthum was going about in a state of great excitement! 
 because the Neapolitans (as he said) had roasted alive four Pied-i 
 moiitese, and the latter had shot twenty Neapolitans. 
 
 Sir J. Trelawny's bill for abolishing Church-rates was rejectee! 
 on the 17th 011 the third reading, House of Commons. The 
 division was equal, 1 274 on both sides. The Speaker then gave hi$ 
 casting-vote against the bill. 
 
 June 2lst. Lord Lansdowiie called 011 me ; he is grown vcrj 
 deaf, but his intellect remains clear. 
 
 A tremendous fire broke out in some warehouses on the banki 
 of the Thames. I went in a Hansom cab to see it. It was awfu 
 beyond description. An explosion took place which threw dowi 
 a wall close to Mr. Braidwood, and four or five of his brigade ol 
 firemen were crushed in a moment. At one time London Bridgi 
 station and a church near it were threatened with fire, as also th< 
 
1861 DEATH OF LORD CAMPBELL. 543 
 
 Custom House, though on the opposite side of the river. There 
 was fortunately no wind, or the whole of Southwark must have 
 been destroyed. 
 
 The Lord Chancellor (Campbell) died suddenly last night. He 
 had given a dinner, and was apparently in good health, but the next 
 morning was found dead in his armchair. 
 
 June 2Qth. Sir Richard Bethell is the new Lord Chancellor, 
 and received to-day the Great Seal from the Queen. The Sultan 
 is dead. 
 
 June 27^/1. We dined with Lady Truro, where we met the 
 Due d'Aumale, a very gentlemanly and agreeable man. 
 
 June 28th. Concert at Buckingham Palace. Whilst we were 
 waiting for our carriage to go away Lord Derby joined us, and 
 immediately after Lord John Russell came up. Lord Derby 
 exclaimed, How do you do, Lord John 1 You have got into very 
 bad company.' He looked round at us all with a grim smile and 
 said, ' I see I have ; ' when Lord Derby, looking at him attentively, 
 observed that he was incorrectly dressed, having his Levee uniform 
 instead of the full dress which he ought to have worn. Lord John 
 said, ' I know I am wrong, and the porter wanted to turn me out.' 
 * Oh, did he ? ' exclaimed Lord Derby. ' Thou canst not say / did 
 it.' Of course all those round laughed at this apt quotation from 
 Shakespeare, and no one more than Lord John himself. 
 
 July 6th. We went to the Duchess of Cambridge's breakfast 
 at Kew a small but very good party. Madame de Persigny had 
 a pork-pie hat of blue velvet and a white veil which only came to 
 the tip of her nose, her hair in a net, and a sash tied behind. I 
 did not know her when she came up to speak, but recognised her 
 by her lisping voice. She was most friendly, so I suppose she is 
 looking forward to returning here as Ambassadress. 
 
 Dr. Bence Jones told me that Lord Herbert's case is hopeless. 
 He might have lived many years, and Bence Jones did not say 
 positively that he might not have got well had he given up office 
 and led a quiet life. He told this to Lady Herbert, but she would 
 not believe him. He is now so ill at Wilton that he cannot 
 be moved to London, and she has written to the Duke of Cam- 
 bridge to ask him to take his plage at the dinner given on the 
 Queen's birthday. 
 
544 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1861 
 
 The news from Naples is very bad in an Italian sense. Com- 
 plete anarchy prevails. The ' Reactionist brigands/ as the Pied- 
 montese call them, increase every day, and no one's life is safe out 
 of the town. The army is to be increased by 60,000 men, and to 
 be commanded by Cialdini. It is said that Ricasoli, Cavour's 
 successor, refuses to name Azeglio Ambassador. He is taking a 
 very high tone, and made a very spirited speech in the Chambers, 
 declaring that he would not give up another inch of Italian 
 territory ; that the ' King's Government saw a territory to defend 
 and a territory to recover ; it saw Rome, it saw Venice ' a pretty 
 plain declaration of war to Austria. 
 
 July 13th. All London is talking of a supposed attempt 
 of Baron Vidal to murder his son yesterday week. The story 
 is that they went to Claremoiit, where they remained about an 
 hour. They had gone by rail to Twickenham, where they had 
 hired horses to ride to Claremont, but the Baron diverged from 
 the road under the pretence of calling on the Due d'Aumale, and, 
 on arriving in a secluded lane, made an attack upon his son, hitting 
 him on the head with a stick or riding- whip, and cutting his fore- 
 head open. The young man galloped away, his father pursuing 
 him, until he met a man and woman coming along the lane, when 
 he rushed to them, imploring protection. They, of course, granted 
 it, and a surgeon, who was sent for, sent his assistant with him to 
 London, as he expressed the greatest terror of going alone with 
 his father. The next morning he went to his uncle's house and 
 told the story. The police were sent to arrest the Baron, but he 
 had escaped to France. 
 
 August 3rd, Heron Court. Mr. Mills called and told us of 
 Lord Herbert's death, which took place at Wilton. He will be a 
 great loss as a public man, being one of those who was looked 
 upon as likely to be a future Prime Minister, but a still greater 
 to his family and friends, who knew all the excellence of his 
 disposition and generous character. Among the latter I must 
 include myself. 
 
 August Gth. News has arrived of a great battle having been 
 fought at Manassas Gap, in Virginia, between the Federals and 
 Secessionists, in which the former were totally routed. 1 
 1 This battle was afterwards known as Bull's Run. 
 
1861 CABINET REARRANGED. 545 
 
 Parliament was prorogued yesterday. Lord Herbert's death 
 has obliged Lord Palmerston to rearrange his Cabinet. Sir 
 George Lewis is War Secretary ; Sir George Grey, Home Secre- 
 tary ; Sir Robert Peel, Secretary for Ireland ; Lord Ripon, 
 Under Secretary for War ; Mr. Layard, Under Secretary for 
 Foreign Affairs in the place of Lord Wodehouse, who resigned 
 when Lord John became Earl Russell, as he would not submit to 
 be second where, on all questions relating to foreign affairs, he 
 had been first. It is supposed that he will have an Embassy, 
 and the Whigs want Lords Cowley and Bloomfield and Sir Henry 
 Bulwer to make room. 
 
 August llth. Went to church at Christchurch for afternoon 
 service, and to my horror I found that seven babies were to be 
 christened. Afterwards to Highcliffe, to see the Princess Edward, 
 who was much amused when I related this to her, and said ' the 
 clergyman ought to have used a watering-pot to sprinkle them.' 
 
 August 21st. All the party from Highcliffe arrived. Some 
 of us fished, and some walked to the top of Ramsdown. Lady 
 Salisbury and Lord Odo Russell l also called, and he sang a 
 very fine tenor voice. 
 
 I went to meet my yacht at Weymouth. 
 
 August 25th. There has been a great battle fought at Spring- 
 field, in which the Federals were defeated, and lost their best 
 general, Lyons. 
 
 August 30th. A most lovely day for our fete given to the 
 Volunteers, the parade being in the park. 
 
 Lady Salisbury and the Russells came over from Bourne- 
 mouth. I had to make a speech and present a rifle to the 
 sergeant-major. We had a good band from Poole, to which the 
 party danced till seven o'clock. I opened the ball with the 
 Princess Edward of Saxe- Weimar. Croquet on the lawn and 
 Aunt Sally in the more retired parts. Bowls and cricket in the 
 park. An enormous quantity of eating and drinking in the court- 
 yard altogether the most animated scene, everyone appearing 
 amused. About 2,000 people. 
 
 1 This able and amiable man died as Ambassador at Berlin in August, 1884 : a 
 great loss to the public service. In 1852 I sent him as our diplomatic agent to the 
 Pope. He was created Lord Ampthill in 1881. 
 
546 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1861 
 
 September 6th. Poured all the morning, so we were obliged 
 to go in the brougham to Mr. Graiitley Berkeley's cottage, where 
 we found Princess Edward, Lady Conyngham, and the Binghams 
 already arrived and looking extremely disgusted at the rain, 
 which was coming down in torrents. It is altogether a pretty, 
 wild place, and a few hundred pounds, which poor Berkeley has 
 not to spend, laid out upon it would make it quite lovely. The 
 sun came out, and we had a beautiful afternoon, which revived 
 the spirits of the party. We all amused ourselves after luncheon 
 by pulling up a number of lines which Berkeley had laid along 
 the banks of the river, and caught several fine eels. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Brett and Lord Ranelagh arrived in the evening. 
 
 September 12th. The Bretts and Ranelagh left. The Princess, 
 Lady Conyngham, and Lord George Lennox came about one, and 
 we proceeded to draw up the lines which I had placed in the 
 Stour. The Princess pulled them up, and got three pike of 
 twelve or fourteen pounds, one large tench, and seven eels. The 
 latter and the large pike had been put on previously, but we all, 
 including the keeper, looked so innocent, that no one suspected 
 the trick. 
 
 September \ktli. News from America describes the Federals 
 as beaten in every engagement. Mr. Russell evidently got into 
 disgrace by his account of Bull's Run, and now writes more 
 cautiously ; being afraid, I suppose, of being tarred and feathered 
 a common punishment in the Union. We had a great function 
 at Bournemouth on opening the new pier. 
 
 September 21st. Returned to London. 
 
 September 23rd. Left for Gedling, Lord Chesterfield's place. 
 Nobody here except Lord Granville, Colonel Forester, and Lord 
 Stanhope. 
 
 September 21th. We killed 300 partridges and an immense 
 quantity of hares. The rents of this estate have not been raised 
 for more than fifty years, and consequently the farmers do not 
 complain of them, although they swarm. 
 
 September 27th. I went to London and on to Paris ; Lady 
 Malmesbury to Knowsley. 
 
1861 FEDERAL DEFEAT. 547 
 
 From Paris I made a tour to see all the castles on the Loire. 
 First to Blois, which is very interesting, as being the scene of 
 the crimes of the later Yalois. The apartment is shown in which 
 Henri III. had the Due de Guise assassinated. From thence to 
 Amboise, where there is a round tower so spacious and so well 
 built, that a carriage and four horses can drive up from the 
 bottom to the battlements and terrace at the top. Abd-el-Kader 
 had been imprisoned in this castle, and was released by Louis 
 Napoleon. From there I proceeded to Loches, one of the donjons 
 of Louis XI. Thence to Chenonceaux, the castle bower of Diane 
 de Poictiers, built astride upon the Loire, now belonging to a 
 dentist ! I went to see Azy-le-Bideau, a beautiful castle belong- 
 ing to M. de Briancourt, and in perfect order. On my way to 
 Tours, I happened to find in * Galignani ' an account of the death 
 of my dear friend, Lord Eglinton, who had been seized with 
 apoplexy at Mr. Whyte-Melville's house, where he had gone to 
 attend a golf meeting. He is a sad loss to our political party 
 and to me personally. He used to complain to me that he con- 
 stantly saw a figure retreating before his eyes, disappear and 
 appear again an evident proof that his brain suffered under 
 some kind of pressure. 
 
 November 9^/t. The Federals at Leesburg have lost six or 
 seven hundred men. They crossed the Potomac, taking only two 
 small boats, intending probably to surprise the Confederates. 
 Having got across without opposition, they formed their whole 
 force, about eighteen hundred men, in a field of twelve acres, with 
 the river at their backs, the three other sides of the field being 
 enclosed by a thick wood filled with their enemies, who imme- 
 diately fired upon them from behind the trees. The Federals 
 then attempted to re-cross the river, but having no boats except 
 the two mentioned, a regular rout and dreadful loss of life ensued. 
 The disgrace of it rests at present between Generals Macmillan 
 and Scott. It is a fearfully cruel war. 
 
 I am alarmed at the state of America, and if the war con- 
 tinues they will, of course, gain experience, and the Northern 
 
 N N 2 
 
548 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1861 
 
 provinces will be left with a fine army, which they may use in 
 attempting the conquest of Canada, a country difficult to defend. 
 
 November 28th. Important news has just arrived by the 
 ' Plata.' Messrs. Slidell and Mason, the Confederate Commissioners 
 to England and France, with their secretaries, were forcibly taken 
 out of the Royal Mail steamer ' Trent,' whilst on her passage from 
 Havannah to St. Thomas, by the American war-ship ' San Jacinto.' 
 The steamer ' Theodore,' with the Commissioners on board, ran 
 the blockade at Charleston on October 18 ; they were accom- 
 panied by their families. They left Havannah, on board the 
 ' Trent,' on the 7th. At noon on the 8th, as the * Trent ' was 
 approaching the narrow passage between the reefs, a large war- 
 vessel was observed waiting ahead, and showing no colours. On 
 coming nearer, the 'Trent' hoisted her ensign, and met with no 
 response from the man-of-war, which when within the eighth of a 
 mile fired a round-shot across the 'Trent's' bows. Captain Moir, 
 of the 'Trent,' thereupon hailed the captain of the other ship, 
 asking what he meant by stopping him. He replied that he 
 wished to send a boat on board, and at the same time one was 
 lowered containing two officers and twenty men. The officers came 
 on board and demanded the ' Trent's ' list of passengers, which 
 was refused. Lieutenant Fairfax, the officer in command of the 
 party from the war-steamer (which proved to be the ' San Jacinto ') 
 then said that Captain Wilkes, his captain, had received reliable 
 information that Messrs. Slidell, Eustace, Mason, and Farland 
 were on board the ' Trent,' and demanded that they should be 
 given up. This was peremptorily refused, both by Captain Moir 
 and Commander Williams, R.IST., the naval agent in charge of the 
 mails. The lieutenant then said he would take charge of the 
 steamer. Commander Williams thereupon made a protest to the 
 effect that he accused the Americans of piracy and of the violation 
 of international law ; an act which, had he the means of defence, 
 they would not have dared to attempt. The Americans stated 
 that they were short of provisions, and asked for a supply to 
 maintain the prisoners. Captain Moir furnished them with sup- 
 plies, stating distinctly that they were for the exclusive use of the 
 four gentlemen. The American lieutenant then said that his 
 orders were to take Captain Moir and his papers on board the 
 
1861 THE TRENT.' 549 
 
 ' San Jacinto,' and that the ' Trent ' was to be moored near her ; 
 Captain Moir replied, 'You will find me on the quarter-deck.' 
 The lieutenant, however, called his men together and went over 
 the side, returned to the * San Jacinto,' and the 'Trent' proceeded 
 on her voyage. The despatches of the Commissioners did not fall 
 into the hands of the Americans, as Mrs. Slidell is said to have 
 concealed them inside her ' cage.' 
 
 As soon as this event was known at Liverpool an indignation 
 meeting was held, and a resolution passed, insisting upon the 
 Government demanding instant reparation for the insult offered 
 to our flag. 
 
 December 1st. Lord Lyndhurst declares that if the Govern- 
 ment show the least wavering about this American outrage they 
 must be turned out when Parliament meets. 
 
 December 5tk. A telegram has just been received announcing 
 the death of Lady Canning on November 14. Lord Palmerston 
 telegraphed immediately to Lady Stuart, who is at Highcliffe with 
 Lady Waterford. The blow will be the more cruel as she expected 
 the Cannings home next March. 
 
 December Qth. Dined at Lady Tankerville's, where we met 
 the Saxe-Weimars, Lord Granville, Ben Stanley, Count Branden- 
 burg, and Miss Gorges. The Princess was low. She dreads the 
 Prince being ordered to Canada. At present the two first bat- 
 talions are under orders, and are to start at forty-eight hours 5 
 notice. Lord Granville told me that the Government would not 
 be satisfied with anything except the restoration of Slidell and 
 Mason. They have allowed the American Government seven days 
 to come to a decision, and if they refuse Lord Lyons was to leave 
 Washington directly. l 
 
 December 8th. Lady Canning's death was broken to Lady 
 Stuart de Rothesay by General Stuart. The shock was terrible, 
 and she has not been able to leave her bed since. Mrs. Stuart 
 had received a letter from Lady Canning on the 27th, only two 
 days before the arrival of the telegram announcing her death, in 
 which she said, ' Home now seems so near.' 
 
 December Qth. Left London for Longleat, where we met a 
 family party. Lord Bath, as usual, uncertain in his politics. 
 1 The Emperor Louis Napoleon supported us manfully on this occasion. 
 
550 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1861 
 
 Prince Albert is ill, and there is a sort of bulletin in the ' Times ' 
 which does not seem comfortable. His illness is said to be gastric 
 fever. 
 
 December 11th. Very wet and stormy. "We went out shoot- 
 ing, though it blew a regular gale. I got a letter to-day from 
 Lady Ely, who says the Prince's illness is gastric fever and inflam- 
 mation, of the mucous membrane of the stomach, and that he is 
 anxious about himself. Lady Somerton and Mr. Fountaine, on 
 the violin, played duets. He plays with great taste, and brings 
 out great tone in the slow passages. Lady Louisa Fielding's voice 
 is charming. Big Ben's l conversation consisted of violent abuse 
 of Disraeli and Lord Derby. 
 
 December 13th. Left Longleat after a very pleasant visit. 
 The bulletin about the Prince is not satisfactory ; no change in 
 the symptoms. Lady Munster has seen Dr. Jenner, who told her 
 that the Prince's fever was of a typhoid character. The Queen 
 has sat up with him for two nights, and never leaves his room 
 quite in despair. 
 
 December 15th, Heron Court. We got a letter from Lady Ely, 
 saying that the Prince is as ill as possible. I telegraphed to 
 Princess Edward, and at half-past six received the sad news that 
 the Prince died last night at eleven. The greatest anxiety is felt 
 on the Queen's account, for it is feared that this affliction may be 
 too much for her health or mind to bear. She has lost everything 
 that could make life valuable to her, as all her happiness was 
 centred in her husband, who was not only most devoted and 
 affectionate to her, but her best friend ; advising her in all her 
 difficulties, consoling her in all her annoyances, and saving her, as 
 much as possible, trouble and anxiety of every kind. 
 
 December llth. Lady Ely writes that the Prince's fever was 
 the same as that which the King of Portugal died of, and that 
 he had from the beginning a presentiment that he would not 
 recover. 
 
 December ISth. I got a letter from Princess Edward, giving 
 a good account of the poor Queen, who bears her affliction most 
 nobly. 
 
 December 20th. We continue to receive good accounts of the 
 I Member for Norfolk, Tory, but a general frondeur. 
 
1861 AN AMERICAN FRIGATE AT SOUTHAMPTON. 551 
 
 Queen. The Princess says she has signed some papers, and seen 
 Lord Granville. 
 
 December 28th. I hear that Ministers have signed a memorial 
 to the Queen, refusing to transact business with her through Sir 
 Charles Phipps. This, though right, is certainly cruel under 
 present circumstances. No news can be received from America 
 as to the reception of our demands until the 30th, but our Govern- 
 ment are preparing for war. Lord Palmerston has been danger- 
 ously ill, but is better. His death at this moment would be a 
 national misfortune, when we consider who the men are who are 
 likely to succeed him among the Whig party. 
 
 1862 
 
 January llth. The town of Southampton is rather excited 
 by the arrival of an American frigate, the * Tuscarora,' evidently 
 come to look after the c Nashville ' ; the captain of the latter is 
 supposed to have sent for the ' Sumter,' which is at Cadiz, and the 
 two together will be a match for the frigate. They cannot fight 
 in our waters. 
 
 Jamiary 16th. Messrs. Slidell and Mason embarked on board 
 the ' Rinaldo,' either for England or Halifax. Lord Lyons has 
 written a very dry despatch in answer to Mr. Seward's, not reply- 
 ing to any of his arguments as to the legality or otherwise of the 
 seizure on board the ' Trent.' 
 
 January 17th. There is a report to-day that the 'Parana' 
 steamer is lost in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. She sailed with the 
 ' Adriatic ' in December. The ' Parana ' carries the 1st Battalion 
 Fusilier Guards with their officers, amongst whom are Lord 
 Dunmore, Colonel Charteris, and many others of my acquaint- 
 ance. 
 
 January 19th. Lady Margaret Charteris gave me the pleasing 
 intelligence that the ' Parana,' on board which was her husband, 
 Colonel Charteris, is safe in the St. Lawrence. 
 
 January 26th. Saw Lord Derby, and talked over his future 
 Government. He insists on my again taking the Foreign Office, 
 which I do not think my health will allow. Lord Palmerston is 
 
00 2 MEMOIRS OF 1 AN EX-MINISTER. 18G2 
 
 in a very weak state, so it must be doubtful whether he will be 
 able to carry on the Government. 
 
 January 30th. Messrs. Sliclell and Mason arrived at South- 
 ampton yesterday. A crowd collected to see them land, but not 
 a single person cheered. Mr. Mason remained at Southampton 
 until the evening, and received a visit from the officers af the 
 ' Nashville.' 
 
 One of our finest line-of -battle ships, the 'Conqueror,' 100 
 guns, has been stranded on a reef near the Bahama Islands ; the 
 crew are saved, and the guns will be recovered, but the ship is a 
 complete wreck. 
 
 February 1st. Lord Russell has addressed a letter to the 
 Admiralty declaring it to be the Queen's pleasure that the ships 
 and privateers belonging to the Federals and Confederates should 
 not enter any English ports, except in cases of bad weather and 
 want of provisions. 
 
 February 4th, Heron Court. Lady Ely arrived. She seemed 
 very low, and the account of her life at Osborne for the last five 
 weeks quite accounts for the depression of her spirits. She gives 
 a sad report of the poor Queen, who talks continually about the 
 Prince, and seems to feel comfort in doing so. She takes great 
 pleasure in the universal feeling of sympathy for her and sorrow 
 for him shown by all classes. 
 
 February 6th, London. Parliament met to-day. The Queen, 
 of course, did not come. Lord Derby made a speech on the 
 Address \ the part relating to the Prince Consort's death was 
 beautiful. There was no amendment. 
 
 February Wi. I, hear Mr. Mason says that it will be impos- 
 sible for the Confederates to continue the war much longer, as 
 they will have no more money with which to pay their troops ; 
 their army and navy together costing half a million per day. 
 
 February \Wi. Lord Clarendon in the House of Lords 
 attempted to explain the part he had taken with reference to 
 Italy at the Congress of Paris in 1856. Some private letters of 
 Cavour's have just been published by Jeffs, from which extracts 
 have appeared in the 'Times,' showing that Lord Clarendon 
 encouraged Cavour to go to war. His defence was most feeble, 
 and fell perfectly flat on the House. The solemn silence which 
 
1862 
 
 THE PROCLAMATION OF LUCERA. 
 
 553 
 
 followed Lord Clarendon's speech must have been very galling. 
 He admitted that he saw Cavour daily, and conversed with him a 
 great deal on the affairs of Italy, but kept no notes of his con- 
 versations, as he did not consider them of sufficient importance 
 for him to report them to his Government. This is quite incre- 
 dible to those who know his cacoethes scribendi. 
 
 February 28th. Lord Derby brought forward yesterday the 
 question of which he had given notice respecting a most infamous 
 proclamation issued by the military commandant of Lucera, near 
 Naples, ordering every human being to withdraw in three days 
 from a certain district or to be shot as brigands, and the woods 
 houses, and cattle to be destroyed. Lord Russell and the Duke 
 of Argyll denied its authenticity, saying that it was only an old 
 proclamation of Murat's republished, but that they would write 
 to Sir James Hudson on the subject. 
 
 March 4th. I was detained at the House by a debate upon 
 the Revised Code. Lord Derby spoke against the measure, upon 
 which he feels strongly. 
 
 March 20th. Dined with the Salisburys. My speech on 
 Italian affairs seems to have pleased my party. We have won the 
 North Riding, Mr. Morritt beating Mr. Milbanke by 473. 
 
 A letter from Italy states that the proclamation of Lucera, 
 issued by Fantoni, who, according to Lord Russell, was alone re- 
 sponsible for it, was really issued by General Delia Rovere when 
 Minister of War, and that three colonels were dismissed sum- 
 marily for not carrying out their orders with sufficient severity. 
 Fantoni's conduct was in pursuance of direct orders from Gene- 
 rals Govone and Chiabrera, commanding in the Neapolitan pro- 
 vinces, who have since been decorated as Grand Officers of St. 
 Maurice. l 
 
 March 25th. -Polish debate came on this afternoon, so I took 
 Madame Zamoiska to hear it. Lord Carnarvon spoke well. Lord 
 Russell said that the Government could not offer advice to the Em- 
 peror of Russia with respect to his mode of governing his own 
 subjects. 
 
 Mr. George Russell has had a dreadful accident in the Park. 
 
 1 The cruelties of the Piedmontese armies to the Neapolitan Royalists taken 
 prisoners were unsurpassed in any civil war or by any tyrant. 
 
554 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1862 
 
 His horse ran away with him in Rotten Row, and crushed him 
 against the iron rails ; he is in a precarious state. 
 
 April 2nd. The Government were beaten last night by a 
 majority of 11 on Mr. Sheridan's motion to reduce the duty on 
 fire insurances. Both Lord Palmerston and Gladstone spoke 
 against it. 
 
 There has been a naval engagement between two iron- clad 
 ships in America. The Confederate ship ' Merrimac ' destroyed 
 two frigates, the ' Cumberland ' and the ' Congress ' ; a third steam 
 frigate was saved by the appearance of the ' Monitor,' which, 
 after a fierce battle, compelled the ' Merrimac ' to retire. They 
 fought at close quarters, but without any effect, as the balls glanced 
 off the sides. The ' Monitor 1 ' being very low in the water, poured 
 its shots into the lower part of the c Merrimac,' which was not 
 defended by iron plates. 
 
 April 10^. Great exertions are being made to organise a 
 society for raising a subscription to erect a memorial to the Prince 
 Consort. Resolutions were passed unanimously at the Lord 
 Mayor's, and a committee was formed consisting of Lord Salisbury, 
 Lord Derby, myself, &c. 
 
 April 18th. Good Friday. I left for Paris. 
 
 After two or three days I proceeded to Dijon, and thought I 
 would try a new hotel close to the station. It was kept by a 
 young man who had just entered business, named David, and his 
 wife was a super-excellent cook. He gave me some very fine 
 trout for dinner, which led to a conversation upon fishing, and I 
 found that my landlord was a great admirer of the art, and was 
 constantly going to Dole to fish in the river Louve. He informed 
 me that I could reach it in two hours by rail to Dole ; and by en- 
 quiring at a fisherman's at Parex he would put me in the way of 
 having good sport. I therefore diverged from the course of my 
 journey to Dole, and, putting up at a very bad inn, proceeded 
 to the small village of Parex. Here I found the fisherman, quite 
 ready to accompany me. He lived close by the river, which is a 
 very fine and rapid stream descending from the Jura. We started 
 
1862 DIJON AND LYONS. 555 
 
 in his boat, and for two hours tried in vain with a rod. Tired of 
 this, he then produced a long trammel-net, which he laid outside 
 the bushes on the banks of the river. In a short time we pulled 
 out a trout of seven pounds, and several smaller ones. I went 
 back to Dole in the evening, carrying my spoil with me, and sent 
 the trout as a present to Lord Cowley at Paris. This fisherman 
 rented about two miles of the river Louve for ten pounds a year, 
 and must have made it a profitable business. 
 
 Returning to Dijon, I went on to Lyons, where a new park 
 has just been made, but too far from the town for general use. On 
 climbing up to the church of Notre Dame de Fourvieres, which is 
 supposed to be a cure for the lame, I found the most magnificent 
 panorama that can be seen the Rhone and the Saone dividing 
 the town at one's feet, and the white Alps in the far distance 
 bounding a splendid open country. In the church of Notre Dame 
 there were thousands of votive offerings, with a representation in 
 painting of every illness, accident, and misfortune to which human 
 nature is liable, and from which we must suppose the donors were 
 saved or recovered. Remains of the Roman masonry were 
 everywhere to be seen. 
 
 On leaving Lyons I stopped at Nimes ; and I think the Pont 
 du Gard, a few miles from the town, is, after the Coliseum, the 
 grandest remains of the Roman Empire. It is in the greatest 
 perfection, and still spans the river unharmed. Spring was every- 
 where breaking out, and the scent of the wild thyme was delicious. 
 I could not resist the temptation of bathing in the blue pool 
 below the bridge. I stayed some days at Nimes enjoying the most 
 splendid weather, and visiting the Maison Carree, an old Roman 
 temple turned into a museum, in which is the famous picture by 
 Delaroche of Oliver Cromwell standing over the body of Charles 
 I. I was so struck with it that I sent Mr. Middleton to Nimes 
 to copy it, which he did with great success. The Easter holidays 
 being over, I returned to London on May 14. I stopped in Paris 
 for a ball at the Tuileries, and was very well received by the 
 Emperor. During my absence the Federals and Confederates had 
 had several engagements, with various success on both sides. 
 
55fi MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1862 
 
 May \*tth. Dined at Lady Ailesbury's, and went afterwards 
 to Lady Palmerston's party and Lady Carrington's ball. 
 
 May \$th. We went to the Exhibition ; it was the first half- 
 crown day, which accounts for the increased number of visitors. 
 We dined with Lady Tankerville, and met there Vladimir Davidoff, 
 whose wife, a Georgian, left him for Prince Bariatinski, who was 
 his commanding officer and general in the Caucasus. He never 
 could get any redress from the Emperor or the Russian laws, if 
 there are any. 
 
 May 20th. I took Vladimir Davidoff to the Hoyal Academy. 
 There are some beautiful landscapes by Stanfield, Lee, Creswick, 
 and Cooper, and some pretty tableaux de genre by Millais, finished 
 like miniatures ; some portraits by Grant, none good, and that of 
 Lady Mary Craven atrocious. 
 
 May 22nd. I went with Vladimir to the Zoological, which 
 seemed to amuse him ; but he is very low, not only about his wife, 
 but from the destruction of all his prospects in life. At the time the 
 esclandre took place he was on the point of being made a general ; 
 and if he had chosen to connive at his own dishonour, his career 
 might have been a brilliant one so far as satisfying his ambition. 
 Now, all hopes of advancement are at an end, and he has left the 
 army ; his having challenged Bariatinski, who was his commander- 
 in- chief, and has been a great hero, makes all chance of promotion 
 impossible. 
 
 May 23rd. There is a rumour that the Confederates have been 
 defeated and Beauregard taken prisoner, which everybody regrets. 
 The feeling for the South is very strong in society. 
 
 June 2nd. A meeting took place to-day at the Duke of 
 Marlborough's to agree about the amendment to Mr. Stansfeld's 
 resolution respecting the national expenses and the necessity for 
 retrenchment ; 186 attended. Lord Derby addressed them, and 
 was much cheered. 
 
 June 3rd. Dined with the Marlboroughs ; a small party. 
 Mr. Darner came from the House of Commons, and told us the 
 excitement there was intense. Lord Palmerston made a very 
 dictatorial speech, declaring that Mr. Walpole's amendment to Mr. 
 Stansfeld's resolution was in effect a vote of want of confidence. 
 Mr. Walpole said that the House had been placed, by what Lord 
 
1862 DEATH OF LORD CANNING. 557 
 
 Palmerstoii had said, in a position of great difficulty. The object 
 was to determine whether the House would come to any resolu- 
 tion as to the mode and direction in which reduction and expendi- 
 ture should be made. Mr. Stansfeld then proposed his resolution, 
 after which Disraeli made a clever speech ; and after two others 
 from Mr. Horsman and Cobden, Mr. Walpole got up and with- 
 drew his amendment. Disraeli rose and made the most violent 
 diatribe against Mr. Walpole, to the disgust of almost all the 
 Conservative party, who feared to disturb the Government and 
 risk a dissolution, which Lord Palmerstoii threatened. The 
 division took place upon the original resolution, and it was nega- 
 tived by 367 to 65. 
 
 It is reported that General Butler governs New Orleans with 
 the utmost severity, and has issued an order that all ladies or 
 women who show dislike or contempt for the Federals by word, 
 look, or gesture, are to be treated as women of the town. Mean- 
 while, the French expedition to Mexico bears the fruit that might 
 have been expected. They have sustained a reverse at Puebla, 
 and their communications with Vera Cruz are cut off ; if so, they 
 will make a great outcry against us for deserting them, as they 
 will call it, of course saying nothing of our reasons, which were 
 that they broke the treaty which they had made jointly with 
 England and Spain, in consequence of which the English and 
 Spanish troops left them to carry on their operations alone. 
 
 June 17th. No details are yet published, beyond those that 
 the French attacked the heights of Guadalupe, were repulsed, 
 and retreated upon Yera Cruz. The Emperor has ordered the 
 immediate despatch of a brigade of 5,000 men ; but the whole 
 expedition is a great mistake, as there is no feeling in Mexico for 
 the French and against Juarez ; it has been got up by the priest 
 party in France, strongly supported by the Empress. 
 
 Lord Canning died this morning. Poor fellow ! he has had 
 little enjoyment of his hard-won honours. Supported by his 
 admirable wife, he was put in one of the most trying situations a 
 man could endure, and when the rebellion was quenched, and his 
 anxieties at an end, he came home only to die. We were very 
 intimate friends. 
 
 June 25th. The Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary 
 
558 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1862 
 
 dined with us, also the Carnarvons, Baths, Lady Cowley and 
 daughter, Count Apponyi, Count Vitzthum, Count "Wimpffen. 
 
 July 2nd. The Duke of Athole has a beautiful cow exhibited 
 at the Battersea Agricultural Show. The dairymaid who has the 
 care of the cow appears in a sort of costume, very becoming, and 
 is of course much admired by gentlemen. The Duke attended 
 upon her and the cow, bringing hay and water for the latter. One 
 day he and the dairymaid sat together on a bundle of straw, eat- 
 ing sandwiches, and she and the cow were the admiration of 
 society. 
 
 The civil war in America continues without any positive ad- 
 vantage on either side. 
 
 July lth. We went to Stafford House, where there was a 
 breakfast for the Viceroy of Egypt and about forty people. 
 
 Mr. Mason, the Confederate, called upon me this morning and 
 told me that the battle before Richmond had lasted six days. He 
 has four sons in the Confederate army. 
 
 July 3lst. Lord Palmerston stated in the House that the 
 manufacturers had sold the cotton which they ought to have kept 
 to work their mills, utterly unmindful of the starving people 
 round them. Mr. Cobden was furious, and said that ' the asser- 
 tion was but another instance of that habitual recklessness and 
 incorrectness for which the Premier was remarkable.' 
 
 August \\th. I left London for Lowther Castle. News from 
 Italy is bad ; Garibaldi is apparently in open rebellion against 
 Victor Emanuel, and is raising an army in Sicily to inarch upon 
 Rome. There is little doubt that the King is playing a deceitful 
 game, and secretly encouraging Garibaldi. 
 
 August 2&th. Garibaldi is in Sicily, and has taken Catania, 
 where he has seized the Treasury, and is levying forced contribu- 
 tions. The general feeling seems to be in favour of the King, who, 
 at last, has issued a proclamation against him, and is going to send 
 a large force under Cialdini to Sicily. 
 
 August 27th. Garibaldi has landed in Calabria, and is ad- 
 vancing on Reggio, whilst Cialdini is sent to Sicily, thereby 
 humbugging the Government of Victor Emanuel. 
 
1862 GARIBALDI A PRISONER. 559 
 
 Lord RanelagJi to Lord M. 
 
 London : August 30, 1862. 
 
 Dear Mahnesbury, I have just returned from the Camp of Chalons, 
 and am for many reasons very glad I went there ; the military portion 
 of what I saw will keep until we meet. The Emperor was very civil 
 and kind to me. After dinner I made a point of talking about you, 
 and told him what an old and real Mend you were of his, and re- 
 gretted that those Whigs had done all they could to make mischief 
 between you, &c. &c. He seemed to think that you had been in Paris 
 very often without calling upon him; which I explained by the 
 difficulty you had in calling upon him without its making a good deal 
 of jealousy over here. However, I said it would be all right next year, 
 as you would be Foreign Secretary. 
 
 I was very much struck by a conversation about America, for in the 
 most open manner after dinner he said he was quite ready to recognise 
 the SoutJi, but Palmerston would not do so, and he could not unless 
 Palmerston did. The result of this (pretended?) frankness is that 
 Slidell in Paris tells everyone that England is the cause of the South 
 not being recognised. He abuses England and says we are their 
 enemy ; in fact, we are hi the happy position of being hated by both 
 North and South. I think you may look out for some curious results 
 in Italy. I can only mention one little fact. Young Murat, when I was 
 at Chalons, told a French lady friend of mine that he had an idea that 
 he may be wanted before long at Naples ! He said it was a great bore, 
 but still it was his duty to go if wanted. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 KANELAGH. 
 
 September 1st. The news of Garibaldi's capture is confirmed. 
 He was attacked on August 29 at Aspromonte, ten miles from 
 Eeggio, by Colonel Pallavicini. He is said to have had 2,000 
 men, and had intrenched himself in a strong position. This was 
 carried by the King's troops after an obstinate defence, and Gari- 
 baldi wounded and taken prisoner. 
 
 September 3rd. The account given in to-day's papers of 
 Garibaldi's capture increases my suspicion that the whole affair 
 is a cross, the object being to prove to Europe that Italy never 
 can be quiet until she gets Rome. The Piedmontese Press already 
 begins urging the withdrawal of the French troops on this plea. 
 
560 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1862 
 
 September \3th. The Federals and Confederates continue to 
 gain victories by turns, and I see no daylight as yet to show the 
 result of this bloody war. Rattazzi has sent sixteen surgeons 
 and physicians to Garibaldi, and his English sympathisers have 
 sent a surgeon of the name of Partridge to him. 
 
 September 15th. General Lee has gained a victory. Both 
 armies were in great numbers, but the Federals were obliged to 
 retreat, leaving all their wounded on the field. 
 
 September 19th, Heron Court. Mr. and Mrs. Augustus Paget 
 and Lord Ranelagh arrived. Mr. Paget is the first person who 
 suggested the Princess Alexandra for the Prince of Wales, and 
 negotiations were commenced a year ago. Mrs. Paget says she is 
 beautiful lovely eyes and good teeth. She is tall and graceful, 
 with a good figure. 
 
 Our whole party went to play at croquet at Hinton. Grant- 
 ley Berkeley and his son appeared in costume : Garibaldi shirts, 
 knickerbockers and coloured stockings, hats with feathers. They 
 looked very ridiculous. 
 
 October 1st. The Confederates have been reinforced by Stone- 
 wall Jackson, who, after his capture of the fort of Harper's Ferry, 
 where he took 8,000 prisoners, stores and guns, crossed the 
 Potomac to assist General Lee, who was hard pressed by 
 McClellan. The battle that ensued on the 17th must have been 
 the bloodiest of the war. The Federals own to a loss of 10,000 
 men. General Mansfield was killed, and twelve other generals 
 wounded. The Federals claim the victory, though their enemies 
 did not retire till the evening of the 18th. 
 
 I October 5th. Lady M. went to Knowsley. I started to-day 
 for Paris. 
 
 After staying a week at Paris, I left it for Nevers and 
 Moulins, wishing to see the centre of France. It is infinitely 
 preferable in every way to the old route by which most Englishmen 
 travel to Lyons. When once you reach Auvcrgiie nothing can be 
 more picturesque than the country. Moulins and Nevers have all 
 the character of old^French towns, and when you arrive at Clermont 
 you are en pkine Auvergne. There are many ruined old castles 
 
1862 CLERMO'NT AND THE PUY-DE-DOME. 561 
 
562 MEMOIRS OP AN EX-MINISTER. 1862 
 
 accustomed to it off their feet and over the precipice. From there 
 I had a magnificent panorama of the entire country, showing its 
 volcanic formation, and on descending the other side of the moun- 
 tain, had an experience of the force of the wind, which blew me and 
 the guide flat on our faces by a sudden gust, just on the edge of 
 an extinct crater, called the Nid de Poule, from its perfect shape, 
 covered with fine turf and extremely deep. 
 
 The country about Mont d'Or is very picturesque and wooded, 
 with a beautiful trout stream flowing under the town. The 
 inns, which are more like pensions than hotels, are comfortable, 
 with plenty of horses, both for carriages and riding, at the 
 service of visitors. I returned to Clermont, and from there went 
 to Lyons, and back to Paris by Geneva. 
 
 On my return to Paris I went on a visit to Chamaraiide, 
 a chateau given by the Emperor to Persigny, who has furnished it 
 with great taste and luxury. It is of Louis XIII. 's time, and a 
 very fine house, on the main road from Paris to Lyons, near 
 Etampes. The Emperor and Empress arrived there at one o'clock 
 on the 27th, and returned late the same night to St. Cloud. The 
 time was passed in discussing a substantial luncheon and dinner 
 served after the English fashion and in driving about the park, 
 which is large and picturesque, all rock and heather, like Foii- 
 tainebleau. I found the Emperor strong for the American 
 Confederates, and anxious to propose, together with England and 
 Russia, an armistice of six months to the combatants, during 
 which time the blockade should be raised. He thought that if 
 they could be muzzled for that time they would not begin again. 
 The position of the two armies is that of mutual observation on 
 the Potomac after the drawn battle of Antietam. The Emperor 
 did not enter upon politics with me except on this question, but 
 seemed much absorbed in the internal improvements of France, 
 asking me many questions on the state of the provinces I had seen, 
 and seeming to think that his trade and commerce were capable of 
 enormous development. He was also much occupied with the life 
 of Julius Csesar, which he is writing, and told me that in one of { 
 Caesar's camps in Auvergne a splendid silver vase had been found, 
 which could only have belonged to himself. Persigny and others 
 look upon this and discoveries of the same sort as apocryphal, and 
 
1862 CONVERSATION WITH THE FRENCH EMPEROR. 563 
 
 say that his Majesty is perpetually victimised by those who know 
 his hobby for Caesarian relics, to the extent that one officer got 
 three promotions for successive trovers of the kind. He has, how- 
 ever, great knowledge of this period of history, and his excavations 
 in the camp of Gergovia, which I saw, have laid bare the founda- 
 tions of a large Gaulish city still perfect. After dinner, the 
 Emperor, Moray, Persigny, Pietri, and I smoked together. The 
 conversation fell upon painters and pictures, about which the 
 Emperor professed complete ignorance, and, indeed, showed it by 
 confusing, in his usual unaffected and natural manner, the names 
 of the most famous. In the same way he spoke of the great 
 French national vice of vanity, which would admit of no merit 
 equal to their own in all things, and the general mediocrity in 
 every art, excepting mechanics, physics, and chemistry. We then 
 got upon Home and spiritualism, which I saw he half believed in ; 
 and as he had been speaking of the many doubtful pictures in the 
 Louvre, I suggested that it was desirable that Mr. Home should 
 call up Titian's spirit and ask him whether he really painted the 
 portrait of Francis I. which is in that gallery. Morny and Pietri 
 took advantage of this to laugh at his belief, upon which he looked 
 displeased, saying that if we could explain all we believed our re- 
 ligion would be a very easy task. 
 
 I returned to Paris in the Royal carriage a large omnibus 
 the party being M. and Madame de Morny, M. and Madame 
 Walewski, and the two ladies in waiting, one of whom, Madame 
 de Pierre, an American, nee, Thorne, and the Duchess de Morny, a 
 Russian, just married, smoked all the way in the Empress's face, 
 notwithstanding her plain hints against the proceeding. She is 
 much too good-natured to her entourage, but enhances her singular 
 beauty by the most natural gaiety and fascination of manner. The 
 genre of the women about her, with the exception of Madame 
 Walewska, is vile. Their hair is dragged off their faces so tightly 
 that they can hardly shut their eyes, and their scarlet accoutre- 
 ments, jackets, cloaks, &c., as they happen to be very fair, made an 
 ensemble indescribably unbecoming. 
 
 I had a conversation of above an hour with the Empress on 
 politics, chiefly on the Roman question. Thouvenel had just been 
 dismissed as being too anti-Papal, and as leaning to the abandon- 
 
 o o 2 
 
564 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1862 
 
 ment of his Holiness, and Drouyn de 1'Huys has' replaced him. 
 The Empress did not, as I expected, treat the subject as a devote, 
 though she said that no scandal could be greater than an exiled 
 Pope with no foot of earth belonging independently to himself, and 
 that the honour of France was engaged to protect him from being- 
 driven out of Rome ; that, if he were, the Austrians would come 
 to his rescue, and France have no right to prevent it, as, by the 
 treaty of Zurich with Austria, the Pope was to be maintained ; 
 that the Italians should be satisfied, for the time, with what they 
 had got, and not attempt impossibilities, but organise what they 
 possessed ; that there was no such thing in Italy as an organising 
 mind or a man of business. 1 She .came to the charge about the 
 English Press and its abuse of the Emperor. This is a parti pris, 
 and, I believe, only meant to elicit a denial of our hostility. I had 
 an easy reply to her assertion that such a feeling existed, by 
 reminding her of her own reception in England and Scotland two 
 years ago, when she was obliged to escape from the ovation she 
 met with. To this she succumbed, as she was evidently delighted 
 with her journey to England. I went over with her the old ground 
 of my policy previous to the Italian war, as I had done with the 
 Emperor last year, and told her of my having sent him a copy of 
 my despatch to Prussia, preventing that Government from joining 
 Austria, and thus localising the war. Neither Cowley nor 
 Walewski had ever told the Emperor this important fact, and 
 last year I sent the Emperor the copy privately by the Duke of 
 Hamilton. 
 
 On arriving at Paris, Bacciocchi drove me home in his carriage. 
 Whilst at Chamarande I observed that Persigny had got a com- 
 plete record of the chateau and its antecedents, going back for 
 three centuries, and taken from the archives of the small town 
 adjoining. It is very remarkable how the local history of these 
 places has been preserved in France, whilst in our minor towns 
 no such records have been kept to which the historian could refer. 
 This may be explained by the fact that there was no Protestant 
 
 1 The Emperor came from the war much disgusted with the Italians and 
 Cavour, who, with Prince Napoleon and other intrigants, were encouraging Mazzini 
 and the other Republicans to extend the theatre to Tuscany and Rome, the 
 Emperor never intending to create an independent kingdom on the side of Franco. 
 
1862 MINISTERIAL COMPLICATIONS. 565 
 
 Reformation in France, as in England, where the libraries and 
 journals of the monks were savagely destroyed by the Reformers. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : October 31, 1862. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I have delayed answering or thanking you 
 for your very interesting letter from Geneva until the tune when you 
 would probably be back in England ; and though I have not heard of 
 your arrival, I know that Lady Malmesbury expected you about this 
 time. In the first place I am sorry to say that our attempt at a party 
 for the 25th has been so much interfered with by the rival attractions 
 of Longleat and Wilton for the same week, that we have reluctantly 
 been obliged to put it off altogether ; and though you know that we 
 should be glad to see you at any time, yet I hope that it will not be 
 inconvenient to' you to revert to your original intention, and to come 
 to us the following week, the first in December, instead. It would be 
 an additional pleasure to us to see Lady Malmesbury with you ; but I 
 am afraid she will hardly venture at that time of year. 
 
 I think John Russell is getting us into all sorts of complications ; 
 and that the state of Europe becomes more and more critical every 
 day. What on earth does he mean by turning round on Denmark, and 
 taking up all at once the Prussian views about the Duchies? And 
 how will Palmerston stand it, the original author of the Protocol which 
 was the basis of the treaty of 1852 ? I cannot help connecting with 
 this affair, and perhaps with a renewed misunderstanding arising out 
 of it with his old friend and colleague, the sudden and mysterious 
 postponement of the Cabinet which was to have been held a week ago ; 
 and which seems to have been put off sine die, so absolutely at the 
 last moment, that the Ministers had all come up to town for it, includ- 
 ing the Duke of Argyll all the way from Scotland ! It is evident, too, 
 that we are on the point of a quarrel with Bussia, whose intrigues, I 
 have no doubt, have led to the revolution which has broken out in 
 Greece ; though I should be sorry to swear that our ubiquitous friend 
 Louis Napoleon has not thought that a little imbroglio in the East 
 might serve to distract attention from the difficulties and embarrass- 
 ments of the Italian question. The Greek affair, I am afraid, may be 
 most formidable, and altogether, with Prussia in a state of quasi- 
 revolution, and with the Italian, Greek, Montenegrin, Danish, and 
 Polish questions all in a ferment at once, I can hardly imagine a more 
 unpleasant state of foreign affairs. The American war, too, appears 
 to be as far from a solution as ever. In the meantime the distress here 
 
566 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1862 
 
 is rapidly and fearfully augmenting, and we fully expect that by 
 Christmas there will be over 250,000 paupers in twenty-four unions ! 
 They are already 186,000 against 43,000 last year. The prospects for 
 the winter, especially if it should be a severe one, are fearful ; and, 
 admirably as the people have behaved hitherto, it is impossible to say 
 what continued and aggravated suffering may lead them to. 1 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, DERBY. 
 
 November 2nd. Arrived in London. During my absence 
 abroad the American Civil War had been raging continually with 
 various success. Some Englishmen made considerable fortunes by 
 running the blockade, many others lost all they possessed by being 
 captured. But this species of smuggling induced many to invest 
 money on the chance ; men who did not appear on the surface 
 employed adventurers to do the work. 
 
 November 14th. Drouyii de THuys has written to Lord 
 E/ussell to propose a joint mediation to induce the Americans to 
 consent to a truce for six months. It is said there was a stormy 
 discussion in the Cabinet in consequence ; the result, a refusal 
 to interfere at present, as the Americans would decline the pro- 
 posal. 
 
 November IStk. Baron Gros is appointed Ambassador in the 
 place of M. de Flahault. I suspect he is only a stop-gap, and we 
 shall have the Persignys later. The ' Times ' of to-day has a 
 strong article against Lord Russell's despatch of September 24 
 relating to Denmark. It is a most extraordinary and offensive 
 one, giving advice upon subjects of internal administration, in 
 which we have 110 business to meddle, and, in fact, re-opening the 
 whole question of Schleswig and Holstein, saying Holstein and 
 Lauenburg should have everything the German Confederation 
 asks for them. This restless and impotent meddling is peculiarly 
 ill-timed on the eve of the marriage of the Prince of Wales with 
 a Danish Princess. 
 
 November 20th. Lord Russell wrote his despatch to Mr. 
 
 1 This period of Lord Derby's life will redound for ever, to his honour. He 
 devoted all his business-like qualities, his valuable time and great fortune, to the 
 relief of his suffering countrymen ; and it must also be added that his noble and 
 successful exertions were fully appreciated in all parts of England. 
 
1862 GENERAL M C CLELLAN DISMISSED. 567 
 
 Paget 1 some days before he left Gotha. Mr. Meade, who re- 
 mained behind, telegraphed to the Foreign Office to announce Lord 
 Russell's departure in these words : 'Earl Russell has skedaddled.' 
 As the message was in cypher, and such a word as ' skedaddle ' 
 was unknown, they were obliged to telegraph back to know what 
 he meant. These jokes might be extremely inconvenient. 
 
 November 22nd. News is arrived that General McClellan is 
 dismissed from the chief command of the Federal army. He sub- 
 mitted quietly, professing respect for the constitution, and retired 
 to his own home. 
 
 November 24:th. Sir Henry Wolff has had a long conversation 
 with Lord Palmerston about the affairs of Greece. He is anxious 
 that Prince Alfred should accept the crown, and that England 
 should give up the Ionian Islands, the Turks giving up Albania. 
 I conclude that Wolff would get compensation for losing his 
 lucrative place there ; Disraeli has promised him a place if he 
 would devote himself and his pen to our party. He is fond of 
 writing, and writes well. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : November 25, 1862. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I quite agree in your view of the proposal, 
 which I conclude will be made, and I fear will be accepted, of placing 
 Prince Alfred on the throne of Greece. It appears to me the greatest 
 possible blunder, whether we look at it in its immediate effects upon our 
 relations with France and Kussia, or at the interests of the Prince him- 
 self, or at the complications which our connection with such a throne 
 and such a people must infallibly produce. I wonder that the Queen 
 should have given her consent; I am certain that the Prince never 
 would have done so. If this step be finally taken, I suppose it must 
 be mentioned in the Queen's Speech ; and if it be, it will be difficult 
 to avoid an amendment, and impossible to join in an expression of 
 congratulation. 
 
 I did not answer your former letter, partly because I thought you 
 would find some answer to your inquiries in a letter of mine to 
 Mr. Kingscote, which he published about the day you wrote; and 
 partly because my time is so fully occupied in answers to similar 
 letters, and in other correspondence, and in attendance at Manchester. 
 
 1 Then her Majesty's Minister at Copenhagen. 
 
568 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1862 
 
 I shall be glad to talk over the subject with you next week; but \viih 
 respect to the breakdown of the Poor Law, I will say, first, that 
 though no one rate of a high figure has been levied, there have br-t-u 
 two or three in the course of the year in some towns, which have 
 amounted in the whole to Is. lOd. and lid. on the solvent property, 
 every new rate finding fewer people able to pay it ; and next, tJiut tho 
 pressure of a poor-rate which is levied on the occupiers is not to be 
 measured by the actual amount, but by the sudden increase on Iho 
 normal figure. The former is taken into account in settling rent, ;m<l 
 falls on real property ; the latter falls exclusively on the occupiers, who 
 in this case are themselves on the verge of pauperism. You are quite 
 right, however, when you say that the pressure would have been com- 
 paratively light had the law of Elizabeth remained unaltered, and 
 personal as well as real property been liable ; as it is, no increase of 
 rates will reach the vast amount of realised wealth, except that very 
 small fraction of it which is invested in building! :<n<l machinery. I 
 must say, however, that some of the mill-owners have behaved nobly 
 under great difficulties, some of them quite the reverse ; but, as a class, 
 they have done far more than the wealthy bankers, mere); 
 brokers, and other speculators, some of whom have made enormous 
 sums in cotton, and whose contributions are very much below what 
 they ought to be. I hope our county meeting will catch some of th' in. 
 
 Ever yours, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 November 3(M. I hear that Lord Russell has recantwl his 
 Danish despatch, which confirms the suspicion that it was written 
 without the knowledge of Lord Palmerston. 
 
 December 7th. Count Sabouroff, a young Russian, called and 
 told us that his valet was walking in Bond Street at one o'clock 
 this afternoon, when 'the streets were full of people coming out of 
 church, and he saw two men attack a gentleman, rob him of his 
 watch, and run away. They were pursued, and one was caught. 
 
 December 8th. We spent three days at Savernake, and went 
 thence to Highclere, where we were very kindly received. Lord 
 Carnarvon and I talked about necromancy and spiritualism. 11 <; 
 told me that he had read a great number of books upon the Black 
 Art, and in some found formulae of so horrible a nature that they 
 quite haunted him. 
 
 December 12th. We drove over the park, which is fourteen 
 
\h<;> IONIAN ISLA: 
 
 miles; in cireu.' und the most beautiful J think J ever saw 
 
 -miles of green drives through, rhododendrons, enormous be- 
 nd cedars in every direction. I never wa* more delighte<i 
 ny drive in Kngknd. 
 
 DecwitJjvr \'-')ili. Sir Henry NV'olff told me that he knew from 
 good source the ' .ent Jtaxl decided to give up the Ionian 
 
 slandg to Greece if the Powers who signed the Treaty of Vienna 
 i 1*15 consented. 
 
 lj' i h'j i'> L'/rd M. 
 
 Dttmb***, MM. 
 
 The cession of the Ionian Islands IK decided upon, I learn this 
 sitively this morning by a letter from Stanley, on the author 
 >rnewall Lewis, whom he met at Chevening. There i* to he 
 ess to decide what is to be done with them. The cession include 
 wfu, I think the measure at anytime one of very doubtful , 
 it the present moment appears to me singularly ill-ehosen. 
 and* were entrusted to our keeping a a maritime Power which 
 uld, and would, keep down the system of piracy hy which those 
 eoaste have been so long infested, and Hie occupation gave us a naval 
 position highly important in case of a European war, as influencing 
 our hold upon the Adriatic and the Levant ; and these are considerations 
 which ought not to have been lightly overlooked. At the same time it 
 is not to be denied that the occupation was accompanied by considerable 
 expense and some inconvenience, that the Constitution was aW,: 
 unworkable, and that the Government was only carried on by a 
 tinual violation of its spirit, even when there was adherence to its 
 letter. Taking all this into consideration, there might nave been i 
 to say in favour of the eefMon, could they hare been handed over to a 
 rnment willing to accept the responsibility, firmly established* 
 politically and financially, and with sufficient power and seteeontr 
 keep an excitable people from insane schemes of aggression upon their 
 neighbour*. Bot it strikes me as the height of folly to make a &Atni- 
 tons offer of cession, and to throw the islands at the bead of a nation in 
 the very throes of devolution, the form of whose government is yet un- 
 decidedmuch more so, the person of the sovereign, if they are to have 
 sovereign whose finances are bankrupt, whose naval power is insig- 
 nificant, and the first of whose political aspirations is secession of 
 territory at the expense of a war with ito most powerful neighbour. I 
 
570 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1862 
 
 cannot conceive greater improvidence than making the offer of the 
 cession under such circumstances. If accepted, while it will diminish 
 our prestige in the East, it cannot but lead to future and embarrassing 
 complications ; and if from any circumstances the cession should not 
 be accepted, the offer will not have added to our facilities for governing 
 the islands. You will see that generally I agree in the view which our 
 papers have taken, though I think they have been too sweeping in 
 their condemnation of the idea of cession at any time and under any 
 circumstances. Yours truly, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 1863 
 
 January 30^A. The Federals have been repulsed with great 
 loss at Yicksburg ; the army of the Potomac is thoroughly de- 
 moralised, disgusted with their generals, in whom they have no 
 confidence, and mortified at their defeats. 
 
 February $th. The insurrection in Poland is increasing every 
 day, and in many places the Russians have been defeated. . The 
 King of Prussia has sent a strong body of troops to his frontier. 
 The feud between him and his Parliament grows more bitter every 
 day, and neither side will give way. It is a struggle between 
 freedom and despotism, the King attacking the Constitution by 
 insisting that the Parliament should have no control over the ex- 
 penditure of the army. Looking at the safety of the country, 110 
 doubt he is right, and time will prove it. 
 
 My youngest brother is made Archdeacon of Wilts by the 
 Bishop of Salisbury, who has also given him the living of 
 Bremhill, the two together worth about 7001. a year ; but it is a 
 large parish, and he must keep two curates. 
 
 Mr. Charles Lever ! to Lord M. 
 
 Hotel d'Odessa, Spezia : February 16, 1863. 
 
 My dear Lord, I am sincerely obliged by your Lordship's note in 
 acknowledgment of Barrington. 
 
 I am sure you are right in your estimate of Kinglake's book. 3 
 
 1 The novelist and Consul at Spezia. 
 
 2 Alluding to his abuse of Louis Napoleon and charging him with personal 
 cowardice. No man could be less exposed to such au accusation. I saw him jump 
 
1863 FRENCH INTRIGUES IN ITALY. 57 1 
 
 Such diatribes are no more history than the Balaclava charge was war. 
 It was, however, his brief to make out the Crimean war a French 
 intrigue, and he obeyed the old legal maxim in a different case ' Abuse 
 the plaintiff's attorney.' 
 
 Italy is something farther from union than a year ago. In dealing 
 with the brigandage Piedmont has contrived to insult the feelings and 
 outrage the prejudices of the South by wholesale invectives against all 
 things Neapolitan. French intrigues unquestionably help to keep up 
 the uncertainty which all Italians feel as to the future, and the in- 
 adequacy of the men in power here contributes to the same end. 
 Indeed, what Kinglake says of the English generals questioning how 
 the Great Duke would have dealt with the matter before them might 
 be applied to Italian statesmen as regards Cavour. They have not a 
 shadow of a policy, save in their guesses as to how he would have 
 treated any question before them. To get ' steerage way ' on the nation, 
 Cavour had to launch her into a revolution ; but if these people try the 
 same experiment they are like to be shipwrecked. 
 
 It would be both a pride and a pleasure to me to send your Lordship 
 tidings occasionally of events here if you cared for it. Meanwhile I 
 am, with sincere respect, most faithfully yours, 
 
 CHARLES LEVER. 
 
 February 1.8th. The Confederates have gained a naval victory 
 at Charleston. They sank two gun-boats and drove off the rest. 
 
 February 20th, London. We went to the Lyceum to see 
 ' The Duke's Motto/ translated from < Le Bossu.' Fechter acts 
 the part of Lagarclere beautifully ; Miss Leclercq is too fat and 
 fair for the gipsy ; Miss Terry did Blanche de Nevers very 
 nicely, and like a lady. 
 
 February 27th. Met Count Kielmansegge. He has to attend 
 the Prince of Wales's marriage. The invitations are limited to 
 the Garters and their wives, who must be asked, the Corps 
 Diplomatique, the Foreign Princes and their suites, with the 
 entire household of the Queen and of the late Prince. The pro- 
 cession on the 7th is to pass through London at a trot, which will 
 disappoint the public, who will hardly be able to see the Princess ; 
 the Lord Mayor is not to go, as his equipage and attendants are 
 
 off the bridge over the Rhone at Geneva when a youth, and all men can feel what 
 must have been his agonies when riding all day at the Battle of Sedan with his 
 deadly malady upon him. 
 
572 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1863 
 
 obliged to walk, and had he headed the procession all the carriages 
 must have gone at a foot's pace. The Corporation met in great 
 indignation at this interference with their rights ; so he is to be 
 permitted to head the procession as far as Temple Bar. 
 
 February 28th. There was a Drawing Room held by the 
 Princess of Prussia. 
 
 March 6th. The French are very sore at the refusal of 
 the American Government to accept their mediation, and at 
 the peremptory contradiction by Mr. Seward of M. Mercier's 
 despatch. 
 
 The insurrection in Poland is gaining strength, and the French 
 Emperor has written to the Czar advising him to make concessions, 
 ' and to give to Poland large and serious guarantees in conformity 
 with treaties and with the principles of civilisation.' But it is 
 not likely that France will assist Poland by arms, as that would 
 interfere with their policy with respect to Turkey, which is founded 
 on an entente cordiale with Russia. 
 
 March 7th. We went to Lord Willoughby's house at a quarter 
 before one to see the entry of the Princess. The houses along 
 Piccadilly were decorated, with few exceptions, but I saw nothing 
 really pretty except Lord Willoughby's and Lord Cadogaii's. 
 There were a good many people in the drawing-room. It was the 
 coldest day we have had for a long time ; no sun, with occasional 
 showers, and AVC were half frozen standing on the balconies. The 
 Duke of Cambridge rode by two or three times with his staff", and 
 was greatly cheered. Lord Ranelagh passed at the head of his 
 brigade of Volunteers. Then appeared the royal carriages ; and 
 I was never more surprised and disappointed. The first five con- 
 tained the suite and brothers and sisters of the Princess Alexandra ; 
 the carriages looked old and shabby, and the horses very poor, 
 with no trappings, not even rosettes, and no outriders. In short, 
 the shabbiness of the whole cortege was beyond anything one 
 could imagine, everybody asking ' Who is the Master of the 
 Horse 1 ' The Princess kept bowing right and left very grace- 
 fully. The moment the procession had passed, the crowd dis- 
 persed, but there were universal remarks and compliments on the 
 Princess's beauty. 
 
 March Sth. I saw Lord Derby to-day ; he is still confined to 
 
1863 THE PRINCE OF WALESA MARRIAGE. 573 
 
 his bed, and looks very ill. He says that the Queen has invited 
 the Disraelis to the wedding. I hear that on the arrival of the 
 Prince and Princess at Slough the horses of the first carriage 
 jibbed, and the leaders of the second turned right round upon the 
 wheelers, the harness got entangled, and the confusion was very 
 great. Altogether, everything done by the Court authorities was 
 bad, and the management of the City -no less so. All offers of 
 assistance were refused ; both the Duke of Cambridge's of cavalry 
 and Sir Richard Mayne's of police to keep the line in the City 
 were declined, and the result was that the streets were quite 
 blocked up, and if it had not been for the good temper of the 
 people some terrible catastrophe must have occurred. As it was, 
 there was great danger opposite the Mansion House, and the Danes 
 were very much frightened ; the Prince of Wales, on his side, 
 showing great coolness. To make up for these deficiencies, those 
 who were present say that nothing could exceed the splendour of 
 the scene in St. George's Chapel. The foreigners were all much 
 struck with it ; it was so grand as to be quite overpowering. 
 Mr. Paget confirmed all I had heard of the confusion on the 
 departure of the special train for London. Lady Westminster, 
 who had on half a million's worth of diamonds, could only find 
 place in a third-class carriage, and Lady Palmerston was equally 
 unfortunate. Count Lavradio had his diamond star torn off and 
 stolen by the roughs. 
 
 March 13th. Second reading of Mr. Adderley's Security from 
 Violence Bill passed by a majority of 131 to 68, in spite of the 
 opposition of Sir George Grey, who objected to garotters being 
 flogged, saying that some were too delicate to undergo the punish- 
 ment, to which some one replied that if a man was strong enough 
 to rush out like a tiger and strangle another man, he was strong 
 enough to bear a flogging. 
 
 March 20th. We went to a party at St. James's Palace, and 
 arrived in time to see the entry of the Prince and Princess of 
 Wales, but it struck me as very melancholy, when one considered 
 the cause of the Queen's absence. 
 
 March 22nd. News from Poland is bad for the Poles. A 
 battle has taken place. The insurgents under the Dictator, 
 Langiewicz, were defeated after a desperate fight, and gave them- 
 
574 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1863 
 
 selves up to the Austrian hussars, who conducted them to 
 Turnau. 
 
 March 26th. I went to Windsor Castle and returned next day. 
 The Queen was quite calm and even cheerful, and looks well, but 
 she complains of not feeling strong and being unable to stand much. 
 
 The Prince of Wales asked me to smoke with him, Lord 
 Sydney, and two other men, and we sat up till nearly two in the 
 morning. 
 
 I went through Paris to Bordeaux on March 28, and was 
 charmed with the appearance of the town, which gives one a 
 perfect idea of a combination of business and pleasure. The 
 quays remind one much of Holland a great activity of commerce 
 and a perpetual noise of voices in every language ; but, away 
 from the shipping, the streets are ornamental and the shops hand- 
 some and luxurious. The dwellings of the great wine merchants 
 seem to lie in a district of their own, and are not distinguishable 
 by any advertisements or ostentatious names. The hotels are all 
 so good that one can hardly choose between them, and the best 
 claret is to be had in them without putting any pressure 011 the 
 waiters. There is a magnificent equestrian statue of the Em- 
 peror in the principal square, and it was here that he proclaimed 
 his dictum, ' L'Empire, c'est la paix,' which reassured Europe for 
 a time, but was before long proved to be a convenient phrase only. 
 
 In an old tower which stands by itself there is one of the most 
 horrible sights I ever beheld. Descending into a dungeon, you 
 find a collection, not of skeletons, but of shrivelled mummies, for 
 the skin and flesh are still on their bones, and they stand in a 
 ring with every diabolical contortion of pain and rage in their 
 faces. There are two stories respecting these dreadful remains 
 one is, that they were a whole family poisoned by mushrooms, 
 whose death agonies were so terrible that they stiffened into the 
 contortions I have described, and that, being afterwards buried 
 without coffins in a peat soil, they were preserved in this horrible 
 state ; the second story is that they had been left to perish in the 
 dungeon. I heard that the Emperor had given positive orders for 
 them to be removed and buried, being much disgusted at the 
 ghastly spectacle. 
 
1863 THE CASTLE OF THE GRAMONTS. 575 
 
 From Bordeaux I went to Bayonne and Biarritz, crossed the 
 Bidassoa, and went as far as St. Sebastian. This country is full 
 of associations, especially to an Englishman, for here the most 
 desperate fighting took place between us and the French in 1813, 
 and between the river and Fuentarrabia the Paladins of Charle- 
 magne fought and fell to a man. Returning 011 my steps, I went 
 to Tarbes, and on my way visited the feudal castle of the Gramonts, 
 Bidache, or rather its ruins. In the days of the famous Corisande 
 it had as many windows as there are days in the year, but with 
 the exception of a stable newly built on a large scale, and appa- 
 rently useless, there is little to be seen. An old church in the 
 village contains some of their -family monuments. Tarbes has a 
 good inn, and is famous for its horses. 
 
 From Tarbes I proceeded leisurely to Toulouse. I never saw 
 so vile a pavement as in this great city, composed as it is of sharp 
 flints. A cicerone showed me over the field of battle, on which 
 our Duke and Marshal Soult were engaged, and where the 
 Spaniards suffered so terribly. Proceeding by the railway, I 
 stopped a day at Carcassonne, an ancient city, so famous for the 
 desperate fighting of the Albigeois and the deeds of Simon de 
 Montfort. The Emperor has had the city and fortifications re- 
 stored exactly to the state they were in at that time j the streets 
 are just wide enough for a cart to pass, and the towers and battle- 
 ments are what they were in the thirteenth century. In every 
 part of France he is making archaeological restorations, and his 
 active mind seems as much interested in this pursuit as it is in 
 politics ; but, as far as I can observe, the French do not appreciate 
 his efforts as they deserve. From Carcassonne I went to Montpellier, 
 which, to our ancestors, was what Cannes is now to us namely, 
 an asylum from the English climate. Whilst I was there, the 
 weather was anything but genial, and I returned to London on 
 May 10. 
 
 May 27th. News has arrived from America of the death of 
 Stonewall Jackson. He was wounded in the battle of May 2 ; 
 one ball striking him in the left arm near the shoulder, and 
 another in the right hand. The arm was amputated, but he died 
 on the 9th. The most melancholy part of it is that his death was 
 the result of accident, his own men, who would have died for him, 
 
576 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1863 
 
 having shot him in a wood by mistake. This event will, I think, 
 have a fatal effect on the prospects of the Confederates, for he was 
 idolized by the whole army, who would have followed him any- 
 where, in full confidence that he was leading them to victory. He 
 was only thirty-eight years of age. 
 
 June Uh. Mr. Soames' bill to shut up public-houses on Sun- 
 days was rejected by 278 to 103. 
 
 June 7th. All the elections in Paris have gone against the 
 Government, showing strong feeling either against the Emperor 
 or Persigny. The Opposition now number from twenty-five to 
 thirty instead of five, and are almost all Red Republicans. 
 
 June \Wi. I spoke 011 the Brazilian question and on the 
 conduct of Mr. Christie. 1 Lord Russell replied, but less well 
 than usual, and the Government, seeing they were getting the 
 worst of the debate after Lord Chelmsford's speech, and fearing 
 that Lord Derby would get up, gave orders to their men not to 
 answer Lord Chelmsford, and the debate was adjourned. 
 
 June 20th. The French have taken Puebla, and are advanc- 
 ing upon Mexico. 
 
 June 22nd. I went to the Duchess of Buccleuch's ball, where 
 the Princess of Wales was asked, and had dined. 
 
 June 23rd. Went to Mrs. Rose's concert. Mario sang at the 
 Opera, and did not come till late. I asked him what he thought 
 of Titiens' ' Marguerite/ and he said : Elle chante bien, mais elle 
 est trop grosse ; elle ferait trois Marguerites.' He also said 
 that the pitch at the Opera in England is three-quarters of a tone 
 higher than abroad. The French pitch has been lowered, but 
 Costa 2 will not change his, as it is more brilliant for the in- 
 struments ; but it is very hard upon the singers, the more so as 
 the modern operas are written extremely high, and if they have to 
 sing three-quarters of a tone higher than the composer intended, 
 it must be a terrible strain upon their voices. 
 
 July 1st. We went to the Mansion House, where we were 
 
 1 Mr. Christie, who had been a Liberal M.P., was made by Lord Palmerstou 
 Minister at Brazil, where his acts and language were very high-handed. 
 
 2 Sir Michael Costa died in 1884. I was at Naples when heleft it in 1829 for 
 England, with nothing but his talent for music to trust to. He became a general 
 favourite in society as well as at the Opera, which he led for many years. 
 
1863 DEATH OF THE DUKE OF HAMILTON. 577 
 
 invited to a great dinner to meet Lord Derby. Almost all 
 the principal members of the Conservative party were present, 
 and it was a brilliant scene, though very long. Lord Derby's 
 speech was extremely good, statesmanlike, and moderate, but 
 giving no hope of his soon being in office. 
 
 July 5th. Several people called, who told me that the scene 
 in the House of Commons when the division took place on 
 the vote for the purchase of the Exhibition building was extraor- 
 dinary. Sir Stafford Northcote's speech was the signal for 
 a storm, and he was forced to sit down. Disraeli had canvassed 
 his supporters, telling them that he had a letter in his pocket 
 from the Queen. This had a disastrous effect, and when he got 
 up the hooting was so terrific that he could not be heard. 
 Gladstone's speech had already excited great indignation, for it 
 showed how completely the Government had deceived the House 
 when Lord Palmerston had induced them to vote for the purchase 
 of the land, leaving them under the delusion that the contractors 
 for the Exhibition were bound to remove the building if it was 
 not sold within a certain time. Gladstone had told them that 
 there was no engagement of the sort, and that he believed they 
 were not obliged to remove it at all. This, whether true or not, 
 was taken as a menace to force them to buy the building, 
 and infuriated the House of Commons the more, as Lord Elcho 
 proved that the purchase would be a most disadvantageous one, 
 entailing an enormous expense. So the House rose en masse, and 
 after a scene of the utmost confusion and excitement, defeated 
 the Government by more than two to one ; Gladstone and Disraeli 
 looking equally angry. 
 
 July 13th. We arc deeply grieved to hear that our old friend, 
 the Duke of Hamilton, has had a most serious accident. He left 
 London last Friday, and dined that evening at a cafe in Paris 
 with Mr. Henry Howard. On coming out at one o'clock in the 
 morning he fell down the stairs, and was picked up senseless. I 
 fear it will prove fatal. 
 
 July 15th. We dined with the Chesterfields, where we heard 
 of the Duke of Hamilton's death. It appears that lie never 
 rallied, except for a few minutes after the arteries of the temples 
 had been opened, and he relapsed into a state of insensibility 
 
 P P 
 
578 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MIXISTER. 1863 
 
 until his death. The Empress Eugenie was very kind, and 
 remained with him until the arrival of the Duchess, who was at 
 Baden. 
 
 We went to the Duchess of Wellington's concert. 
 
 A drawn battle has been fought between the armies of Lee 
 and Meade. It began on July 1 and continued till the 3rd. 
 
 July VI tli. The Duchess of Hamilton and her daughter are 
 gone to St. Cloud for the present. The sons remain in Paris, and 
 accompany the body to Glasgow, where it is to be transported in 
 a French man-of-war. 
 
 July 2lst. At Greenwich at the dinner which Lord Redesdale 
 gives every year to the House of Lords. 
 
 July 26th.- News from America states that Yicksburg sur- 
 rendered on July 4 unconditionally ; the garrison, amounting to 
 31,000 men, having been paroled. Lee has retreated safely 
 across the Potomac with all his artillery and the booty he 
 took in Maryland. He has certainly lost prestige by the ill- 
 success of his expedition. 
 
 August 1, Heron Court. I went to London on my way 
 to Dover, where Lord Willoughby d'Eresby's yacht was lying. 
 He has been so kind as to lend her to me for the season. She is 
 a very large lugger, built by himself. I went over to Boulogne 
 in her with Lord Ranelagh and Colonel Knox, and, 011 my return 
 to Calais, sent her to meet me at Cowes ; but when I arrived 
 there I found she had lost her foremast, being commanded by 
 a very incompetent man. Lord Willoughby used her principally 
 for fishing in Torbay, "but she was a very bad sailer, being unable 
 oither to tack or to wear. I took her down Channel to the west- 
 ward, to Torquay. To manage her sails properly she would 
 require thirty men, and I had only sixteen. Her mainsail had a 
 thousand yards of canvas, and altogether I consider her a very 
 unsafe vessel, though perfectly fit for fishing. 
 
 August \\tli. I returned to London and went to Lowther 
 Castle, where there was an agreeable party. We went to 
 Horswater, a most beautiful lake enclosed in hills ; we netted it 
 and caught a number of char. 
 
1863 A JUNIOR CONSERVATIVE CLUB. 579 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord M. 
 
 Hughenden Manor : August 22, 1863. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, The Carlton and the Conservative Clubs are 
 overflowing, and years must elapse before some men can enter them. 
 They are also very exclusive. The Carlton rarely admits professional 
 persons, and the Conservative only an insufficient percentage. 
 
 Taylor impresses on me the absolute necessity of a Junior Conser- 
 vative, which shall be a central point for those country attorneys and 
 land agents, &c., who are winning, and are to win, our elections. He 
 thinks that it will powerfully organise and encourage our friends. 
 
 But there must be no mistake about the politics, and he wants, for 
 trustees, Lord Derby, Lord Malmesbury, Mr. Disraeli, Lord Colville, 
 Col. Taylor. 
 
 I have, at his suggestion, communicated with Lord Derby, who 
 is favourable to the suggestion, if no liability is incurred by the trustees. 
 This of course must be a sine qua non. 
 
 What do you say to it ? Yours sincerely, D. 
 
 September IQth, Heron Court. The Due de Gramont arrived 
 from Folkestone in time for dinner. He is obliged to be at 
 Vienna in six clays. He had not seen Lady Tankerville, his 
 aunt, for eleven years, and was anxious to do so. He told 
 me it was very probable he might some day come as ambassador 
 to England, but not whilst Lord Palnierston is Minister ; for, 
 besides that he could not get on with a Whig Government, he and 
 d'Azeglio are not friends, and as long as Palmerston is Premier 
 d'Azeglio is all-powerful. 
 
 September 14th. We went to Longleat, where I was laid up 
 for two days with gout. 
 
 October 5th. The news from America is that the Confederates 
 under General Bragg, who had been reinforced by Generals Lee, 
 Johnstone, and Beauregarcl, defeated General Rosenkranz after 
 two days' severe fighting. The Confederates took above 2,000 
 prisoners and twenty guns. 
 
 On October 5 I left for Paris and thence started on a journey 
 to Tours and down the Loire. After again visiting Chenonceuux 
 and some other cist Irs on the river, I stopped at Saumur, a town 
 
 r v ' 
 
580 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1863 
 
 that is a ckeval on this glorious stream. I went to see the old 
 feudal tower of Monsereau, which was seized during the Revolu- 
 tion of 1789 by the populace and has been held by them ever 
 since ; there must be at least a dozen families inhabiting its 
 ancient halls. I proceeded thence to the famous Abbey of Fonte- 
 vrault, which is now a prison, but used to be a convent for ladies t 
 of the highest rank in France. In. visiting the vaults I found 
 the recumbent effigies, dressed in their royal robes, of our Henry II. 
 and his wife, Eleanor of Guienne ; their son, Richard Coeur-de- 
 Lion ; and Isabel d'Angouleme, widow of King John. The 
 Republicans of the last century, who wished to destroy them, were 
 prevented by some priests, who hid them away. They are very 
 line specimens of the work of that time. Henry and his son 
 Richard are both of gigantic proportions, the latter being six feet 
 six. It struck me as so sad a thing to see these statues of the 
 great Plantagenets cast away in the cellars of a French prison 
 that I wrote to Persigny to entreat him to urge the Emperor from 
 me to give them up to England, that they might be placed in 
 Westminster Abbey. His answer to me for some reason mis- 
 carried, but when I did receive it, it regretted that at the present 
 time the English and French Governments were not on a footing 
 of cordiality, and that it was not a favourable moment for an in- 
 terchange of compliments ; but that if our Party came in again 
 the Emperor would remember my request and would accede to it. 1 
 At this time Lord John Russell had expressed his disagreement 
 with the Emperor on the subject of the Danish war and his wishes 
 to have a European Conference in so rough a style that his de- 
 spatches had created considerable animosity. I do not blame his 
 disagreements, but the language in which he expressed them. The 
 consequence was that I failed in my attempt to rescue these 
 statues. 
 
 I went on from Saumur to Nantes, which is a fine and rich 
 town, and famous, or rather infamous, for the * Republican Mar- 
 
 1 In 18G6, when Lord Derby was Premier for the third time, he was informed by 
 the Emperor that he would keep his promise if Lord Derby insisted upon it, but 
 that when he sigmrie.l his intention of doing so and ordered the removal of the 
 effigies, the people of the district, although they had never taken any interest in 
 them, showed so violent an opposition that he hoped Lord Derby would release }iim, 
 which was done. 
 
1863 CHATEAU DE CLISSON. 581 
 
 riages ' and other horrors committed by the notorious Carrier. T 
 then went on to St. Nazaire, a new town at the mouth of the 
 Loire. On entering the public room of the inn I found about a 
 dozen French officers at supper, bound for Mexico, in high spirits 
 at going there. After returning to Nantes I went to see the 
 famous Chateau de Clisson, where the Vendeans in 1793 gained a 
 great victory over the Republican troops, and were afterwards 
 defeated, the prisoners taken alive being thrown down a well, on 
 the site of which a fine spruce fir is now growing. It reminded 
 me of Cawnpore, with its sinister associations. 
 
 ;-'. From Lord Malmesbury to Count Persigny. 
 
 Saumnr : le 12 octobre 1863. 
 
 Mon cher Persigny, Vous savez que clurant mon veuvage politique 
 je me plais souvent & parcourir la France. Cela vous expliquera pour- 
 quoi je vous ecris d'une ville que personne ne visite que des commis- 
 voyageurs, et qui cependant le merite excessivement. Je in'adresse & 
 vous pour vous faire une demaiide qui peut-etre ne serait guere justifiee si 
 nous n'etions de si anciens amis, et que je ne fusse certain que vous en 
 apprecieriez le motif. Maintenant aufait. J'ai ete voir Fontevrault, cette 
 ancienne abbaye si celebre, et qui aujourd'hui (comme vous le savez), 
 an lieu de conterdr de belles et nobles nonnes, renferme un millier de 
 scelerats de toutes les couleurs. La, dans le coin obscur d'un caveau 
 en mines, sont releguees proli pudor ! les statues de Henri II. et 
 de son fils Richard Coeur-de-Lion, avec celles de leurs reines. C'est 
 tout ce qui reste de ces grands rois d'Angleterre, dont les barbares de 
 1789 ont brise et viole les tombes et disperse les cendres. Ainsi, ne- 
 gligees, exploitees par un gardien de detenus, vues de presque personne 
 dans leur position actuelle, ces effigies me seinblent interesser peu la 
 France et etre malheureusement inconnues et perdues pour 1'Angle- 
 terre. 
 
 Croyez-vous que, si 1'Empereur e"tait informe de ces circonstances, 
 il agirait avec sa gene"rosite habituelle, et rendrait ces derniers souvenirs 
 de la grande race des Plantagenets & Westminster Abbey ou gisent 
 leurs ai'eux et leur posterite ? Mais, si toutefois S.M. pensait autrement, 
 ne donnerait-il pas au rival et au compagnon d'armes de Phillipe- 
 Auguste un coin plus digne de cette large France dont jadis le ' Cceur 
 de Lion ' possedait le. quart ? Si, mon cher Persigny, ma reclamation 
 vous parait inconvenante ou mal imagine'e, je me fie A votre amide* de 
 
582 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1863 
 
 ne pas eii parler a Sa Majeste, et de regarder cette lettre comme non- 
 avenue. Je ne 1'aurais ecrite a personne qu'a vous. Mille amities, 
 
 MALMESBUEY. 
 
 November 1st. The monster balloon at Paris has come to grief, 
 and M. and Mine. Nadard are much hurt. The anchors would not 
 hold, and the balloon dragged along the ground for several leagues, 
 knocking over trees and doing much damage. It was finally 
 stopped near Neuburg, and the passengers taken to Hanover. 
 
 The accounts from Prussia are very bad for the King. The 
 elections are going 011 unfortunately for his Government, being- 
 more Liberal even than the last, and he has not the resource of 
 another dissolution of the Chambers, as this is the third within 
 the year ; but he is apparently determined to have an army 
 formed according to his own ideas. 
 
 The papers mention that the large ironclad steamer, the 
 * Prince Consort,' which was sent to Liverpool to prevent the two 
 rams built by Mr. Laird from leaving for America, encountered 
 the gale of last Friday in the Irish Channel, and put into Kings- 
 town almost in a sinking state. She sprang a leak and had seven 
 feet of water in her hold. Nothing but the most arduous exer- 
 tions on the part of her officers and crew could keep her from 
 going down. 
 
 November th. I met Lord Palmerston in the train at Bishop- 
 stoke, where he was waiting for the Portsmouth train. He was 
 much annoyed at the loss of his trees at Broadlands in the late 
 storms. I lost many of mine, some elms as old as the time of 
 Henry VIII. 
 
 November 1th. Tlie English papers consider the Emperor 
 Napoleon's speech very pacific, but I cannot view it in that light, 
 for though he declares he has no intention of going to war in sup- 
 port of the Poles at present, he calls upon the sovereigns of 
 Europe to appoint a Congress for the discussion of the Polish 
 question and the settlement of others affecting the nationalities } 
 adding that the treaties of 1815 are at an end, and that if the 
 Great Powers refuse the Congress, there must eventually be war. 
 The Paris papers look upon this speech as threatening, and the 
 Funds went down in consequence. 
 
1863 
 
 DEATH OF KING OF DENMARK. 
 
 583 
 
 November l'2tk. The Duke of Somerset, who dined with us, 
 said that the ironclad steamer ' Prince Consort,' which was in such 
 danger in the late storm in the Irish Channel, did not spring a 
 leak as was supposed, but was nearly sunk by her own crew, who 
 pumped the water in instead of pumping it out. 
 
 The Emperor Napoleon has written a circular to all the 
 sovereigns of Europe inviting them to a Congress at Paris to 
 settle the affairs of Europe. As he says in his speech in opening 
 Parliament that the treaties of 1815 have ceased to exist, and 
 he talks of sacrifices to be made for the public good, I suspect 
 there will be great disinclination to respond to the summons, 
 which he has also sent in an offensive and dictatorial manner. 
 Victor Enianuel telegraphed his acceptance at once, showing 
 that he expects to gain by the new distribution of Europe. 
 Probably England would be required to give up Gibraltar. 
 
 November IQtk. The King of Denmark is dead, and Prince 
 Christian succeeds him. 
 
 November 2ith. We went to Blenheim, which well deserves 
 to be called a palace. It has been fitted up almost entirely by 
 the Duke and Duchess, and does great credit to their taste ; in. 
 fact, it has all the magnificence of a palace and all the comforts 
 of a small house. We dined in the Saloon, a very handsome 
 room, and after dinner the tapestry rooms were opened and we 
 sat there, as they join the library, where the ball was to take 
 place. The ball-room is 180 feet long and very high. The 
 pleasure grounds, which are very beautiful, slope down to the 
 edge of the lake on one side, and on the opposite shore a hill, 
 covered with wood, rises from the water. It must be a perfect 
 i Paradise in summer. 
 
 ' *y November 29th, Heron Court. Mr. Seymour Fitzgerald arrived 
 fo from Paris, where he says the refusal of our Government to attend 
 the Congress proposed by Napoleon, and especially the rude tone 
 of Lord Russell's despatch, has created great irritation. The 
 correspondence between the English and French Governments 
 respecting the Congress is published in to-day's papers. Lord 
 Russell's despatch is published in the ' Gazette,' and I am not 
 surprised that the French are angry, for not only is it very rude, 
 
584 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER, 1863 
 
 but it was sent without the least delay, and published in the 
 ' Times ' before it was delivered to Drouyn de 1'Huys ! 
 
 December 5th. I returned from Windsor. The Queen sent 
 for me before dinner and spoke of the Danish question ; though 
 she is annoyed about it, she told me that it was not my fault, 
 that I could not do otherwise than sign the treaty of 1852, which 
 had been drawn up by Palmerston. 
 
 December 7th. Sir Augustus Paget has written to say he 
 cannot leave Copenhagen in the present state of affairs. Austria 
 and Prussia threaten a Federal execution, and the King of Den- 
 mark has withdrawn the patent giving a joint Constitution to 
 Holstein, which was the great cause of offence, as it incorporated 
 Holstein with Denmark. Schleswig has offered 35,000 men to 
 Denmark if the Federal troops cross the Eider and if they enter 
 Schleswig. 
 
 December 8th. Lord Henry Lennox and the Marchese Fortu- 
 nato called, with the news that the Confederates had been totally 
 routed by General Grant at Look-out Mountain, General Braggs 
 having been defeated with the loss of sixty cannon. 
 
 December 3lst. The Federal troops have entered Holstein 
 and been received with acclamation. 
 
 1864 
 
 January 9th. The Princess of Wales has been safely confined : 
 a prince. The event was not expected till March, and as it was 
 intended to take place at Marlborough House, no preparations 
 had been made at Frogmore. There was no nurse, no baby linen, 
 and no doctor, except Mr. Brown, the Windsor physician, who 
 attended her, and brought the child into the world, for which, it 
 is said, he will be made a knight and receive 500/. Lady 
 Macclesfield was fortunately in waiting, and as she has had a 
 great many children, she was probably of use. Lord Granville 
 was the only Minister in attendance, having come to dine with 
 the Prince, and there was not time to summon the others, as the 
 Princess was not ill more than three hours. She had been to see 
 
1864 WORK OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE. 585 
 
 the skating, and did not return to Frogmore till four o'clock, 
 soon after which she was taken ill. 
 
 I saw Disraeli, who called to-day, and wanted to talk to me 
 upon political arrangements to be made, should our party come 
 in. He quite scouted the idea of being Foreign Minister himself, 
 as he has no intention of giving up the leadership of the House 
 of Commons ; he said it would be quite impossible to do the 
 work of both, 1 and that Lord Palmerston, when he was Foreign 
 Secretary, hardly ever appeared in the House of Commons. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : January 10, 1864. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I need not tell you how sincerely sorry I 
 am to hear your report of yourself, and how anxiously I hope that 
 Bence Jones may be able to set you right, even in a shorter time than 
 yon seem to anticipate. Private and public feelings are in this case in 
 entire accordance ; for I do not know what I should do in the House of 
 Lords, and still less if there were to be a change of Government, if 
 you were not in a condition to give me your assistance. We have too 
 few good men capable of holding office, and especially connected with 
 foreign affairs, to be able to spare one. Stanley has a contempt for the 
 arts of diplomacy, and an intense dislike to be involved in any foreign 
 affairs. ... In short, if we are doomed to come in, I must have you 
 again. So get well as fast as you can. Vitzthuin has sent me, confi- 
 dentially, his and Beust's correspondence with John Russell ; the latter, 
 as usual, effusive in tone, but, as I have not concealed from Vitzthmn, 
 having the best of the argument. I have given him my opinion very 
 plainly, and expressed an anxious hope, in the interests of Germany, 
 that war may yet be avoided. But I fear that with the Germans just 
 now passion is too strong for reason ; and Austria and Prussia are so 
 mutually afraid of each other gaining the ascendency in that pestilent 
 body, the Diet, that they will both be driven to be the slaves of 
 the minor States. Austria, however, can hardly engage in a crusade 
 for ' Nationalities,' nor Prussia for ' Constitutional Eights.' I quite 
 agree with j r ou that if we had taken a firm tone at once, there would 
 have been no invasion of Schleswig ; and everything else was capable 
 of adjustment. Now, if there be such an invasion, war is declared, 
 
 1 Tliis is quite true, and I found what Lord Palmerston told me was correct 
 namely, that the average work of the Foreign Office took him ten hours of the 
 twenty-four. 
 
586 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1864 
 
 and we shall have placed Denmark in a very disadvantageous position, 
 having abandoned Holstein at our suggestion. 
 
 > 
 
 Ever yours sincerely, DERBY. 
 
 P.S. Do you know, or can you find out, whether the Emperor 
 gave our Government any hint as to his intention to propose a 
 Congress, before he made his public announcement ? If he did not, it 
 does not look like very cordial feelings, and, I must add, he laid himself 
 open to the rebuff he met with. That, however, is no sufficient vindi- 
 cation of our brusquerie. D. 
 
 From Count Persigny to Lord M, 
 
 Paris: le 12 Janvier 1864. 
 
 Mon cher Malmesbury, La poste me renvoie aujourd'huiune lettre 
 que je vous ecrivis il y a deux mois. Un singulier accident parait 
 avoir cause cette mesaventure. Soit que 1'encre fut mauvaise ou qu'uii 
 acide tombe sur 1'enveloppe en ait altere la qualite, il a ete impossible 
 de lire 1'adresse : elle etait presque completement effacee. 
 
 II n'y avait rien de bien important dans cette lettre. Je VOILS <li>ais 
 quej'avais soumis a 1'Empereur la question archeologique que vous 
 soumettez au sujet du tombeau de Richard Cceur-de-Lioii et d> 
 pere, et du desir que vous exprimez. L'Empereur en principe 
 favorable a 1'idee de donner ce monument a I'Angleterre ; niais a cause 
 des contretemps diplomatiques qui embrouillaient un peu nos relations, 
 il desirait ajourner cette petite affaire. Je reste, quant a moi, charge 
 de votre commission, et des que je verrai le moment favorable de 
 renouveler la demarche, je le ferai avec le grand desir, et, du reste, la, 
 presque certitude de reussir. 
 
 Mille amities devouees, PERSIGNY. 
 
 January 19<7i.--The Austrians and Prussians have decided 
 upon entering Schleswig should the King of Denmark not revoke 
 the Constitution of November 18. 'Their envoys presented a 
 note to that effect 011 the 16th, and, on the refusal of the King,, 
 left Copenhagen on the 18th. 
 
 George B. Mathciv, 1 Esq., C.B., to Lord M. 
 
 San Jot>, Costa Rica : January 20, 1864. 
 
 Dear Lord Malmesbury, I took the liberty of sending to your 
 address one of the famed ' quezals,' whose plumage under the Aztec 
 
 H.M. Charge d' Affaires at Costa Rica, and a very able man. 
 
1861 MEXICAN AFFAIRS. 587 
 
 Emperor was reserved for Imperial wear ; but I have been so unlucky 
 in my attempts to send any sort of parcel to England, that I delayed 
 to write until I heard of their safe arrival there. Guatemala can boast 
 of no other curiosities, and indeed of nothing else save cochineal ; but 
 I trust you will deem the birds deserving a place on your hall table, 
 from their former fame. 
 
 My stay in these wretched Eepublics is drawing to a close, as our 
 objects are, tant Men que mal, carried out, and though I have, inevi- 
 tably, incurred animosities in some quarters, I venture to hope that I 
 have done some good, and have further established, by an impartial 
 course, and by a frank avowal of my opinions, the prestige that should 
 attend an English Minister in these half-civilised countries. Lord 
 Russell has been good enough to give me the C.B., and though some 
 of my friends think I might have expected it on my return from 
 Mexico, and the higher grade now, I feel that any mark of approval 
 from a Minister who may not view with partiality my political opinions 
 and antecedents is very acceptable and gratifying. 
 
 For the last two years Mexican affairs have had a leading influence 
 in some of these Kepublics, and a dream of a French Protectorate, or, 
 at least, of annexation to an Ultra- Catholic Empire in Mexico (nurtured 
 by the unwise and indecent partizanship of the French Charge 
 d' Affaires), induced Guatemala and her paid ally, Nicaragua, to enter 
 upon the late sanguinary war with Salvador and Honduras. The 
 clerical party, who hold despotic sway in Guatemala, through the 
 hands of a debauched Indian savage, have succeeded in overthrowing 
 in the two neighbouring States administrations that had alarmed them 
 by their union and constitutional tendencies, and had offended them 
 by so-termed ' impious ' acts of placing the clergy on a level with 
 others before the ordinary tribunals. Some of the members have been 
 murdered in cold blood, and others, including Barrios, the late Presi- 
 dent of Salvador, have saved their lives' by escaping from the country. 
 Assuredly, the rule of France or of any other Power would therefore 
 be a blessing to humanity, and a great boon to civilisation and com- 
 merce; but M. de Cabarras, in following the precise footsteps of 
 M. Dubois de Saligny, takes the least effectual and the least creditable 
 way of popularising the idea. To describe the utmost excesses of 
 arbitrary despotism, murder, plunder, and an utter absence of justice, 
 as the rule of religion, law, and order, and to accuse those who do not 
 concur in this conclusion of being imbued with revolutionary ideas, is 
 un pen fort, and is not, I think, likely to achiere the object in view. 
 
 I am really glad to gather from the papers that the Emperor has 
 found out at last the real value of M, Dubois' statements, They have 
 
588 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 18G4 
 
 cost France dear ; but even now, if the laws of France as to religious as 
 well as civil matters are declared in force, and if such men as Miramon, 
 Marquez, and others, who, when bought by the clergy, were wholly 
 without any party in the nation, and disgraced their cause by their 
 atrocities, are sent for a time out of the country, an agreement with 
 the National Party in Mexico would be facile. Indeed I feel sure, 
 from my influence with the honest, kind-hearted, but obstinate and 
 ill-informed Juarez, that on such terms I could ensure his submission, 
 which, once declared, would be permanent. But I suffered so much 
 from the rarefied atmosphere being, indeed, threatened with an attack 
 of the same nature as that which has just carried off one of my 
 earliest and best friends, poor Elgin, that I should be very loth to 
 return to Mexico save for a brief visit. All Europe may be interested 
 in the occupation of Mexico by France, whether as an empire or as a 
 protectorate, for it may serve better than Algiers as an outlet for hot 
 blood ; but if peace be long delayed we shall see the unscrupulous 
 Government of Washington pouring into the North their disbanded 
 and homeless soldiers. 
 
 The horizon seems as much clouded in Europe as on this side of 
 the Atlantic. It struck me long ago that it would be wise to tempt the 
 Duke of Augustenburg with Greece ! 
 
 No man can read the horrors perpetrated in Poland without indig- 
 nation. I know 110 kindlier man than the Emperor Alexander, with 
 whom I was once on very friendly terms at Kome ; but there is much 
 irritable weakness in his character, and he needs the influence of good 
 men to counteract the bad about him. The savage hatred felt towards 
 all Poles by the older men in the Russian nobility is as unaccountable 
 as it is deep. At all events, Russia can no longer quote treaties in 
 Greece or in the East : ' Quis tulerit Gracchos de seditione querentes ? ' 
 Very faithfully yours, GEORGE B. MATHEW. 
 
 January Sith. I have been very ill for the last month, and 
 living upon opiates. Lord Derby came to see me to-day, and gave 
 me an outline of his intended speech at the meeting of Parliament, 
 which is, of course, an attack upon Lord Russell's foreign policy. 
 He and Lady Derby are going to Osborne next Thursday. He is 
 decidedly Danish. 
 
 January 25th. Mr. Bentinck called to tell me that the 
 Austrians and Prussians have refused the request of the Danish 
 Government for delay to enable their Parliament to meet and 
 
1864 RESIGNATION OF LORD JOHN RUSSELL. 589 
 
 deliberate upon the withdrawal of the Constitution for Schleswig, 
 and intend to invade the province directly. 
 
 January 27th. The ' Standard ' of this morning contains an 
 article, which was sent by Brurmow, saying that at the Cabinet 
 held last Monday Ministers arrived at a very grave decision re- 
 specting the Dano-German conflict that that decision had been 
 submitted by Lord Russell to her Majesty, and that despatches 
 had been sent off to the Ambassadors at the Courts of Prussia 
 and Austria, notifying the hostile attitude that the Government 
 of Great Britain would be compelled to assume in the event 
 of the Prussian and Austrian troops invading Schleswig. The 
 French Government is, it is said, upon this point at union with 
 the British, and it is hoped that with the prospect of this opposi- 
 tion the great German Powers will not persist in provoking a war. 
 January 29th. The ' Standard ' has an article this morning 
 announcing Lord Russell's resignation on account of his disagree- 
 ment with his colleagues, as he takes the German side. This is 
 not true. The Prussians and Austrians are advancing towards 
 the Eider with the intention of entering Schleswig ; the Danes 
 are preparing to resist, but can have little chance unless England 
 or France come to their assistance, which the latter, it is said, is 
 ready to do, but the Queen will not hear of going to war with 
 Germany. No doubt this country would like to fight for the 
 Danes, and, from what is said, I infer that the Government is 
 inclined to support them also, but finds great difficulties in the 
 opposition of the Queen. 1 
 
 January 3lst. A dreadful catastrophe occurred at Santiago 
 on December 8, at a religious ceremony at the Jesuits' Church. 
 A transparency on the altar caught fire, and the flames were 
 communicated so rapidly to the muslin and gauze dressing that 
 was hung all over the church that very few made their escape. 
 The men, who were in a separate part of the church, divided by a 
 grating, got away, but 2,000 women, comprising the greatest part 
 of the ladies of Santiago, most of them young girls with their 
 
 1 It is perhaps well that we did not enter into this contest, as our army was 
 not armed at that time, like the Prussian?, with the breechloader, and we should 
 probably have suffered in consequence the same disaster as the Austrians did two 
 years later. 
 
590 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1864 
 
 mothers, were burnt to death. The lamps were filled with paraffin 
 oil, which fell upon the poor women in streams of liquid fire, and 
 the work of destruction was so rapid that but a quarter of an 
 hour elapsed from the beginning to the end. The bigotry of the 
 people in Santiago can hardly be believed if we did not know as 
 a fact that there is a public post-office for the Virgin, who corre- 
 sponds personally with her votaries. 
 
 February 2nd. The Prussians have entered Schleswig. The 
 Danes withdrew. Count de Flahault has been made Chancellor 
 of the Legion of Honour a great place, which gives him a large 
 salary and a fine house in Paris. 
 
 February 6th. News from Reiidsburg says that in the attack 
 upon Jagel on the 3rd, the Austrians, who were repulsed, lost 600 
 men and many officers, since which there has been more fighting, 
 and the Danes were defeated, although the Austrians lost seven- 
 teen officers and 500 men. The Prussian Press now declares that 
 Schleswig-Holsteiii is irreparably separated from Denmark, and 
 that Avar puts an end to treaties. 
 
 February $tk. Severe fighting at Flensburg. Barricades 
 were erected in the street, and the Austrians lost 1,100 men. 
 Most of the Danish troops have escaped to Alsen Island, but, 
 the channel being only 1,000 yards broad, they will not be secure 
 from the cannon. News from Vienna of yesterday says that a 
 Council of Ministers was held, under the presidency of the 
 Emperor, on the 7th, at which highly important resolutions were 
 passed, the purport of which was that the London treaty of 1852 
 can no longer be considered by Austria as a basis of negotiation. 
 I made a speech yesterday in the House of Lords, explaining the 
 share I took in that treaty ; and Lord Russell, though he con- 
 fessed, in reply to my questions, that the Government had received 
 no guarantee that Austria and Prussia would evacuate Schleswig 
 when the King of Denmark had fulfilled his engagements, yet 
 said they were bound by that treaty to respect the integrity of 
 the Danish monarchy. Lord Palmerstoii made the same declara- 
 tion in the House of Commons. If it is true that Austria has 
 committed such a breach of faith, I hope she will lose Veiietia. 
 
 February \\th. The Duke of Augusteiiburg is proclaimed 
 everywhere in Holstein and Schleswig in the presence of the 
 
1864 PRUSSIAN REPULSE AT DUPPEL. 591 
 
 Austrians and Prussians, who make no objection, thereby making 
 it very evident that they do not intend restoring the Duchies to 
 Denmark. 
 
 February \Sth. The Austrians are said to show symptoms of 
 backing out of the war, probably frightened for Yenetia, as the 
 Italians are evidently preparing themselves. 
 
 February IQth. The Danes are in the island of Alseii and at 
 Diippel, a fortified place in the mainland. General Meza's retreat 
 has saved the Danish army, for it was too weak to hold the 
 Dannewerke, and would have been cut off had he delayed. 
 
 February 2lst. I hear that Lord Russell h*as sent for M. Bille, 1 
 the Danish Minister, and told him his Government must not 
 depend upon any material support from England, as we would 
 not go to war for Denmark. M. Bille asked if an invasion of 
 Jutland would make us alter our minds, and Lord Russell replied 
 that, even if the Germans went to Copenhagen, it would make no 
 difference. The Prussians occupied Jutland for two days, but 
 have retired in consequence of orders from Berlin. 
 
 February 23rd. The Prussians made an attack on the village 
 of Diippel yesterday, but were repulsed, leaving many dead and 
 wounded on the field. The Danes lost 200 men ; the battle lasted 
 four hours. 
 
 February 24cth. The Government had a majority of 25 last 
 night on Mr. Fitzgerald's motion for copies of the correspondence 
 between the Government and Messrs. Laird relating to the steam- 
 ram. House divided : 178 to 153. 
 
 On a motion for the Schleswig-Holstein papers they had a still 
 larger majority. Lord Palmerston was ill in bed with cold and 
 "out, but was sent for, his colleagues being much alarmed, and 
 came tottering in after the division had taken place. Austria and 
 Prussia have accepted our proposal for a conference to be held in 
 London, but the war is to go on just the same. 
 
 March 1st. I dined at Maryborough House. The Princess of 
 Wales told me that her father and mother's health had suffered 
 much from the constant anxiety they had gone through. 
 
 March Qth. I passed the morning writing copies of my letters 
 to the Prince of Schleswig, the latter having begun a correspon- 
 J Danish Minister in London, 
 
592 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1861 
 
 dence on the subject of Schleswig-Holstein by asking me to 
 retract a statement I had made in the House of Lords, which I 
 refused to do. 
 
 March 9th. Lord Derby called, and seems preoccupe. I 
 believe he is much puzzled what to do on the Danish question. 
 All his party are for the Danes, and he also sympathises with 
 them ; but the Court is against them. As Lord Bath was there 
 and is very German, of course Lord Derby did not feel himself on 
 safe ground. 
 
 Everybody is talking of Count Bernstorff s having refused to 
 drink the King of Denmark's health at the banquet at Buckingham 
 Palace yesterday, after the christening of the young prince, the 
 child of the Prince and Princess of Wales. He, however, denies 
 the whole thing, and gave an official denial to Lord Russell. 
 
 From the Comtesse de Flahault (on the death of the 
 Due de Morny). 
 
 Paris: March 11,1864. 
 
 Alas ! dear Lord Malmesbury, all was over at eight o'clock yester- 
 day morning, and I have only to thank you for your kind sympathy, 
 which we feel deeply. We are overwhelmed with grief at this most 
 unlooked-for misfortune, but M. de Flahault has gone through these 
 trying scenes with courage and composure, and will, I hope, now be 
 able to take some rest. It has been a comfort having Emily with us, 
 and Shelburne arrived last night. You, who knew Auguste well, will 
 understand how well he merited all our love, and what a loss he is to 
 his family. In Paris the consternation is general, and there is every 
 demonstration of its being felt as a public calamity. The Emperor is 
 deeply affected, and on the evening of his death was for two hours at 
 his bedside, where we were assembled. 
 
 Adieu, dear Lord Malmesbury, again . . . Believe me truly yours, 
 
 M. M. DE FLAHAULT, K.N. 
 
 I ought not to omit that the Empress was there also, and very kind. 
 
 March 12th. I was introduced to the new French Ambas- 
 sador, the Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne. He is very pompous, 
 and much out of humour with this country, declaring that 
 England is more bound than any other to support the Danes, 
 because the treaty of 1852 was signed in London. The sympathies 
 
1864 GARIBALDI IX LOXDOX. 593 
 
 of our party are entirely with the Danes, and the Emperor 
 Napoleon would be ready to declare war against the Germans if 
 we would join him ; but, in my opinion, neither his army nor ours 
 would have been equal to such a policy, for neither of us have the 
 needle-gun, with which the Prussians are armed. 
 
 March 18^. Sir Henry Stracey moved a vote of censure on 
 Mr. Stansfeld, for allowing himself to be the medium of communi- 
 cation between. Mazzini and his friends. The subject was mooted 
 ten days ago, and Mr. Stansf eld's explanation was unsatisfactory, 
 as he confined himself to praising Mazzini, and evaded answering 
 the question whether the name of Fiori or Flower was an alias of 
 Mazzini's or not. The subject being resumed to-day, he at last 
 confessed very reluctantly that he had allowed Mazzini to have 
 his letters addressed to his (Mr. Stansfeld's) house under that 
 name. A division took place, and Sir Henry Stracey's motion 
 was only negatived by ten : 171 to 161. The Government 
 defended him vigorously, and the utmost efforts were made to get 
 a good majority. Considering that Mazzini's policy was perfectly 
 well known to be founded on assassination, and that they must 
 have known it, they can hardly have been proud of this victory. 
 Lord Palmerston, however, seems not to think so, as, when 
 Mr. Stansfeld offered to resign his place under Government, he 
 refused, and said he would take the responsibility upon himself. 1 
 
 April 12th. Garibaldi has arrived in London, and went to 
 Stafford House. His reception was enthusiastic. 
 
 April \Wi. We dined at Stafford House to meet Garibaldi. 
 The party consisted of the Palmerstons, Russells, Gladstones, 
 Argylls, Shaftesburys, Dufferins, ifcc., and other Whigs, the 
 Derbys and ourselves being the only Conservatives ; so I greatly 
 fear we have made a mistake, and that our party will be dis- 
 gusted at our going. Lady Shaftesbury told ms after dinner, in a 
 mechanic manner, that we had fallen into a trap, to which I 
 answered that I was very much obliged to those who laid it, as I 
 should be very sorry not to have seen Garibaldi. The Dowager 
 Duchess of Sutherland walked off with him to her boudoir, where 
 he smoked. This created great astonishment and amusement, as 
 
 1 On any question concerning Italy or an Italian Lord Palmerston had no 
 scruples. 
 
 QQ 
 
594 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1864 
 
 this boudoir, which is fitted up most magnificently with hangings 
 of velvet and everything that is most costly, has been considered 
 such a sacred spot that few favoured mortals have ever been 
 admitted into its precincts ; and to allow anyone to smoke in it 
 is most astonishing to all who know the Duchess. 
 
 The Government were defeated last night, on the motion of 
 Lord Robert Cecil, 1 on the reports of the inspectors of schools, by 
 101 to 93. 
 
 April 15th. Our party are furious with us and Lord Derby 
 for dining with the Sutherlands last Wednesday, and Lord Bath 
 has written to Lord Colville to resign his office of Whip, and says 
 he will not spend a farthing upon elections. Lord Derby has 
 written him a very temperate letter. 
 
 April ISth. I dined with the Clanricardes to meet Garibaldi, 
 and smoked a cigar with him after dinner. He spoke very sensibly, 
 and, far from seeming proud of the fuss that was made with him, 
 he said he feared it might become ridiculous. Sir Robert Peel, 
 talking of Rome, said that he did not think it possible to get rid 
 of the Papacy ; that Garibaldi might drive the Pope out of Rome, 
 but another would be elected as long as the Roman Catholic 
 religion existed. Garibaldi replied, * Yous 1'avez bien fait, cepen- 
 dant.' Again, some one said that the career of the present Em- 
 peror Napoleon was a more successful one than that of the first. 
 Garibaldi answered, ( Ilfaut attendre la Jin.' 
 
 Diippel has fallen, and the Danes have lost many officers and 
 men. 
 
 April 20th. Garibaldi leaves England on Friday. Lord 
 Clarendon, who has just returned from Paris, has informed the 
 Government that the Emperor has made that the condition of his 
 joining with us in the conference ; and certainly there must be 
 some intrigue, as Mr. Ferguson, the surgeon, writes a letter to the 
 Duke of Sutherland which is published saying it would be 
 dangerous for Garibaldi's health if he exposed himself to the 
 fatigue of an expedition to Manchester, &c. On the other hand, 
 Dr. Basile, Garibaldi's own doctor, says he is perfectly well and 
 able to undergo all the fatigue of a journey to the manufacturing j 
 
 1 Now Marquis of Salisbury, 1884. 
 
1864 ARLES. 595 
 
 towns. The publication of this letter in contradiction to Mr. 
 Ferguson's must have been done with Garibaldi's consent ; it shows 
 he is angry, and does not leave England willingly. 
 
 April 22nd. Garibaldi goes to-day to Cliefden, where he 
 remains with the Dowager-Duchess of Sutherland until the 25th, 
 when he leaves for Plymouth. 
 
 The Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Mary attacked me 
 for going to Stafford House to meet him, saying that they ad- 
 mired my devotion to Lord Derby, which induced me to accept 
 the invitation. 
 
 April 28th. We had a dinner for the Duke of Cambridge, the 
 Princess Edward, the Tankervilles, Lady Ely, Sir A. and Lady 
 Paget, Colonel and Mrs. Macdonald, the Cadores, Lord Clan- 
 william, Lord E. St. Maur, and Count Apponyi. Lord Bath 
 complained of Sir Augustus Clifford's having turned 011 the gas in 
 the House of Lords when Garibaldi entered ; and said he had told 
 Sir Augustus that he meant to bring his conduct before the House, 
 but that Sir Augustus expressed his regret and begged to be let off 
 on account of his old friendship with Lord Bath's father. So Lord 
 Bath forgave him. This story was received with a good deal of 
 laughter, which Lord Bath took very well. 
 
 On May 6 I crossed to Paris, and, after two or three days, 
 taking the road to Lyons, went down the Rhone to Aries, a very 
 interesting old town, evidently peopled in former times by a colony 
 from Central Italy, so very remarkable is the physique of the in- 
 habitants. The women are proverbially handsome, but entirely of 
 the Etruscan type, with magnificent dark hair and eyes, good 
 teeth, and fair complexions. They have beautiful round throats, 
 set on fine shoulders and busts, but their legs are much too shoit 
 for their general build. I had a good opportunity of seeing the 
 population, as it was a jour de fete, and there were games in the 
 square, such as climbing a greased pole for a leg of mutton placed 
 at the top, which no one succeeded in winning. The women 
 were all in costume, with black veils worn like the mantilla. 
 I noticed that the men were remarkably plain, sallow, undersized, 
 
 Q Q 2 
 
596 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1864 
 
 and narrow-chested in every way a striking contrast to the 
 women. 
 
 The old Roman Amphitheatre here is very perfect, with towers 
 added in the Middle Ages. Having heard of an old feudal castle 
 called Les Baux, some twelve or fourteen miles from Aries, I took 
 a carriage to visit it. We passed through an arid country till we 
 reached a village with an ancient tower and other buildings, at 
 the foot of which was a hermit's cell very curiously contrived in 
 the rock, where there was a secret way of escaping and hiding in 
 the deeper recesses in case of danger. Here was the hermit's bed of 
 stone ; he is supposed to have been the first to introduce Christi- 
 anity in that country. His name, which I forget, is held in high 
 reverence, and a church there is dedicated to his memory. 
 
 Proceeding on my road, the mountains loom in the distance 
 with the colour of yellow sandstone, and, on their summit, the 
 castle and town of Les Baux. They appear perfectly bare and 
 scorched by the burning sun of Provence. At the foot of the moun- 
 tain there were some beautiful pomegranates and fine cypresses, 
 but no other vegetation. The ascent to the town is winding and 
 very steep. At the top there are the remains of a street of what 
 must have been formerly very handsome houses, the ruins of which 
 show the remains of the Renaissance carvings on the door-posts. 
 A solitary priest came out of a small church, kept in tolerable 
 order, and lamented the fate that forced him to live in so desolate 
 a region. Higher up you reach a plateau with the castle and an 
 enormous piyeonnier sign of feudal privilege. 
 
 From quite a short distance the whole town is invisible, as it 
 is not built of stone, but hewn out of the solid rock. It is alto- 
 gether the most curious place I ever visited, and hardly ever seen 
 by English travellers, although it is worth any trouble. From the 
 summit the view is splendid, with a mirage which makes the plain 
 below look like the sea. It was on these plains that Charles 
 Martel gained a final victory over the Saracens. 
 
 After this I retraced my steps to Grenoble, close to which 
 Casimir Perier has a very fine chateau ; and, after seeing the 
 Great St. Bernard, I proceeded through Geneva to Berne to pay 
 a visit to my brother, who is Minister there. I returned to Paris 
 by the Basle Railway. 
 
1864 THE * ALABAMA ' AND * KEARSAGE.' 597 
 
 On passing through Paris I had a satisfactory conversation 
 with Drouyii de 1'Huys, and there I also heard of the death of the 
 Due de Malakoff, partly caused by his annoyance at the insur- 
 rection which has broken out in Algeria. 
 
 June 1st. I returned from Paris, and we dined with the 
 Derbys. Fred Stanley was married yesterday to Lady Constance 
 Villiers. 
 
 June 8th. Left London for Heron Court to see the famous 
 rhododendrons, which are all in flower. 
 
 June \\th. Returned to London. 
 
 June 16th. Went to a party at the Duchess of Buccleuch's, 
 where Count Sabouroff told me that, at the last meeting of the 
 Conference, the Germans proposed to submit the disputed territory 
 in Schleswig to arbitration, that this was supported by the neutral 
 Powers, and the Danish plenipotentiaries had asked for delay to 
 refer to their Court. He could, or would, not tell me who is 
 to be arbitrator, but everybody supposes it will be the French 
 Emperor. 
 
 June 17 th. There was a debate in the House of Commons on 
 the Ashanti question. Lord Palmerston made an angry speech, 
 accusing and misrepresenting Lord Derby's Government for hav- 
 ing established a protectorate of the Fanti tribes, which has got 
 us into the present difficulty. This was denied by Disraeli, who 
 asserted that it began in 1826, and Lord Palmerston had not a 
 word to say in reply. The House divided, and Government had 
 a majority of seven. 
 
 Both sides cheered when the numbers were read, ours being 
 pleased at the smallness of the majority and glad not to turn out 
 the Government on a comparatively unimportant question. 
 
 June 20th. The papers to-day give an account of a naval engage- 
 ment off Cherbourg between the celebrated Confederate blockade- 
 runner the ' Alabama ' and the Federal ship ' Kearsage.' After 
 about an hour's fighting, a shot struck the * Alabama ' just above 
 the water line, and she sank. The crew jumped overboard, and a 
 great many were saved by an English steam -yacht, the 'Deer- 
 hound/ which picked up Captain Semmes, thirteen officers, many 
 
598 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1864 
 
 men, and immediately steamed off with them to Southampton, the 
 Americans saving a good many more. 
 
 June 27th. The armistice having expired between the Ger- 
 mans and Danes, hostilities have recommenced by the Prussian 
 batteries opening fire upon Alsen. 
 
 I went to the House of Lords, which was immensely full, the 
 anxiety being very great to hear the explanation of the Govern- 
 ment with respect to the war. Lord Russell got up and spoke for 
 nearly two hours ; for the first half-hour he was almost inaudible, 
 but after that I heard enough to know that the Government were 
 for peace at any price, and meant to desert the Danes. Lord 
 Derby, who was in his place, though suffering from gout, answered 
 him, and after deprecating any discussion, begged his party to say 
 nothing that evening. 
 
 June 29th. I went to the ball at Buckingham Palace. There 
 was a great crowd and some ridiculous-looking women in high 
 dresses. The royal party came in by a door close to the dais, so 
 they did not pass up the room, and sat down without taking notice 
 of anybody. 
 
 Everybody is talking of the absurd ending of Lord Palmer- 
 ston's speech last Monday, in which he said that ' if the Govern- 
 ment had reason to expect to see at Copenhagen the horrors of a 
 town taken by assault, the destruction of property, the sacrifice 
 of the lives, not only of its defenders, but of its peaceful inha- 
 bitants, the confiscations which would ensue, and the capture of 
 the sovereign as a prisoner of war,' he (Lord Palmerston) ' did not 
 mean to say that if any of those events were likely to happen, the 
 position of this country might not be subject to reconsideration.' 
 
 July 3rd. Lord foerby is so ill with the gout that he cannot 
 bring on the question of the correspondence between Denmark and 
 Germany next Friday, and he has deputed me to do it in his place, 
 and Lords Salisbury, 1 Donoughmore, Colville, Hardwicke, 2 Car- 
 narvon, and Chelmsford came this afternoon at one o'clock to 
 consult with me respecting the motion to be made in the House 
 of Lords. 
 
 Lord Derby is nervous in consequence of some objections made 
 
 i The late Lord Salisbury. 2 The late Lord HardAvicke. 
 
1864 
 
 MURDER OF MR. BRIGGS BY MULLER. 
 
 599 
 
 jy the Duke of Buccleuch l and Lord Stanhope, who talk of a 
 iollision between the two Houses, and he fears the party will not 
 
 unanimous. I am, however, for going on with it, and so were 
 the rest. We adjourned at two o'clock to Lord Salisbury's, 
 where a large meeting took place, I being in the chair. The 
 [two above-named peers, with Lords Winchester and Bath, made 
 [some difficulties, but ended by giving way, and it was settled 
 unanimously that the same resolution which Disraeli makes to-day 
 in the Commons is to be moved on Friday in the Lords. I went 
 yesterday to Disraeli to settle about this, he merely pointing to a 
 chair. I did not sit down, but gave him the message Lord Derby 
 | had sent, and went aAvay. After the meeting at Lord Salisbury's 
 I went to Lord Derby's to report what had occurred. He was 
 [ pleased to hear that the motion was not given up, but he was in 
 such dreadful pain that I did not stay. 
 
 July Sth. I went to the House of Lords to bring forward my 
 resolution against the foreign policy of the Government. The 
 Duke of Argyll replied, and then Lord Brougham got up, being 
 followed by Lords Chelmsford and Carnarvon. The division took 
 place at half-past two A.M., and we had a majority of nine 177 
 to 168. In the House of Commons the Government had a majority 
 of eighteen 313 to 295. 
 
 July llth. A horrible murder was committed last Saturday 
 evening in a first-class carriage on the North London Railway. 
 The victim was Mr. Briggs, a clerk in Robartes's bank, who was 
 attacked, robbed, and thrown from the carriage. 
 
 After giving a dinner for the Duchess of Cambridge and 
 Princess Mary, we went to Lady Rokeby's, who had tableaux, 
 which were beautifully got up, and would have been better still 
 if the singing behind the scenes had been in tune. 
 
 July \3th. Mr. Briggs's chain has been identified. It was 
 pawned by a man who had the appearance of a foreigner. 
 
 July '24:th. The murderer of Mr. Briggs is suspected to be a 
 German tailor, called Franz Miiller. Miiller had bought a hat of 
 a certain Matthews, who identified it as being the one found in 
 the railway carriage after the murder. 
 
 i The Puke of Buccleuch died 1884, 
 
600 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1864 
 
 August 2nd. I went to Lowther Castle and Lady Malmesbury 
 to Chillingham. 
 
 August 17 th, Heron Court. This place is completely burnt 
 up ; the lawn is like a stubble field, there are no vegetables in the 
 kitchen garden, the farmers are obliged to feed their cattle on hay, 
 and all the small birds are starving as if in a hard frost. 
 
 August 2\st. Rain, has come at last and penetrated about an 
 inch into the ground, so it will do some good. 
 
 September 7th. News has arrived of the capture of Miiller at 
 New York with Mr. Briggs's hat and chain upon him, and it is 
 thought that he will arrive in England about the 15th. 
 
 I leave London for Paris on the 27th. 
 
 October 2nd, Aix-les- Bains. I went down to Lyons and 
 Avignon, where I found the cold so intense that I proceeded to 
 Aix-les- Bains, but without any improvement. The weather here 
 is bitter, and I am writing, shivering close to a blazing fire. I 
 shall go back to Paris. 
 
 October 18th. Reached Paris, which is much warmer than the 
 South of France. 
 
 October \$th. Returned to London. 
 
 October 30th. The murderer Miiller has been convicted and 
 sentenced to death. 
 
 November 3rd. We left London by the Paddington Railway 
 and reached Hugheiiden by three o'clock. Mrs. Disraeli was at 
 home, and after luncheon we took a walk in the woods. She says 
 she has laid them out herself, and certainly she deserves great 
 credit, as I never saw any prettier. They are very extensive, on 
 two sides of a narrpw valley, with walks in all directions. We 
 returned about four, just as the rest of the party came back from 
 Cliefclen. It was composed of the Duke and Duchess of Wel- 
 lington, Lord and Lady Raglan, Lord Orford, and Mr. Courtenay. 
 The dinner was very gay ; Disraeli exerted himself to the utmost 
 to be agreeable. The evening was very short, Mrs. Disraeli sending 
 us all to bed at half-past ten. 
 
 November 4th. Beautiful day. We all went out driving 
 through Hampden Park, where there are some fine beeches and a 
 long grass drive, down which Hampden rode at the head of his 
 men (not soldiers) to present the Bill of Rights to Charles I, We 
 
186-1 
 
 OLD HOUSE IN SALISBURY CLOSE. 
 
 601 
 
 then crossed the Chiltern Hills, and on reaching a plateau, from 
 whence there is a beautiful view, we got out of the carriage and 
 walked down the hill to a lovely spot at Chequers Court, called 
 Velvet Lawn, where we had luncheon, after which we returned 
 to the carriage and drove through Lady Frankland Russell's park 
 home. 
 
 November 1th. Left London for Broke Hall, in Norfolk, which 
 is hired by the Charteris' for the shooting. The owner is the 
 grandson of the celebrated Sir Philip Broke, who captured the 
 American frigate ' Chesapeake ' by boarding her. The figure-head 
 of the * Shannon,' which he commanded, stands at the entrance to 
 the house. 
 
 November llth, London. Miiller was hanged this morning. 
 He refused to confess until the last moment, till the rope was 
 round his neck, when he said to the clergyman : ' Ich hab' es 
 gethan ! ' 
 
 November 15th. We heard of the death of my cousin, Lord 
 Manners. 
 
 November 16th. We went to Leiston Old Abbey, Mr. William 
 Rose's place in Suffolk, where we met the Carletons ' and Colonel 
 Tower, and had very good partridge-shooting. 
 
 November 17th. We left London for Longleat. Nobody there 
 but Lady Louisa Fielding and Lord Canterbury. 
 
 November 18th. A fall of snow in the night and hard frost. 
 Had service in the chapel belonging to the house. 
 
 November 19th. Left Longleat for Heron Court. Whilst in 
 Salisbury, on my way home, went to see my old family house in 
 the Close, a most curious and gloomy abode. There are fifty-one 
 rooms in it and a great many passages and staircases altogether 
 a most ghostly place. The snow was so deep that we were obliged 
 to put four horses to the fly from Fording Bridge to Ringwoocl, 
 whence it took us an hour and a half to get to Heron Court, only 
 seven miles. 
 
 November 23rd. Was shot badly in the face, and was laid up 
 for four days. 
 
 November 30th. Accounts from America all tend against the 
 Confederates, 
 
 1 Now Lord and Lady Dorchester, 
 
602 MKMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1801 
 
 Mr. Bidwell, of the Foreign Office, told me that the Emperor 
 of the French had offered us a defensive alliance in case we en- 
 gaged in war against Germany, meaning, I suppose, in case of 
 England being invaded. 
 
 Lord Derby to Lord Malmeabury. 
 
 Knowslej- : December 9, 1864. 
 
 My dear Mahnesbury, I am glad you arc pleased with the Homer. 
 I never was more astonished in my life than on reading the puff of it 
 in (lie 'Times'! by whom written I have not the least idea, and 
 Murray professes himself as much at a loss as I am. However it may 
 be, it threw out a bait to the ingenuous British public, the result of 
 which has been that the first edition of 1,000 copies has been disposed 
 of in a week, and that a second, of double that number, is in the press, 
 sind will be out in a fortnight. I was sorry you could not come to us 
 this week; but, as it happens, I should not have seen much of you if 
 you had, for I have again been confined to my bed with a renewed 
 nit.ick, and have not yet left my room, though I hope I am on the way 
 to recovery. 
 
 The Baillie-Cochranes came here on Saturday and stayed till "Wed- 
 nesday, but I was not able to see them. I have not, however, given 
 ii]) the hope of seeing you yet if not this year, at least this season, for 
 I am going to write to Dizzy and some of our political friends, to ask 
 them if they can come here for a few days on the 9th of next month, 
 and I shall still have a good beat or two imtouched, so as to mix a little 
 shooting with our politics. If we should make up such a party, could 
 you join it? You would find companions, whether you shot or not; but 
 I hope you will find yourself equal to it at Wimpole, if not to one of 
 ] >a th's tremendous days. Every yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 The Earl of Malmesbury. G.C.B. 
 
 1865 
 
 J,/ ;/,/,-,/ :V( /.Lord and Lady Bath, Mr. Fane, and Col. and 
 Lady Margaret Charteris arrived at Heron Court. A very agree- 
 able party. 
 
 January I%th, Sir A. Paget, Lochiel, Mrs. Brett, Sir William 
 Jolliffe and his two daughters canu\ We shot the park, and the 
 
lS6o DEATH OF LADY TAXKERVILLE. 603 
 
 Miss Jollifies accompanied us. In the evening we all went to the 
 >all at Christchurch. 
 
 We left the ball with Mr. and Mrs. Brett, and found a storm 
 aging outside the ball-room rain coming down in torrents, and 
 he wind so high that the horses could hardly get on. I thought 
 several times that the omnibus would have been blown over. We 
 were obliged to go a roundabout way, as some cottages were on 
 fire in the street, the flames preventing any passage, and adding 
 :o the horrors of the hurricane. 
 
 January \th. We left Heron Court suddenly with pur guests, 
 Lady Malmesbury having heard that her mother, Lady Tanker- 
 "ille, has had a stroke of paralysis. 
 
 January 18A, London. Lady Tankerville lingered three days, 
 when the Abbe Tourzel thought her so ill that he would not put 
 )ff any longer administering extreme unction. She bore the 
 ceremony very well, and was quite aware of all that was going on, 
 k \ ery time he made the sign of the cross. 
 
 She was a remarkable woman, and we all very much lament 
 ler. Ossulston passes the whole day with my wife, which is a 
 pneat comfort to me, as he is always so kind and sympathetic. 
 
 January '26th. Lady Willoughby d'Eresby died to-day. She 
 was one of Lady Tankerville's most intimate friends, and, as they 
 entered the world together, they left it together within a few days. 
 5he was one of the four or five ladies who, for forty years, had 
 >een ' the glass of fashion.' 
 
 Lady Palmenton to Lord M. on the death of Lady Tankerville. 1 
 
 Brocket : January 29, 18*4. 
 
 My dear Lord Malmesbury, I cannot say how thankful I'felt for 
 vour very kind letter, and for the considerate feeling that induced you 
 
 write to me at a moment when I was so deeply afflicted, and when 
 your assurance gave me a double satisfaction, as it strongly verified the 
 lope that I had already felt as a consolation, that her end was a meet 
 lappy one, and that she suffered no pain or anxiety. She is a great 
 .oss to me, after an intimacy of so many years ; but I do feel it a great 
 comfort that she had such a blessed death and expired in the arms of 
 
 i Lady Palmenton and Lady Tankerrffle had been intimate friends for more 
 than fifty years. 
 
604 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1865 
 
 her children, to whom she was so devotedly attached. I hope clear 
 Emma has not suffered in her health from the sad scene she had to go 
 through for so many days, and believe me, dear Lord Malmesbury, 
 yours ever very sincerely, B. PALMERSTON. 
 
 Palmerston was, like me, very thankful for your letter, and he regrets 
 almost as much as I do the loss of such an attached and excellent friend 
 so attractive and so good. 
 
 February \st. Another blow has fallen upon my family. The 
 wife of my younger brother, Charles, has died of scarlet fever. I 
 got a letter from him a few clays ago, condoling with me upon my 
 mother-in-law's death. 
 
 February 1th. Parliament meets to-day, but is not opened by 
 the Queen. 
 
 February $th. Lord Derby spoke very well at the opening, 
 and with great fluency, but he looks very ill. His last attack of 
 gout was very serious, and for some hours he was in great danger. 
 
 February 15th. Ossulston and I had great sport at the wild- 
 fowl on the Moor's River. He had a good story about the examin- 
 ation at a boys' school. The master asked why Moses left Egypt. 
 The boy answered : ' You know, sir ; that little affair with Poti- 
 phar's wife.' 
 
 March 1st. I hear that Lord Willoughby, when dying, would 
 not see his daughter at the last. She passed the whole day in the 
 house, hoping to see him, but he never sent for her. I know this 
 was not from want of affection, as he was extremely fond of her ; 
 but both he and Lady Willoughby have all their lives had a 
 horror of anything painful, and have carefully shunned anything 
 that could agitate them, so I have 110 doubt that he dreaded 
 her emotion, for he was in perfect possession of his faculties. I 
 believe it was the same with Lady Willoughby, who was very 
 religious. I suppose they wished to avoid taking leave of those 
 they loved, and to pass their last hours undisturbed by any dis- 
 tressing scenes. 
 
 March 4:th. News from America says that Charleston was 
 evacuated by the Confederates on February 17, and 200 pieces of 
 cannon taken. It is said that the French have been defeated in 
 Mexico by Juarez. The Due cle Gramont called. 
 
1865 'MALE AND FEMALE/ 605 
 
 All London is talking of the way in which the Corps Diplo- 
 matique has been invited to the Queen's reception. It was, afe 
 far as I could understand, in these terms : ' That the Queen would 
 graciously receive them, male and female ', at a Court to be held at 
 Buckingham Palace.' 
 
 All those concerned are trying to shift the responsibility upon 
 one another. The diplomatists have sent their cards of invitation 
 to their respective Courts ; and therefore it has produced a great 
 sensation all over the world, as the term mdle et femelle is never 
 used in French, except in speaking of animals. 
 
 March \3th. I attended the Queen's reception at Buckingham 
 Palace. Her Majesty inquired very kindly after Lady Malmes- 
 bury, who has been very ill. 
 
 March 22nd. The Government were beaten last night on the 
 Fire Insurance Duty by a majority of 72, the resolution for a 
 reduction of the duty being carried in spite of Gladstone's 
 opposition. 
 
 March 27th. The Duchess of Maryborough called with her 
 daughter, Lady Cornelia. l Such a pretty, graceful girl ; very 
 distinguished in her appearance, amiable and intelligent, and with 
 a beautiful complexion. 
 
 March 29th. I dined at Marlborough House ; very pleasant 
 evening. Parry sang some amusing comic songs, and the party 
 did not break up till half -past twelve. 
 
 April 1st. Lord Desart died this morning. He had been ill 
 some years with a creeping palsy. 
 
 A dissolution is expected on July 15, and Colonel Taylor, our 
 Whip, says we shall gain twenty-five seats. 
 
 April 5th. It is said that the Russian plague is approaching 
 England, but Briinnpw told me that there is always a fever at 
 Petersburg at this time of the year, as the lower classes feed 
 chiefly on frozen fish. 
 
 April 15th. News from America of April 4 would appear to 
 show that it is all over with the Confederates. After three days' 
 severe lighting, Grant and Sheridan succeeded in turning Lee's 
 right wing, and driving him into Pittsburg. Lee has been de- 
 feated again since that, with great loss~oT prisoners and guns. 
 1 Ladv C'Wnolia < 'luirclii'.l afterwards married Lord \Vinilonu>. 
 
606 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1865 
 
 April 25th. The Czarewitcli died yesterday. The Princess 
 Dagmar, whom he had expressed a wish to see, and who was 
 betrothed to him, arrived with her mother the day before his 
 death. 1 
 
 April 26th. Miss Constance Kent has confessed to having 
 murdered her half-brother on June 29, 1860, and came to London 
 yesterday to surrender herself. She was accompanied by the 
 Rev. Mr. Wagner, of St. Paul's, Brighton, to whom she had 
 revealed her guilt. She behaved with great composure, and I 
 hope it will be proved she was mad, as her mother and grand- 
 mother were so. 
 
 The report of President Lincoln's assassination is true. He 
 was shot through the head at Ford's Theatre, at Washington. 
 The assassin procured admission to his private box on pretence 
 of bearing despatches from General Grant, and shot him with a 
 double-barrelled pistol. He then jumped upon the stage, flourish- 
 ing a dagger, and exclaimed, * Sic semper tyrannis ! ' and made his 
 escape through the back entrance to the theatre. He is an actor 
 of the name of Wilkes Booth, and has been arrested. About the 
 same time an attempt was made to assassinate Mr. Seward. 
 
 April 3Qtk. Dr. Pusey has sent a letter to the ' Churchman/ 
 praising Gladstone and urging the High Church party to support 
 Lord Palmerston, also giving his opinion that universal suffrage 
 would strengthen the Church. 
 
 May 1st. The Emperor of the French left Paris on the 29th 
 for Algiers, against the reclamations of all his Ministers. He is 
 in bad health, and goes to drink some waters celebrated for 
 renovating the constitution. It is said that Lincoln's assassina- 
 tion has produced a very painful impression on him, as he had 
 hitherto disbelieved in the pistol for the purpose, and only feared 
 the dagger. 
 
 The Government was beaten in the Lords on the Oaths Bill. 
 
 May 5th. Miss Constance Kent was examined by the magis- 
 trates at Trowbridge, and committed for the murder of her brother. 
 She is sent to Salisbury gaol. Mr. Wagner refused to answer any 
 questions that touched upon her confession, and was hissed by the 
 audience. 
 
 1 She afterwards carried his brother, the present Emperor. 
 
1865 ILLNESS OF LORD PALMERSTOX. 607 
 
 May IQth. "VVilkes Booth has been shot by a sergeant, and 
 his companion taken. 
 
 May 12th. Started for Paris to see the Great Exhibition. 
 Paris is now at the apogee of its magnificence, and is the wonder 
 of the world. 
 
 News from Mexico is very alarming for the French, and pro- 
 duces great consternation in Paris, where the Emperor's return 
 from Algiers is anxiously looked for. The rebels under Juarez 
 have gained some advantage over the French, and now that the 
 war in America is over a great number of adventurers, who form 
 the principal part of the Federal army, are disbanded, and are 
 going to join Juarez, who will thus be more than a match for 
 Maximilian with his French and Belgian allies. 1 
 
 May 29th. The Confederate party in America has been com- 
 pletely overcome in spite of an heroic resistance. It is expected 
 that Jeff Davis will be executed by the Federal Government or 
 lynched by the mob. 
 
 June lOth. The general impression is that Lord Palmerston 
 is in a very bad state of health, and will not meet the new Par- 
 liament as Minister. He now seldom attends the House of Com- 
 mons, and, when he does, only comes for a short time and says a few 
 words, evidently that his name may appear in the newspapers. 
 
 June 20th. Lord Palmerston's illness has been very severe. 
 His colleagues are therefore anxious to get the elections over as 
 soon as possible. 
 
 June 22nd. A telegram arrived to-day in London, announcing 
 the death of Mrs. Arbuthnot, who was killed by lightning in 
 Switzerland. She was a daughter of Lord Elvers ; was married 
 two months ago, and they were on their wedding tour. She had 
 remained sitting on a rock, being tired, whilst her husband and 
 the guide had gone on; a sudden storm came on and she was 
 struck by a flash of lightning, which left a black mark all across 
 her body. Decomposition set in instantly where the electric fluid 
 had passed. 
 
 July 8th. Dined with Lord Redesdale at the annual dinner 
 which he gives to the Peers at Greenwich. 
 
 rThe brave and amiable Archduke Maximilian had been induced to accept the 
 crown of Mexico, xmder French protection. 
 
608 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER. 1865 
 
 July \\th. We dined with the Duke and Duchess of Wel- 
 lington to meet the Queen of the Netherlands, who talked a great 
 deal to me about politics, as she does to everybody. Parry sang 
 some of his comic songs. 
 
 The elections are going badly for us. Sir A. Malet came up 
 to me after dinner, and said how much he rejoiced at the turn 
 they were taking, although he supposed it was not a matter of 
 rejoicing to me. I replied that of course he (Sir Alexander) 
 ought to be glad, as otherwise he would not occupy his present 
 post. We have already lost six seats and shall lose at least as 
 many more, instead of gaining from fifteen to thirty, as we ex- 
 pected. Our agents must be very stupid to have miscalculated to 
 such an extent, and the party are much disheartened. We have 
 lost some of our best men : Seymour Fitzgerald, Sir John Elphin- 
 stone, and Sir John Hay. We have, however, got a Tory into 
 Tiverton, as a colleague for Lord Palmerstoii. The election 
 returns show we have lost fifteen seats, so there is no chance of 
 our party coming into office ; but the Whigs have not gained. 
 The increase is in the Radicals. 
 
 July 28th. The trial of Constance Kent is over, but the 
 Queen has commuted the sentence of death to penal servitude. 
 
 August 20th. The 'Great Eastern,' about which there has 
 been much anxiety, in consequence of making no signals for a 
 fortnight, has returned to Valentia, the cable having broken in 
 the middle of the Atlantic, where the sea is two miles deep. 
 They let down a grapnel, and fancied they hooked it; but the 
 rope broke, and they have returned to get more. 
 
 October 1st. Left Heron Court for London on my way to 
 Paris, and made a tour of three weeks in Brittany over the same 
 ground I have before described. 
 
 October 12th. I arrived at Brest. Went yesterday to Plou- 
 gastel, but the abbey described in books is a fiction of romance. 
 There is only an old church. The inns at Brest are abominable. 
 
 I hear the cholera has broken out in many parts of England. 
 In a house at Epping everybody died, the master having it twice. 
 
 October 18th. I hear from England that Lord Palmerston is 
 very ill at Brocket, and a bulletin was issued, very unfavourable. 
 I fear there is little chance of his recovery. 
 
1865 DEATH OF LORD PALMERSTOX. 609 
 
 October 19<7i, Nantes. A telegram announcing the death of 
 Lord Palmerston, which took place yesterday at eleven. He sank 
 gradually, and died without pain. Lady Shaftesbury, Lady 
 Jocelyn, and William Cowper l were at Brocket. I shall always 
 recollect him as one of the kindest men to me in private life, 
 which I attribute mainly to his affection for my grandfather, the 
 first Lord Malmesbury, who was his guardian. As a Minister, 
 although I often differed from him, I looked upon him as one of 
 our greatest, especially in his knowledge of foreigners and their 
 character. He was clear headed, always knew what he wanted, 
 and was determined to carry it out, with great moral and physical 
 courage. We shall be long ere we see his like again. He was 
 English to the backbone. 
 
 October 23rd. Arrived in London. Found Lord Russell 
 Prime Minister. Lord Palmerston is to be buried in West- 
 minster Abbey, and, by the wish of the Queen, to have a public 
 funeral. 
 
 October 27th. Lord Palmerston was buried to-day in West- 
 minster Abbey, near Lord Canning. 
 
 November 2nd. Called on Lady Jersey, where I found 
 General Peel. Parliament will meet on the 23rd, but only to 
 elect a Speaker and swear in the members. 
 
 From Lord Derby to Lord Alalniculury. 
 
 Knoivsley : November 6, 1865. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I have been wishing for some time to write 
 to you, but I need not say that I had not a moment to myself last 
 week, and the close of it left me with an arrear which I have not yet 
 succeeded in writing off. I am happy to say, however, that our Royal 
 party went off as well as possible, and without the slightest hitch. 
 The weather, with the exception of one day, was magnificent, and it 
 was impossible to exceed the enthusiasm of their reception at Liver- 
 pool. It was admirably managed, and though nearer half than a 
 quarter of a million of people were assembled, there was not a single 
 accident. Both the Prince and Princess of Wales made them- 
 selves exceedingly agreeable, discarding all approach to form, and 
 setting everybody at their ease. They were in excellent spirits, and 
 
 * The lion. William Coxvper was afterwards mnde Lord Mount Temple, and 
 Lord Palmenton made him his heir. 
 
 E R 
 
610 MEMOIRS OF AX EX-MINISTER, 1865 
 
 professed themselves, as indeed they seemed, delighted with their visit. 
 Though rather too early in the year, I managed to give H.E.H. two 
 very good days' shooting ; the first on the Stockbridge beat (ending at 
 the Liverpool Lodge), on which, with five guns, they killed 717 head, 
 of which 280 were pheasants. The second day, our only bad one, it 
 rained incessantly, but nothing would satisfy the Prince but shooting 
 through it all, and on Massborough they bagged 967 head, of which 
 440 were pheasants six guns. . . . And now a word or two upon 
 political matters. I return the two documents enclosed in your letter 
 of the 26th ult. There can be no doubt as to the correctness of your 
 statement to the 'France,' as indeed that paper acknowledges, but 
 several of the English papers made precisely the same mistake, con- 
 founding the recognition of the Empire in 1852 with the coup d'etat 
 in 1851. Some are of opinion that the ultimate solution is to be found 
 in a fusion. I do not greatty differ from them in this : but how it is 
 to be effected is not so clear. If my retirement will facilitate the 
 operation, and make way for a substantially Conservative Government, 
 I shall put no obstacle in the way. 
 
 From what I hear, they mean to bring in a Eeform Bill, but one 
 of a very mild character, which we may find ourselves able to support ; 
 but this wiU be a breach with Baines, Bright, & Co., unless they 
 announce that they mean it only as an instalment, in which case we 
 could hardly support it, and they would fall between two stools. 
 
 Our policy must be regulated by that of the Government, and until 
 that is decided we cannot pretend to have ours cut and dry. 
 
 Believe me ever yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 The Earl of Malmesbuiy, G.C.B. 
 
 November \tli. Lady Ely called, and announced the marriage 
 of Princess Helena to the second son of the Duke of Augusteii- 
 burg, and the Queen lends them Frogmore, so they will reside in 
 England. The Duke of Wellington has made his wife resign her 
 place as Mistress of the Robes, as he says he supposes Lord 
 Russell will act consistently with his Whig principles, but I have 
 since heard that she will remain for the present. 
 
 November \lth. An insurrection has broken out in. Jamaica 
 at Morant's Bay, in the parish of St. Thomas. As far as can be 
 at present known the object of the rioters was to make a general 
 massacre of all the white population, but the arrest of one of the 
 principal leaders occasioned a premature outbreak, which has been 
 
1865 INSURRECTION IN JAMAICA. 611 
 
 suppressed in consequence of the vigorous measures taken by the 
 authorities. Generals O'Connor and Nelson have done very well, 
 and shown great determination. The chief ringleader, Gordon, 
 has been hanged. These men were not driven to these atrocious 
 acts by ill-usage, but in order to get possession of the property of 
 the English population, to murder all the men, and share the 
 women amongst them. 
 
 November 27th. I went to Knowsley. 
 
 December 5th. The Queen has officially announced her in- 
 tention of opening Parliament, but some slight alteration in the 
 ceremony will be made. It is said that she will not read the 
 Speech herself, and does not mean to wear her robes. 
 
 The King of the Belgians is dying, which may prevent her 
 going there at all. 
 
 December 6th. Went to see the Sphinx in the Egyptian Hall. 
 It is certainly a wonderful illusion. The smile is the most extra- 
 ordinary part, for it is so human, and such a merry one, quite 
 lighting up the face. The movement of the lips was also per- 
 fectly natural ; the only part which looked like mechanism is the 
 stiff way in which the head bent forward. It was placed in a 
 box on a small table, quite in front of the stage, under which one 
 could see perfectly. 
 
 I hear that Sir Augustus Paget is to be sent to Mexico, 
 which I sincerely hope, for his sake and my own, is not time. 
 
 December 10th. The negro sympathisers have sent a deputa- 
 tion to Mr. Cardwell to ask for Governor Eyre's recall from 
 Jamaica, which was saved by his courage ; much to his credit, he 
 has refused to do so. No man has been so unjustly maligned or 
 deserves greater reward ; but humbug is the rule of the day. 
 
 King Leopold died yesterday at Laeken. The last years of 
 his life were spent in perpetual terror of Louis Napoleon, and 
 he was constantly alarming our Ministers and everybody on 
 subject. 
 
 December 14th. The Government have given way to the 
 clamour of the anti-slavery faction and of Exeter Hall, and have 
 issued a proclamation suspending Mr. Eyre from his functions 
 until after the investigations a pretty reward for doing one's 
 duty to one's country. 
 
(J12 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1865 
 
 December 29^. We have received the news by telegraph 
 from India of the death of Lord Edward St. Maur, who, being 
 out shooting, was attacked by a grizzly bear. Lord Edward 
 defended himself with his knife, and they rolled down a hill 
 together, the animal lacerating his knee. In the wild country 
 in which he was, he could receive no medical assistance for 
 two days, when his leg was amputated and he died under the 
 operation. He was handsome, clever, and amiable, and being his 
 mother's favourite child, I can hardly understand how she will be 
 able to bear his loss. 
 
 1866 
 
 January \st, Heron Court. I arrived here from London, and 
 brought down the Bretts, the Baillie-Cochranes, A. and Lady 
 Paget, and the Charteris', but the rivers are too flooded for any 
 wild-fowl shooting, and the gentlemen are restricted to killing 
 pheasants comparatively very tame sport. 
 
 January 10th and \\tfi. It snowed for two days and nights, 
 with a gale from N.E., which has blown down many of my 
 trees. 
 
 A pronunciamiento, under General Prim, has taken place in 
 Spain. He is one of the Queen's best generals. General Zabala 
 has been sent in pursuit, and martial law is proclaimed in Cata- 
 lonia and Arragon. The clubs and theatres are shut up at 
 Madrid. 
 
 January Hth. The flood of the Stour is higher than it has 
 been since 1809, judging from the water-gauges which have been 
 kept. 
 
 January 16th. I went to a meeting at Christchurch, to 
 defend the ancient rood screen at the Priory Church. The vicar, 
 Mr. Nash, who wanted to remove it, has at last given in, finding 
 the committee was against its demolition. I consider such an act 
 would be barbarous and most silly as well, for 600Z. were spent in 
 the renovation of its carvings only twenty-five years ago ; besides 
 which, there is no doubt that it is one of the main supports of 
 the church itself. The last century was passed by our church- 
 wardens and parsons in whitewashing our ancient churches ; the 
 
1866 A VIOLENT GALE. 613 
 
 rage now is to alter and restore them according to the temporary 
 rule of these authorities. 
 
 February 1st. Parliament met to-day, Mr. Denison was 
 chosen Speaker without opposition. Lord Russell wants to have 
 Bright in the Cabinet, but the other Ministers refuse to admit 
 him. Ossulstoii arrived for dinner. 
 
 February 6th. The Queen opened Parliament to-day. She 
 came in a state coach with her eight cream-coloured horses, but 
 entered by the Peers' entrance. She was well received, but did 
 not wear her robes, which were placed on the Throne, and did 
 not read the Speech, which was read by the Lord Chancellor. I 
 did not attend the opening, being lame with gout, but reserved 
 myself for the debate on the Address. The Government were 
 severely attacked for their negligence with respect to the cattle 
 plague. I am sorry to see that Lord Russell looks very old and 
 feeble. 
 
 February 9th. Returned to Heron Court. Sir Henry Wolff 
 and Mr. Philip Rose arrived. The latter is Disraeli's legal 
 adviser, and has been very useful to him, by his devotion and 
 undoubted ability and knowledge of the world. 
 
 February \\th. A violent gale, or rather hurricane, came on 
 in the night, and continued till five or six in the afternoon. From 
 two to four it was quite awful, and we thought every large tree 
 in the place must be blown down. Seven gigantic elms fell in 
 front of the drawing-room windows whilst Wolff' and I were 
 looking out, and the people in the cottages, wherever there were 
 trees near, forsook them in terror and rushed to the house for 
 shelter. The roads were so completely blocked up by fallen 
 timber that Sir Henry Wolff, who meant to leave for Bournemouth, 
 could not proceed half a mile, and had to come back. 
 
 February 12th. We went out before breakfast and walked 
 round the park. It was a sad sight to see those splendid elms 
 lying prostrate, and the wide gaps they have left, which can never 
 be filled up in the life of a man. Some were certainly three 
 centuries old. I hear the storm was marked at Portsmouth at 
 the figure 12, which is the highest known, and this is illustrated 
 by the supposition that if the keeper of an observatory saw the 
 whole building on the point of being swept away, and kept his 
 
614 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTEK. 1866 
 
 head cool, he would write down 12 and perish. The < Times ' adds 
 that the force of the wind was forty pounds to the square foot, 
 which is a regular East India cyclone. 
 
 February IQth. Government in both Houses have announced 
 the suspension of the Habeas Corpus in Ireland, such is the 
 alarming aspect of the Fenian conspiracy. 
 
 February 17 th. The bill for suspending the Habeas Corpus 
 in Ireland has passed by 364 to 6. It was passed in the House 
 of Lords before five and sent to Osborne immediately for the 
 Queen's signature ; it was returned to the House of Lords, who 
 summoned the Commons and passed the bill by commission at a 
 quarter before one o'clock in the morning. 
 
 February 18th. There is an attempt just now among a small 
 and unimportant knot of individuals in the Conservative ranks to 
 get rid of Lord Derby and put Disraeli or Lord Stanley in his 
 place. I do not believe that either of them was privy to the 
 scheme. I was sounded on the subject by one of the conspirators, 
 but I met his very first observations, when I saw his drift, with 
 the ridicule which it deserved, and asked him, ' Where is the rank 
 and file 1 ' to which he gave no answer, and I turned my back on 
 him. 
 
 February \Wi. I was told by a lady just returned from 
 Paris that, at a party at the Tuileries, Madame Korsakoff ap- 
 peared in a dress cut almost down to her waist, looped up at the 
 knee, and with a very long train. A gentleman happening to 
 tread upon it, she turned round very angrily, saying, ' Fichu 
 maladroit ! ' to which he replied, ' Madame, le fichu serait mieux 
 sur vos epaules que dans votre bouche.' 
 
 March 8th. Second reading Church Kates Abolition Bill 
 passed the Commons by 285 against 252. 
 
 March llth. Had a conversation with Lord Bath, and 
 learnt from him that he wished for a coalition under a Whig 
 Premier, but, although Gladstone is not called a Whig, I believe 
 he was the man meant. 
 
 March 12th, Gladstone introduced the Reform Bill this 
 afternoon, and Barrington called soon after ten, and told me 
 it was very ill received by the House. It is what is called a 
 single-barrelled bill i.e. only treats the question of the franchise 
 
1866 A SINGLE-BARRELLED BILL. 615 
 
 and not the redistribution of seats, and is very unfair for the 
 county constituencies, as it gives great preponderating power 
 to the towns. The general impression is that it cannot pass. 
 
 March 1 5th. I have had a very severe attack of gout in both 
 knees and feet. I find our party are desponding about the 
 Reform Bill ; but Mr. Lowe, who opposes it, and who is Lord 
 Lansdowne's member for Calne, says he can influence from 
 thirty to thirty-five votes, and if so we are safe. The ' Times,' 
 too, is beginning to write against it. 
 
 March 20th. Lord Grosvenor 1 has given notice of an amend- 
 ment to the second reading of the Reform Bill, to the effect 
 'that, in the opinion of the House, it is inexpedient to discuss a 
 bill for the reduction of the franchise in England and Wales 
 until the House has before it the entire scheme contemplated 
 by the Government.' 2 This was received by the Opposition 
 with loud cheers, and Ministers looked furious as much at its 
 being brought on by the son of a great Whig Peer as at the 
 resolution itself. This is the first symptom of desertion from 
 them, and it will probably not be the last. 
 
 March 22nd. Lady Derby has been at the point of death, 
 having had congestion of the lungs. She had mistaken her 
 doctor's order, and continued to lower herself, and had taken 
 no nourishment for thirty- six hours ; and when the doctor, who 
 lives in the house, went to see her, she was sinking so fast, that 
 he sent Fred Stanley to Lord Derby to say that she had not 
 ten minutes to live ; but he, being confined to his bed by a 
 severe attack of gout, could not go to her, and sent her a farewell 
 message by Lady Constance, who fortunately consulted the 
 doctor before giving it ; as he prevented her doing so, saying, 
 'A mouse running across the room might kill her.' Happily 
 her life has been spared. 
 
 I hear the Dukes of Cleveland and Sutherland, Lord Lich- 
 field, and other Whig Peers are against Gladstone's Reform Bill, 
 but I am afraid the Government have got back some of Mr. Lowe's 
 friends. The Queen of the French died yesterday at Claremont, 
 aged eighty-two ; she survived her husband sixteen years. 
 
 i Now Duke of Westminster. 
 
 * History repeats itself, e.g. 1884, but not the Duke of Westminster. 
 
616 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 March 30^. There are rumours of war between Austria 
 and Prussia, on the subject of Holstein, which Prussia intends 
 to annex. Thus the two spoilers are following the usual course 
 under such circumstances. 
 
 April 13^. The debate last night in the House of Commons 
 was interesting, Gladstone not explaining anything, but personal 
 and abusive of Mr. Lowe, who made a spirited reply. Lord 
 Grosvenor made a gentlemanlike speech in proposing his resolu- 
 tion, and Lord Stanley a magnificent one in seconding it, which is 
 the finest and most statesmanlike speech Stanley has ever made. 
 
 April Ifah. We went to the private view of the portrait 
 gallery at South Kensington. The light is perfect, and the 
 pictures are well arranged. There are several of Mary Queen 
 of Scots, but almost all different. None give one the idea of 
 the great beauty she is supposed to have possessed. It was 
 probably the prestige of her manner and of her great misfortunes 
 that gained her this reputation. 
 
 April 18th. Sir Fitzroy Kelly moved the rejection of the 
 malt tax in the Commons, and was beaten by 235 to 150. 
 
 From Lord Derby to Lord Malmesbury. 
 
 St. James's Square : April 22, 186G. 
 
 My dear Mahnesbury, Whatever may be my regret at the deci- 
 sion which you have come to, as announced in your letter of Friday, I 
 cannot say that it has taken me by surprise, or that I think your 
 objections, with your frequent attacks of ill-health, to take an office 
 involving such incessant and anxious labour as the F. O. are un- 
 answerable. Your withdrawal will no doubt increase the difficulties 
 of my position if I should be called on again to attempt the task of 
 forming a Government ; and though I should still hope to have the 
 advantage of your services in some less hard-worked department, I 
 confess that I do not, in the present state of parties, see my way to 
 acceptance of office. I know that the disappointment of our friends, 
 should I be called on and decline, will be very great ; but I cannot, 
 especially in the present unsettled state of affairs both at home and 
 abroad, again undertake the duty without at least a reasonable 
 prospect of an assured majority. And even if we should succeed in 
 carrying Lord Grosvenor' s amendment, of which there is a fair 
 prospect, the men who would vote with us on that question are so 
 
1866 IMPENDING CHANGE OF MINISTRY. 617 
 
 diametrically opposed to us on others of no less importance that, even 
 if they had leaders with whom it would be more easy to confer than 
 with those apparently at their head, I do not see how we could come 
 to such an understanding as would enable us to carry on a Govern- 
 ment together ; and of the ordinary supporters of the present Adminis- 
 tration, who will reluctantly go with them on this occasion, I cannot 
 look to any who would have the courage to break off from their party 
 to support a Government of which Disraeli and I should be the 
 leaders. The prospect, however, of my being sent for, with whatever 
 result, is sufficiently near to make it necessary to consider all possible 
 courses, and I should be very glad to have an opportunity of talking 
 the matter over with you, if you could call here at almost any hour 
 to-morrow or Tuesday. On that day I am going over to Accrington 
 for three nights, but I shall not go down till after the House of Lords 
 on that evening, when I must say a word or two on the Qualification 
 for Offices Bill. Yours sincerely, DERBY. 
 
 The Earl of Malmesbury, G.C.B. 
 
 April 23rc?. Every day increases the probability that the 
 Government will be turned out on the second reading of the 
 Reform Bill. I have told Lord Derby that my health will not 
 allow me to take the Foreign Office again, and he was very kind 
 about it, though he said it would add to his difficulties. He 
 will, I hope, give the place to Lord Stanley, if he accepts office, 
 which is doubtful, as the majority against us in the Commons 
 is greater than in. 1852 or 1858, and there is little chance of a 
 coalition strengthening us sufficiently or permanently. 
 
 _'l~r. T '2$th. The second reading of the Reform Bill has 
 mssed by a majority of five only. At twelve o'clock I went to 
 Disraeli and Lord Derby to tell them that I had seen Lord 
 Granville, who said that Sir George Grey had gone clown to 
 Windsor, so it is evident that Ministers have resigned. 
 
 May \st, Everything looks warlike, and I am afraid Austria 
 will be crushed. Prussia and Italy are evidently in league 
 together, and Count Apponyi suspects Louis Napoleon will join 
 them for the purpose of getting the Rhine Provinces as the price 
 of his assistance. Young Lord Lansclowiie ! called, and is giving 
 our party all his aid. 
 
 1 This was the vouns Lord Lausduwnc who died in IbGG. Ili^ father, the 
 eminent statesman, cfted iu 18Gi>, 
 
618 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1866 
 
 j/,,, y 3rd. Lady Augustus Loftus l called, and said that 
 when she left Berlin a few days ago the prospects of peace were 
 improved ; that Bismarck is the only person in the whole king- 
 dom that wants war. 
 
 j/,,, y tih. M. Rouher has declared that France will be 
 strictly neutral between Prussia and Austria, and, if Italy 
 attacks the latter, she must take the consequences. Lady A. 
 Loftus told me that Yictor Emanuel asked whether Prussia 
 really meant to fight this time, and, on being answered in the 
 affirmative, replied that this would be his opportunity. Italy 
 has certainly been arming for the last month, which has of 
 course occasioned a corresponding demonstration on the part of 
 Austria ; and the Prussians have coolly objected to their in- 
 creasing their army in Yenetia. The French might as well 
 object to our sending troops to Ireland. 
 
 May 8th. Gladstone brought forward his bill for the re- 
 distribution of seats. By grouping boroughs in Schedule A, and 
 taking one member from boroughs in Schedule B, he gains 
 forty-nine seats. He proposes giving twenty-six to the counties, 
 sixteen to boroughs, and seven to Scotland. 
 
 The prospect of peace diminishes every day, and the Emperor 
 Napoleon's speech at Auxerre will encourage the war party. 
 He says : ' This department was the first to give me its suffrages 
 in 1848, because it knew, with the majority of the French 
 people, that its interests were nay interest, and that I detested 
 equally with them those treaties of 1815 which it is now sought 
 to make the sole basis of our foreign policy.' This speech has 
 produced great consternation at Paris. No one now doubts 
 that an understanding exists between M. de Bismarck, France, 
 and Italy, as against Austria. It is also rumoured that the 
 Emperor never mentioned the treaties of 1815 in his speech, 
 but sent the paragraph to the 'Moniteur' on his return to 
 Paris with that addition. This makes it rather worse. 
 
 May 16^. General Peel, whom I met to-day, is confident 
 that the House of Commons will throw out the Reform Bill ; 
 
 Lord Augustus Loftus was our Ambassador at Vienna. 
 
1866 PRINCESS MARY'S MARRIAGE. 619 
 
 but Mr. Lowe says that he has no material to work with, as 
 people are so full of crotchets. 
 
 June 1st. Lord Chesterfield died of a paralytic stroke. A 
 very amiable man, and who had led the fashion in his day. 
 
 June 3rd. Sir Henry Wolff called. Says the Conference is 
 given up, and war will break out directly ; also that the Govern- 
 ment have promised the Adullamites to withdraw the Reform 
 Bill altogether if they will steadily support them on all other 
 occasions. The compromise is a disgrace to both parties. That 
 is their affair, and we are, of course, too glad to get rid of this 
 foolish bill. 1 
 
 June 6th. The scene in the House of Commons yesterday 
 was extraordinary when Captain Hayter's amendment was in- 
 troduced. Lord Grosvenor declared he would vote against it, 
 though he thought the Government bill a very bad one, but he 
 has such confidence in Lord Clarendon that he was afraid of a 
 change of Government, which would deprive the country of his 
 services. Disraeli made a good speech in reply to prove that 
 Lord Clarendon had failed in everything he undertook, and 
 Captain Hayter withdrew his resolution. 
 
 June l'2th. Princess Mary's marriage with Prince Teck took 
 place this morning. Count Karolyi, the Austrian Ambassador, 
 has received orders from his Government to leave Berlin directly 
 in consequence of the interference of Prussia in Holstein, which 
 is a direct infringement of the treaty of Gastein and a casus belli. 
 M. Rouher read a letter from the Emperor Napoleon to M. 
 Drouyn de 1'Huys in the Corps Legislatif, in which he says, 
 ' That, had the Conference assembled, his Government would 
 have declared that France repudiated all idea of territorial 
 aggrandisement so long as the European equilibrium remained 
 undisturbed ; that France would only think of an extension of 
 her frontier in the event of the map of Europe being altered to 
 the profit of a Great Power. France would, therefore, continue 
 to observe an attentive neutrality.' 
 
 i The Adullamites obtained that name when Lord Grosvenor divided the House 
 on the second reading of the Reform Bill, and rallied round him a variety of 
 politicians, who were compared to those who took refuge in the Cave of Adullam. 
 
620 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1866 
 
 June 16^. News has been received that the Prussians have 
 invaded Hanover and Saxony, so the war has begun. 
 
 June 18th. I found the poor Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg 
 very unhappy. They are obliged to return directly on account 
 of the war, fearing that Prussia will seize their territory. 
 
 June 19^/4. The Government were beaten last night by a 
 majority of eleven on Lord Dunkellin's amendment to substitute 
 rating for rental. The numbers were 304 315. 
 
 June 2Qtk. Gladstone announced yesterday that, in con- 
 sequence of the vote of the previous night, the Government had 
 communicated with the Queen at Balmoral, and Parliament 
 would be adjourned until next Monday. Lord Russell made 
 the same declaration in the Lords. 
 
 June 22nd. We dined at the Tankervilles', and met Sir 
 Robert and Lady Emily Peel, Mr. and Mrs. Lowe, Lord 
 Abercorn, and Lord Dunkellin. Mrs. Lowe told me what I 
 had heard from Lord Craiiborne, that the Adullamites would 
 not join Lord Derby, as they looked upon that as ratting, but 
 were ready to coalesce with our party under Lord Stanley. 
 This plot is therefore ripening, but it remains to be seen 
 whether it can be put in execution. There is to bo a debate 
 upon foreign affairs to-morrow, and an attack upon Lord Cla- 
 rendon, which, if successful, will be a vindication of my policy 
 in 1859. Kinglake brings it on, and Sir Robert Peel supports 
 him. The object is to show the injustice of accusing the Tory 
 party of incapacity because they did not prevent the war of 
 1859 between Austria and Sardinia, whilst the Whigs have 
 made precisely the same failure this year. 
 
 June 25th. A battle has been fought by the Italians, under 
 the King, and the Austrians, commanded by Archduke Albert, 
 near Verona. It lasted all day, and ended by the defeat of the 
 Italians, who recrossed the Mincio. The Archduke has named 
 it the ' Battle of Custozza.' 
 
 June 2Qth. By her invitation, Lady Malrnesbury went to 
 see Lady Palmerston, who was much affected at seeing her, and 
 talked a great deal about Lord Palmerston, regretting he had 
 not given up office, as she thought if he had he might be alive 
 now. Lady Malmesbury told her she felt sure it would have 
 
I860 LOUD DERBY PRIME MINISTER. 621 
 
 made no difference, only that he would have lost his interest 
 in and enjoyment of the last months of his existence ; for, having 
 spent almost all his life in office, he would have missed the 
 occupation dreadfully. Lady Palmerston was pleased to say 
 that she regretted my intention of giving up the Foreign Office 
 hereafter, and said she did so the more that her husband con- 
 sidered me the fittest man for it in our party. In further 
 conversation she added that he had very serious apprehensions 
 respecting Gladstone's future career, and considered him a very 
 dangerous and reckless politician. 
 
 Jiine 27th. -Lord Russell and Gladstone both announced 
 that the Government had resigned, and the Queen accepted 
 their resignation. *'I had an interview with Lord Derby this 
 morning, and advised him, if sent for, to tell the Queen what 
 was said about Lord Stanley being supported by a section of 
 the Moderates. Forty Adullamites would join him, whilst only 
 twelve would join Lord Derby. 
 
 After Lord Palmerston's death, which followed the dissolution 
 of Parliament, the Liberal Government met the session with a 
 nominal majority of seventy, believing them to be staunch 
 supporters of Lord Russell, whereas many of them were 
 Palmerstonians, and, as such, against Reform bills. The 
 Government brought one in, but it was introduced in a piece- 
 meal form and at once disgusted the House. Gladstone's want 
 of temper rendered the measure still more unpopular, and its 
 fate was settled by Lord Dunkellin, who beat Ministers by 
 eleven. They threatened a dissolution, but found they would 
 lose by it. The Queen being on a visit to Osborne for ten days, 
 refused to shorten her stay, and the country remained for a 
 month with Government in abeyance. At last her Majesty 
 returned, and appointed Lord Derby Prime Minister. He 
 tried to form a coalition with some Whigs, and invited Lord 
 Clarendon and the Duke of Somerset to join him. They refused. 
 He then did the same by the Adullamites, most of whom also 
 declined. Young Lord Lansdowne, who, at their head, had 
 promised to support him, died suddenly, and this accident 
 increased his difficulties. Encouraged by a meeting of twenty- 
 three leading Conservatives, held at his house, Lord Deri y 
 
(522 MEMOIRS OP AN EX-MINISTER. 1866 
 
 formed the following Cabinet : Lord Chancellor, Lord Chelms- 
 ford ; President of the Council, Duke of Buckingham ; Privy 
 Seal, 'Lord Malmesbury ; Secretary for Home, Walpole ; Secretary 
 for Foreign Affairs, Lord Stanley ; Secretary for War, General 
 Peel ; Secretary for Colonies, Lord Carnarvon ; Secretary for 
 India, Lord Cranborne ; Poor Law Board, Mr. Hardy ; Board 
 of Trade, Sir S. Northcote ; Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. 
 Disraeli ; Secretary for Ireland, Lord Naas ; Board of Works, 
 Lord John Manners ; Admiralty, Sir John Pakington. 
 
 June 28th. The Prussians are said to have been defeated in 
 a great battle near Josefstadt. 
 
 July letThe Due de Richelieu and Lord Bath called, the 
 latter very angry at Lord Derby's not giving up the formation of 
 a Government when the Adullamites and Whigs refused to join 
 him. The news from Germany is very unsatisfactory, but so 
 confused that one may hope it is not so bad as it appears. Count 
 Apponyi told me there was no reason to be discouraged at any- 
 thing that has taken place, as Benedek declares himself quite 
 satisfied ; but a great battle is imminent. The Due de Richelieu 
 says that the feeling in Paris in every class is for the Austrians, 
 and when the news arrived of their victory at Custozza, the 
 French soldiers wanted to illuminate their barracks. This may 
 prevent the Emperor interfering. Madame Apponyi told Lord 
 Stanley there were two things he required to fit him to be 
 Foreign Minister namely, a wife and a house. He replied that 
 a wife was easily got in London, but a house was much more 
 difficult. 
 
 July 2nd. We had a dinner for the Duchess of Cambridge. 
 Hardwickes, Wiltons, Barringtons, Tankervilles, Dalkeith, Col- 
 ville, Sir Hugh Rose, Mr. Corry, and Lord Cadogan. The 
 Duchess of Cambridge is very low, bad news having been received 
 of the Austrian army, which seems to have had the worst of it 
 in several engagements. The needle-gun gives the Prussians an 
 immense superiority, as it is a breechloader, and fires at least five 
 shots to one of the common muskets. 
 
 July Uh. There are reports of a great battle, in which the 
 Austrians have been defeated, near Koniggratz. 
 
 July 5th. The news of the battle between the Austrians and 
 
1866 BATTLE OF SADOWA. 623 
 
 Prussians near Koniggratz is confirmed. It lasted thirteen hours. 
 The Austrians fought gallantly, but were overpowered by num- 
 bers, and the Prussians have taken 1,400 prisoners and 116 guns. 
 Field-Marshal von Gablenz is stated to have gone to the Prussian 
 head-quarters with a flag of truce. Prince Lichtenstein and 
 Count Windischgratz are taken prisoners. Three Archdukes are 
 wounded. The handsome Count Festetics, who was the great 
 dandy at Milan, has lost a leg. The Austrians have given up 
 Yenetia to the Emperor of the French, so that the consequence 
 of this defeat is terrible. 
 
 July 7th. Received the account of the death of young Lord 
 Lansdowne, which took place yesterday. Whilst playing at 
 cards at his club he was seized with paralysis, and became insen- 
 sible till he died. I went to Windsor to-day with all my col- 
 leagues to receive the seals of office. A violent thunderstorm 
 came on whilst we were there. The extraordinary success of the 
 Prussians has alarmed all nations, who must lose no time in 
 adopting the breechloading gun, the main cause of their success. 
 The muzzle-loading musket must be consigned to the company of 
 bows and arrows. 
 
 July 9th. The Prussians and Italians have agreed to an 
 armistice of six weeks. The Italians ask to occupy two of the 
 fortresses of the Quadrilateral at once ; not a very modest 
 request, considering that they have been lately defeated on every 
 occasion. The House of Lords was quite full of peers and ladies 
 to-day. Lord Derby entered soon after five, looking very pale 
 and nervous when he rose to address the House. His speech was 
 good, and some parts very eloquent ; but he was evidently 
 enfeebled by illness. He was cautious in what he said about 
 Reform, declaring that he would not commit himself. He was 
 followed by Lords Russell and Brougham, both looking very old 
 and broken. 
 
 July 12th. The accounts of the battle of Koniggratz (now 
 called the battle of Sadowa) are most disastrous ; the Austrian 
 defeat has been complete, and, coming at the moment when they 
 thought themselves victorious, the disappointment is harder to 
 bear. Benedek had unaccountably left the key of his position 
 unguarded, and the Prussians forced their way through his rear, 
 
624 MEMOIRS OF ATs T EX-MINISTER. 1866 
 
 He also had posted himself with a river in his rear, and without 
 any bridges to facilitate retreat, so that many Austrians were 
 drowned. The Austrians, having given up Yenetia to the French, 
 have withdrawn their troops, so the Italians may take possession 
 without resistance, if the French allow them to do so. The 
 Italians, on their part, refused to receive Venetia from the 
 French, and Cialdini has crossed the Po. 
 
 July I5tk. Nothing can be worse than the news from abroad 
 since Sadowa. There have been various engagements, in all of 
 which the Prussians have been victorious, and they are in posses- 
 sion of Olmiitz. The Emperor Joseph has, however, refused the 
 conditions of the armistice, and will go on with the war. Bene- 
 dek is superseded by the Archduke Albert, who beat the Italians 
 at Custozza. The Austrians have retired from Yenetia to join 
 the main army at Vienna, only leaving garrisons in the fortresses. 
 Louis Napoleon's mediation has come to nothing. 
 
 July 2lst. Disraeli made a speech on economy. Pakiiigton 
 showed the navy to be in a very low state, and wished to build 
 six turret-ships. The late First Lord, the Duke of Somerset, had 
 spent much time and money in experiments, and there are not 
 ships enough for our reliefs. The navy of France is superior in 
 ironclads to ours, and that of Italy and Russia combined equal to 
 ours. Disraeli would not believe this, and refused even 50,000/. 
 to begin the turret-ships. General Peel has ordered breechloaders 
 for our army. 
 
 July 22nd. Notices were posted to say Mr. Beales's meeting 
 of the Reform League would not be permitted in Hyde Park to- 
 morrow, and that the gates would be closed. 
 
 July 2'3rcL The' Reform League, after a notice to that effect, 
 accompanied by an army of roughs, demanded an entrance into 
 Hyde Park. This was refused ; and their processions, headed by 
 Mr. Beales and Colonel Dickson, of notorious memory, proceeded 
 to Trafalgar Square ; but the mob, to the amount of some 20,000, 
 invaded the Park, tore down the iron railings, and were not driven 
 out till after a desperate battle with the police, with the assistance 
 of the Life Guards. 
 
 July 2th. Walpole, Home Secretary, determined to guard 
 the Park with police and troops. Another affray took place 
 
i860 * ALABAMA' CLAIMS. 625 
 
 between seven and ten, when the cavalry cleared the park ; the 
 roughs had passed the day in pelting carriages and people in the 
 park. 
 
 July 27tk. These outrages have continued till to-day, when 
 the Duke of Cambridge has decided that three more regiments of 
 cavalry should be brought up if these demonstrations do not 
 cease. 
 
 July 28th. Quiet is restored in London. The preliminaries 
 of peace between Austria and Prussia were signed at Nicholsburg. 
 A naval engagement took place at Lissa between the Italian fleet, 
 commanded by Admiral Persaiio (the man who betrayed the King 
 of Naples), and Admiral Tegethoff, commanding the Austrian 
 fleet, in which the Italian flagship, an ironclad, was run down and 
 sunk by Tegethoff's flagship. 
 
 August llth. Parliament was prorogued. 
 
 September 1st, Heron Court. The ratification of peace between 
 Austria and Prussia was exchanged yesterday at Prague. 
 
 September Ith. I got a letter from Lord Stanley, saying he 
 fears the Americans intend to renew their claims for compensation 
 for the mischief done by the ' Alabama.' 
 
 September 23rd. The Italians are making preparations for 
 celebrating the expulsion of the Austrians whilst they are still in 
 Venice ; their doing so with impunity speaks well for the good- 
 nature of the Austrians. The Emperor Napoleon has gone to 
 Biarritz. He returned very ill from Vichy. 
 
 November 1st, London. Lady Paget and Sir Augustus came 
 to-day to luncheon. 
 
 There is a horrible account in to-day's * Times ' of the atrocities 
 committed at Palermo, encouraged by the monks and nuns, who 
 themselves took part in them. The monks actually roasted one 
 poor man alive, and another was condemned to be bitten to death, 
 which was done by the women. I saw some despatches to-day 
 confirming this account. 
 
 Dined with the Derbys, and met Sir Augustus and Lady 
 Paget, Lord Carnarvon, Lord John Manners, Sir Stafford North- 
 cote, and Lord Stanley. The Pagets start for Lisbon to-morrow, 
 where ho is appointed Minister. 
 
 November 9^/<. Went at six o'clock to Guildhall to attend 
 
626 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 the Lord Mayor's annual dinner. Lord Derby made a very good 
 speech and was greatly cheered. So was Disraeli. The dinner 
 was over about eleven o'clock, which is earlier than usual. 
 
 November IQth. I called upon Princess Edward, and found 
 Lady Mary Craven there, both in the greatest alarm at hearing a 
 report that the Prince of Wales has been killed in Russia. My 
 arrival comforted them, for, as I knew nothing of it, it was evident 
 that nothing had happened, or a telegram would have been received 
 at the Foreign Office, and communicated to the Ministers. The 
 two ladies were studying Zadkiel's almanack, and appeared to 
 place implicit confidence in it, there being a prediction that some 
 accident is to happen to the Prince in 1867. 
 
 November 17th. I forgot to mention that on the night of the 
 13th, from twelve to four in the morning, a wonderful fall of 
 aerolites took place. It had been foretold by the astronomers, 
 but the newspapers made so little of it that we did not sit up, and 
 missed a sight that will never occur again in our lifetime. On 
 this occasion there were above a thousand of these meteors. 
 
 Mr. Barrington says he likes his place of private secretary to 
 Lord Derby very much, and Lord Derby praises him. 
 
 December 1st. I am invited by her Majesty to Windsor, and 
 have sent an excuse to the Charteris', to whom I was engaged. 
 
 December 6th. I returned from Windsor after two days. The 
 Queen was very gracious, and complimented me upon the way I 
 had conducted the Foreign Office when I was secretary for that 
 department. 
 
 1867 
 
 January 3rd, Heron Court. Lord Bath and Mr. Bentinck 
 arrived. The thermometer has been down to 9, and never rose 
 above 17 all day. We killed fifty head of wild-fowl. 
 
 January 2'2nd. Went to London to attend a Cabinet. 
 
 Cabinets every day to the end of the month; some at Lord 
 Derby's, who was ill with the gout. 
 
 Parliament was opened by the Queen on February 5. 
 
1867 THE FOUR FRANCHISES. 627 
 
 February llth. Disraeli laid our Reform Resolutions on the 
 table. He dissatisfied the House by too long and ambiguous a 
 speech. 
 
 February IGtk. New plan on Reform proposed by Disraeli. 
 Four franchises, namely 51. rated house ; 501. in savings bank ; 
 an educational franchise; and direct taxation, supposed, in its 
 result, to give 680,000 voters to property and 360,000 to demo- 
 cracy. General Peel positively objects. The Press, in a body, 
 abuse our resolution. 
 
 February 1 9th. Cabinet on Reform. General Peel gives way, 
 as he is the only dissentient. 
 
 February 2Qth. Am summoned to Heron Court by Lady 
 Malmesbury's dangerous illness. 
 
 She was unable to leave her bed till March 23. For three 
 weeks she was given over, without hope of recovery, with con- 
 gestion of the lungs. She was out of danger on the 20th, and her 
 recovery regarded as miraculous. Meanwhile, after a Cabinet 
 held 011 Saturday, Feb. 22, at which no difficulty occurred, and 
 after Lord Derby's having gone down to Windsor to announce 
 unanimity of the Cabinet, on Sunday night Lord Cranborne in- 
 formed Lord Carnarvon that he could not agree to the Reform 
 Bill as it stood, and must resign. Lord Carnarvon did the same, 
 and at 8.30 on Feb. 25 they wrote to Lord Derby to call a Cabinet 
 at twelve for Lord Cranborne to explain his objections. The con- 
 fusion may be conceived, as at two P.M. Lord Derby had sum- 
 moned his party to hear the new Bill, and Disraeli was to explain 
 it at five in the House of Commons. It was a paralysis. The 
 dissentients were now joined by General Peel, who refused to 
 remain (he had dissented from the first), and in half-an-hour, at 
 Stanley's suggestion, they agreed to meet the M.P.s with a bill 
 founded on the Ql. and 201. rating, to which the trio agreed. This 
 crude action exposed us to great condemnation and ridicule. 1 No 
 doubt the best thing in such a position would have been to accept 
 the resignation of these three able and honourable men (however 
 
 1 It was nicknamed the ' Six Hours' Reform Bill.' The seceders refused to 
 adopt household suffrage and duality, It was also called the ' Ten Minutes' Bill.' 
 
628 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 serious the loss), and to tell the truth to Parliament, deferring the 
 bill for a week. I wrote a strong letter to Lord Derby from 
 Heron Court begging him to do this. The following Saturday it 
 was done, and the Dukes of Richmond and Marlborough, and Mr. 
 Corry, took the vacant seats in the Cabinet the first as Board of 
 Trade', the second as Colonial, Secretary ; the third as First Lord 
 of the Admiralty ; Northcote, India ; and Pakington, War Office. 
 The statement made by Lords Cranborne and Carnarvon was that 
 Disraeli and Baxter had completely mistaken their figures, and 
 that the results would not be what we intended and would be per- 
 fectly fatal. 
 
 From Lord John Manners to Lord Malmesbury. 
 
 10 Downing St. : Feb. 26, 1867. 
 
 My dear Mahnesbury, I am truly sorry to hear of the cause of 
 your absence from our distracted councils, and hope you will soon be 
 able to bring a better account of Lady Malmesbury. I really hardly 
 know where we are, but yesterday we were suddenly brought together 
 to hear that Cranborne and Carnarvon withdrew unless we gave up 
 household suffrage and duality, upon which announcement Peel said 
 that, although he had given up his opposition when he stood alone, 
 now he must be added to the remonstrant Ministers. Stanley then 
 proposed that to keep us together the GZ. and 20Z. rating should be 
 adopted, which, after much discussion, was agreed to. We have 
 decided to abandon the Resolutions altogether, and to issue the 
 Boundary Commission ourselves. We are in a very broken and 
 disorganised condition. Ever yours truly, 
 
 JOHN MANNERS. 
 
 From the same to the same. 
 
 10 Downing St. : Feb. 28, 1867. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, I cannot tell you how sorry I was to read 
 the sad opening sentence of your letter this morning. But I will 
 obey your wish and send you a few words on the political situation. 
 A meeting of Conservative M.P.s was held at the Carlton to-day, Sir 
 M. W. Ridley in the chair ; between 120 and 150 present. Much 
 difference of opinion, no resolutions passed, but a general disposition 
 evinced in favour of rated residential household suffrage v. 61. rating 
 and an equal division of new seats between the counties and boroughs. 
 
W DEATH OF LADY JERSKY. 029 
 
 An anxious desire expressed that we should fix upon the franchise we 
 thought best and then stick to it, declining to carry our opponents' 
 measures. They (our opponents) are, I believe, in equal difficulties, 
 and are quite unable to take office at present. On the whole, though 
 the situation is dangerous, I don't think it desperate. 
 
 Ever yours truly, 
 
 JOHN MANNERS. 
 
 March IQth, London. To-day, all danger being now over, 
 and having been allowed, by Lord Derby's kindness, to remain 
 with my wife and attend her, I came up to town and heard 
 that during my absence my clear old friend, Lady Jersey, had 
 died, suddenly and without suffering, at the age of eighty. She 
 was a most remarkable woman, and almost a European personage, 
 for 110 crowned head or representative of royalty ever landed in 
 England without immediately calling upon her and being found in 
 her salon during his stay. Being, herself, the head of Child's bank, 
 she had a very large fortune, and her husband might be said to 
 be in manners and appearance le plus grand seigneur of his day. 
 After a prosperous and exceptionally remarkable life she died, 
 having lost, before its close, within a short time of each other, 
 her husband and all her children, who had grown up to maturity, 
 still showing, to the last, the courage and coolness for which she 
 was famous. 
 
 March 23rd. On Reform Bill. Dual vote given up. 
 
 March 25th. Second reading of Reform Bill carried without 
 a division, after a masterly speech of Disraeli's. 
 
 March 30th to April Qfh. Continual Cabinets on Reform Bill, 
 Lord Derby being absent from gout. 
 
 April 13th. Continued arguments in the Cabinets respecting 
 the Reform Bill. Lord Derby still ill. Prussia has agreed to a 
 conference respecting the garrison of Luxemburg. If she does 
 not evacuate the place, Napoleon says he is resolved to make war. 
 During the past week Gladstone resigned his leadership of the 
 Opposition. 
 
 From Lord Stanley to Lord MalDicsbttry. 
 
 Foreign Office : April 2.1. 18(57. 
 
 Dear Malmesbury, Peace or war depends on whether Bismarck 
 consents to withdraw the Prussian garrison from Luxemburg. If he 
 
630 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1867 
 
 consents, France will raise no difficulties as to the disposal of the 
 territory. If he refuses, the Emperor must tight. He (Bismarck) is 
 gone off into the country, evidently with the idea of escaping from 
 inquiry and discussion till he can make up his mind. This is all we 
 know, but any day or hour may bring decisive news. 
 
 We are asked to use our good offices, and are advising Prussia to 
 give way, as the concession is slight, the justice of the claim unques- 
 tionable, and no other course holds out a hope of preserving peace. 
 
 I am not sanguine of averting a war, but in three or four days we 
 shall probably know more. 
 
 Ever yours, STANLEY. 
 
 May. Cabinets all May on Reform Bill. The laissez-aller 
 system followed by the Government, trying to make the best they 
 could of it, but constantly yielding something. The Conservative 
 members seem disposed to adopt anything, and to think that it is 
 1 in for a penny, in for a pound/ Seventy- two of them voted 
 against their leaders upon Mr. Baines's motion to take one member 
 from every borough whose population was below 10,000. Govern- 
 ment was beaten by 127, thus abolishing fifteen members returned 
 by the agricultural interest, which will lose immensely by this 
 bill. 
 
 The Sultan is coming to London. The Queen will not invite 
 any of the other sovereigns who are at Paris. She appeared in 
 state to lay the first stone of the Hall of Arts, 1 and then went 
 off to Balmoral on May 22. 
 
 From the Queen of Holland to Lord Malmeslury. 
 
 Hague : May 4, 1807. 
 
 Dear Lord Malmesbury, The bearer of these lines, Baron Fagel, 
 heir to one of the best historical names of Holland, wishes to be intro- 
 duced to you, and I cannot refuse him a few lines, as I well remember 
 all your kindness when I had the happiness of being in London, two 
 years ago. 
 
 Baron Fagel inherited all the papers of his uncle, Ambassador 
 Fagel, who was the intimate friend of your grandfather. He possesses 
 numerous letters of Lord M., several of which (those of the year 1813) 
 I have read and found most interesting and curious, showing the 
 
 Albert Hall. 
 
1867 THE 'LEAP IN THE DARK. 5 631 
 
 elevated mind, the clear judgment of this eminent statesmen. If they 
 were published, they would throw light on the events and transactions 
 of the beginning of the century, and I have advised Baron Fagel to 
 undertake it. 
 
 I am of opinion and I hope you will share it that, when a certain 
 time has elapsed, those documents belong to history, which is often 
 better explained by the familiar letters of a political man than by 
 official documents, where only part of the truth can appear. 
 
 May I beg you to remember me to Lady Malmesbury, whose health 
 has caused us very serious uneasiness ? 
 
 Believe me, dear Lord Malmesbury, very sincerely yours, 
 
 SOPHIA. 1 
 
 June. Several Cabinets during this month on the Reform 
 Bill, which each time became more Radical. The treaty of London 
 on Luxemburg was signed the llth of last month, preventing the 
 war between France and Prussia, both sovereigns being glad of a 
 way out of their dilemma. 
 
 The Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia visited Paris, 
 and the former was shot at. 
 
 After many vicissitudes, the Reform Bill came up to the 
 House of Lords, and Lord Derby moved the second reading with- 
 out a division, saying it was ' a leap in the dark.' Peers on our 
 side were averse to it, but, at a meeting of them, Lord Derby 
 said he would resign if it was rejected. 
 
 July 10th. There is a very touching account in to-day's papers 
 of the Emperor Maximilian's execution. He died like a Christian 
 and a soldier. His poor wife has become quite insane. The 
 French expedition to Mexico and its tragical end are a sad blot 
 on Louis Napoleon's career. 
 
 1 The Queen was a very clever woman, and knew all the affairs of Europe 
 better than most Ministers. In 1871, after the sacking of the Tuileries and the 
 flight of the Empress from Paris, many public papers were stolen and published, 
 and among them several letters from the Queen of Holland, giving the Emperor the 
 best possible warning and advice as to the hostile intentions of Prussia and its 
 military force ; but they were laid aside and unheeded, like those of Stofiel, the 
 military French Attache' at Berlin. 
 
(J32 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1867 
 
 Mr. Disraeli to Lord Malmesbury (on Proxies). 
 
 July 10, 1867. 
 
 My dear Malmesbury, The Constitution of this country is a 
 Monarchy, modified in its action by the co-ordinate authority of 
 Estates of the Realm. An Estate is a political order invested with 
 privilege for a public purpose. 
 
 There are three Estates the Lords Spiritual, the Lords Temporal, 
 and the Commons. 
 
 The Estates of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal being very limited 
 in number, their members can easily meet in their own chamber. 
 
 The Estate of the Commons being, on the contrary, very numerous, 
 choose, for convenience, representatives instead of holding general 
 meetings, like the Polish Diets. 
 
 The House of Commons is not an Estate of the Realm ; its mem- 
 bers are only the proxies of an Estate. 
 
 The Lords, in using proxies, possess and exercise the same privilege 
 as the Commons, no more ; and if it is not convenient for them to 
 attend the meetings of their orders, they have the right to choose their 
 representatives. 
 
 Yours sincerely, B. DISRAELI.* 
 
 July 12th. We went to the Horse Guards to see the Sultan's 
 entry into London. Two regiments of Life Guards lined the 
 street, and the Foot Guards occupied St. James's Park. The 
 Sultan has rather a melancholy, but noble, expression of counte- 
 nance. The Prince of Wales was in the carriage by his side, and 
 his ambassador, Musurus, opposite him. 
 
 July Iftth. Very* stormy. Great fear entertained that the 
 naval review to-morrow cannot take place, as a telegram arrived 
 for the Admiralty saying that the ships at Spitheacl were pitch- 
 ing bows under at their anchors. 
 
 July 18th. The Sultan went to Portsmouth, and was received 
 on board the Queen's yacht off Osborne. He was invested by her 
 
 1 This letter from Lord Beaconsfield was elicited, at my request, by the motion 
 of the late Lord Stanhope in the House of Lords, abolishing the use of Proxies. 
 It never was debated on really constitutional grounds, but merely on that of con- 
 venience, and the Peers appeared to have no idea of their origin, and that the 
 custom was not a peculiar privilege or anomaly in the Constitution. 
 
1867 BALL TO THE SULTAX. 633 
 
 with the Order of the Garter. Lord Derby had written to ask 
 her Majesty to give him the Star of India. Fortunately, Fuacl 
 Pasha told Ossulston, who was Lord Steward, that the Sultan 
 would accept nothing but the Garter. The Sultan has the Bath, 
 and he considers the Star of India less than the Bath, and would 
 be much offended if it was offered him. I wrote to Lord Derby 
 at once ; and it was given him in grand style by the Queen her- 
 self on the quarter-deck of the yacht, in the midst of the howling 
 of the storm and the roaring of the cannon. As it was done in 
 a hurry, there was no ribbon ready, so the Queen took the Prince 
 of Hesse's ribbon, intending that it should be changed for a new 
 one afterwards, but the Sultan refused to give it up, saying that 
 the one he had was given him by the Queen, and that he would 
 wear no other. 
 
 Jnl}) I$tk. A splendid ball was given at the India Office to 
 the Sultan. It was quite a fairy scene ; but a melancholy event 
 occurred, which will throw a gloom over the rest of the Sultan's 
 visit. Madame Musurus, the wife of the Turkish Ambassador, 
 was taken ill whilst leading her company to supper, and suddenly 
 dropped down dead. As I was walking with Lady Manners 
 through the ball-room, her dead body was carried out close to us. 
 
 July 29th. Lord Derby is still confined to his bed, and I 
 have to conduct the Reform Bill through Committee in the House 
 of Lords. This is no easy work, especially with many of our men 
 against me. Lord Cairns, ] for one, carried an amendment against 
 me by a large majority. 
 
 August 6th. Lord Derby came down to the House, and gave 
 up the 101. for 151. The third reading passed. 
 
 September 27th. Garibaldi has been arrested, just as he was 
 going to invade the Papal States. A few demonstrations hav<> 
 taken place in his favour, but all were easily dispersed by the 
 troops, and Italy is quite quiet. 
 
 October \kth. I went to London, on my way to Manchester, 
 to attend a Cabinet and a dinner given by Lord Derby. The 
 attendance was very large, and Lord Derby's reception enthu- 
 siastic. 
 
 October 27 th. Garibaldi has escaped from Capivra, and has 
 i The amendment was to raise the lodger franchise from In/. t<> I."./. 
 
634 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1867 
 
 joined the insurgents near the Roman, frontier. The Papal 
 Zouaves have behaved gallantly and defeated the insurgents on 
 every occasion. An attempt at insurrection has been made in 
 Rome, but has failed ; the population have no wish to join it. 
 There is no doubt that the Italian Government have been favour- 
 ing the movement, and that Louis Napoleon's firmness, and the 
 demonstration he has made at Toulon, has frightened them. 
 
 November 1st. The French army have landed at Civita 
 Vecchia, and the Italian troops have crossed the frontier. Gari- 
 baldi is within three miles and a half of Rome. It will be very 
 difficult now to prevent a collision between the French and 
 Italians, and if, in that case, the Prussians interfere on behalf of 
 Italy, there may be a general war. 
 
 November 4th. Dr. Gull called and said that Lady Malmes- 
 bury must go to Pau, and that it would be very unsafe and danger- 
 ous for her to stay in England during the winter. 
 
 November 18th. A Radical mob, calling themselves a deputa- 
 tion, forced themselves into the Home Office. Mr. Hardy refused 
 to see them and sent for the police, but Sir R. Mayne could 
 not be found, which created a delay, and in the meantime Mr. 
 Finlen, an obscure man, made a most incendiary speech, threaten- 
 ing that for every Fenian judicially murdered the life of some 
 eminent man would be taken. 
 
 ^ November 19th. Very cold. Parliament was opened by Com- 
 mission. 
 
 November 20^. The Duke of Cambridge dined with us, also 
 the Tankervilles, Saxe-Weimars, Stanhopes, John Manners, Mac- 
 donalds, Derbys, Whariicliffes, and Sir Edwin Landseer. 
 
 November 22nd. There was a meeting yesterday at Clerken- 
 well, to petition the Queen to pardon the Fenians, but it was a 
 failure. Two thousand working men at Manchester have offered 
 to act as special constables, and have been sworn in. News from 
 Italy says that the King is bent upon going to Rome, even at the 
 risk of war with France. 
 
 . November 23rd. The three Fenian murderers were executed 
 this morning at Manchester. 
 
 November 24^. A procession to sympathise with the men 
 who were hanged took place this afternoon in Hyde Park. 
 
1867 THE CLERKENWELL EXPLOSION. 635 
 
 December 2nd. Lord Derby having given me leave to attend 
 Lady Malmesbury to Pau, we started, embarked at Folkestone, 
 and proceeded to Paris. The cold is dreadful, the whole country 
 covered with snow. We have a good apartment, but a very cold 
 one, at the Hotel Meurice. 
 
 December 5th. We could not get the temperature of our room 
 above 50. Lord Edward Thynne called and paid us a long visit, 
 and, wanting to show us how to light a good fire by some dodge of 
 lighting the wood at the back, he set the chimney on fire. The 
 smoke came down in clouds, both in the drawing-room and bed- 
 room, and we were driven into the dining-room, where we had to 
 remain the rest of the day, the other rooms being full of Pom- 
 2)iers, and uninhabitable from the soot. 
 
 December Qth. Left Paris for Bordeaux. At the station a 
 porter let a heavy foot- warmer of iron fall on Lady Malmesbury 's 
 foot, causing the most dreadful pain, which she bore without com- 
 plaining until we got to Bordeaux. I had no idea of the mischief 
 done ; but on arriving there we found the foot perfectly black and 
 dreadfully inflamed. 
 
 December Wi. After the appliance of some common remedies, 
 we left for and slept at Dax. Meanwhile, Lady M.'s foot got much 
 worse, and when we arrived at Pau the surgeon pronounced it a 
 very serious injury. We found an excellent house, well furnished, 
 with a beautiful view of the Pyrenees, taken for us by Baillie of 
 Dochfour ; but the cold was so fearful that we could not get the 
 thermometer above 50, generally ranging from 42 to 47 in the 
 drawing-room. I put on my duck-shooting costume, and sat 
 shivering by the fire, unable to get warm. 
 
 December IQtk. Mr. Bagnall, the surgeon, arrived, and looked 
 very grave over Lady M.'s foot, saying the bone was splintered. 
 
 December \5th. Heard from England that an attempt has 
 boon made to blowup Clerkenwell prison, and rescue the Fenians, 
 Burke and Casey. 
 
 December 16th. Got an official telegram saying that the report 
 is true. The prison wall had been blown up, and several houses 
 opposite destroyed ; three people killed, and forty wounded. 
 
 Miss Dashwood and I went to a play at Madame Paturle's, the 
 widow of a rich merchant who was made a peer by Louis Philippe. 
 
fi3f> MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MItflSTEft. '1M7 
 
 The performance was an opera comique, beautifully sung and 
 acted. 
 
 December 17th. It seems that some information of the intended 
 attempt to rescue Burke and Casey had reached the Home Office. 
 No one had any idea of the means that would be employed ; but 
 orders were given to take the prisoners out for exercise at ten 
 o'clock instead of three, so they were not in the yard at the time 
 the explosion took place. What seems very strange is that the 
 police, some members of which specially patrolled the prison, 
 although without any detective, never saw the barrel of gunpowder 
 which was placed close to the wall. 
 
 December 21st. AVe have not seen the sun for four days. This 
 place has a very heavy, depressing atmosphere, and it is a fact 
 that one day, when I went into the club, I found seven or eight 
 of its members fast asleep, of which they all complain, saying they 
 cannot help it. 
 
 December 2Gth.I left Lady Malmesbury and Miss Dashwood 
 to return to London, with a very unfavourable impression of the 
 climate of Pau, which however is a very gay place, owing prin- 
 cipally to the Russian society. 
 
 1868 
 
 January. Several Cabinets met during the month without 
 Lord Derby, whose illness kept him at Knowsley. 
 
 February and March. On February 13 Parliament met, Lord 
 Derby still unable to come up ; and on the sixteenth there came 
 very alarming accounts of him. Lord Stanley sent for. Lord 
 Derby rallied two days afterwards, but resigned on Monday, 24th. 
 Next day, Disraeli, who was made Premier, sent for me, and 
 asked me to remain to lead the House of Lords as Privy Seal. 
 Previously, and foreseeing this event, the Dukes of Richmond and 
 Marlborough and I agreed to stand together and support the 
 Government of Disraeli or Stanley, should the Queen appoint 
 either of them to be Premier. I afterwards found that Disraeli 
 had offered the leadership of the House of Lords to the Duke of 
 Marlborough, who very generously refused, saying that I had 
 
868 MR. DISRAELI'S FIRST CABINET. 637 
 
 , prior claim, and had filled the place to the satisfaction of the 
 D eers. 
 
 Disraeli told me, on my going to see him, that he should part 
 sdth Lord Chancellor Chelmsford, and appoint Lord Cairns, a 
 ^ery efficient addition to our strength in the Lords, where our 
 >ench is comparatively weak in debate. 
 
 Lord Chelmsford (as Lord Derby told me, when in 1866 he 
 lormed his Government) was re-taken, only pro tern., and it was 
 ;ettled that he should make way some day for Sir H. Cairns. 
 Hie health of the latter failed, and he took the Chief Justiceship 
 ; or Appeals, but refused a Peerage. In 1867, the House of Lords 
 required more strength for Appeals, and then Lord Cairns coii- 
 iciited to be called up. This being the case, Lord Chelmsford had 
 10 right to be angry at Disraeli's arrangement, but he was so, and 
 ippealed to Lord Derby, who confirmed the decision, as being con- 
 istent with his original agreement. The fact is that Disraeli 
 ihould have written a letter to Lord Chelmsford under the cir- 
 jumstances, which I believe he eventually did. Disraeli's first 
 Jabinet met on Monday, March 2, Mr. Ward Hunt being added 
 ;o it, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, besides Cairns. He is a 
 riant in body, being six feet four, and weighing twenty stone. 
 W^heii he knelt to kiss hands, he was even in tha.t position taller 
 }han the Queen. I led the House of Lords till the recess. No 
 ime was given them to discuss or alter anything in the Reform 
 Bill. A violent altercation took place on the subject of the 
 Lords altering the boundaries as fixed by the Commons, in oppo- 
 sition to the scheme of the Royal Commission. Walpole and 
 3ir Stirling Maxwell have completely thrown us over on the 
 Commission, and the Government was helpless, as they had not 
 divided once. 
 
 From Mr. Disraeli to Lord Malmcsbury. 
 
 March I*, 1868. 
 
 My Lord, The lamented illness of Lord Derby having compelled 
 his retirement from the head of affairs, I have been entrusted by her 
 Majesty with the formation of a new Administration. 
 
 In making this announcement to your Lordship, permit nie to 
 
538 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1868 
 
 express an earnest hope that you will continue to the present Govern- 
 ment the same measure of support which you extended to the last. 
 
 I should hardly presiune to make such a request, had I not the 
 consolation of feeling that I am supported by the confidence of Lord 
 Derby. 
 
 I have the honour to remain, my Lord, your faithful servant, 
 
 B. DISRAELI. 
 
 April Wi. Government has been beaten on Lord Stanley's 
 amendment. We shall not resign, but dissolve, and meet a new 
 Parliament. 
 
 April 22nd. A gale has been blowing for the last three days, 
 and the French boats have not been able to cross till to-day, when 
 Lady Malmesbury arrived in London from Pau. 
 
 April Zitli. The Duke of Buckingham called on me to say that 
 a telegram had just been received from Australia, saying the 
 Duke of Edinburgh had been attacked at a public breakfast. 
 The telegram in cypher was so unintelligible, that it was impossible 
 to make out whether he was killed or wounded. The Duke 
 wrote to Sir Charles Grey, leaving it to his discretion to tell the 
 Queen. 
 
 April '25tk. Another telegram has been received. The Prince 
 Avas shot at by a Fenian of the name of O'Farrell, and was 
 wounded in the back. The ball struck a rib near the spine, and 
 ran round his body, but without touching any vital organ. 
 
 April 26th. News has been received announcing the fall of 
 Magdala, and the Abyssinian king, Theodore, killed. The battle 
 took place on the plain before Magdala, on Good Friday, and the 
 Abyssinian army was totally defeated by General Napier. 1 
 Theodore sent all the prisoners to the camp men, women, and 
 children : but Napier insisted on his surrendering himself a 
 prisoner. This he refused, and shut himself up in Magdala, a 
 strong fortress, with those troops that remained faithful. The 
 fortress was stormed and taken ; Theodore being found dead, 
 though it is not known whether he was killed or committed 
 suicide. 
 
 The Duke of Edinburgh is going on well. The Duke of 
 Buckingham saw the Queen last Saturday at Osborne. She cried 
 1 He was raised to the peerage with the title ' of Magdala* 
 
1868 A BITTER ATTACK. 639 
 
 at first, but soon recovered her calmness, and thanked the Duke 
 for coming down to Osborne. 
 
 May 2nd. The Ministers are very angry with Disraeli for 
 going to the Queen without calling a Cabinet, and the Duke of 
 Marlborough wants to resign, but I have done all I could to dis- 
 suade him from this course. 
 
 May 4th. Disraeli, in the Commons, and I, in the House of 
 Lords, announced that the Queen had refused to accept the resig- 
 nation of her Ministers, and consented to dissolve Parliament 
 if necessary. 
 
 May 6th. Gladstone made a bitter attack on the Government, 
 saying that the above-mentioned speeches required further expla- 
 nation as to what passed between Disraeli and the Queen. Disraeli 
 said the permission her Majesty gave him to dissolve only applied 
 to the Irish Church question, and, if other difficulties arose, he 
 must of course again refer to her. Nothing can exceed the anger 
 of Gladstone at Disraeli's elevation. He wanted to stop the sup- 
 plies on Monday, the 4th, but found his party would not go with 
 him. 
 
 May 8th. Second and third resolutions on the Irish Church 
 Bill came on first, and were passed without division, but under 
 protest from Disraeli ; after which a very angry discussion ensued. 
 Disraeli said the Irish Church question had introduced the ele- 
 ments of confusion, and its partisans were already quarrelling 
 over the plunder. Bright got up, and attacked Disraeli in his 
 most violent hustings style, calling him pompous and servile, 
 accusing him of deceiving the Queen, tc. Disraeli replied in the 
 most gentlemanlike manner, and was cheered by both sides of the 
 House. 
 
 May 18th. We dined with the Hardwickes, and met Lord 
 Clarendon, who told some amusing stories of the sayings of tho 
 Americans at Home. One lady, who lived in the Via Babuino, 
 near a Jesuit propaganda college, said, ' I live in Baboon Str 
 opposite one of the Pope's propagating houses.' An American 
 gentleman, being asked what he thought of the Venus de' Medici, 
 said, ' I never allow myself to be sat upon by those stone girls.' 
 
 May l$th. Government were beaten last nigl it in two divisions 
 on the Scotch Reform Bill by twenty-one and twenty t 
 
640 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTEK. 
 
 May 2lst. Disraeli asked the Commons to reconsider their 
 vote on the rating clause of the Scotch Reform Bill. 
 
 May 23rd. I dined with Disraeli, who gave a great dinner to 
 the Peers for the Queen's birthday. The Duke of Cambridge was 
 present. We went afterwards to Apsley House, where there was 
 a smart, very small party, all beautifully dressed. The Duke of 
 Wellington has just been made Lord- Lieutenant of Middlesex. 
 
 May 25th. Went to St. James's Church for Lady Cornelia 
 Churchill's marriage. She looked lovely, and I never saw any- 
 thing more perfect than her manner. 
 
 May 2$th. I had to speak in the House of Lords in ansAver 
 to Lord Russell's attack on the Government, and when I sat down 
 no one supported him. Lord Derby seemed pleased and satisfied. 
 
 Jane 14th. The Prince of Servia has been murdered, as he 
 was walking in his park. His cousin, Princess Anka, and her 
 daughter, who were walking with him, were also shot by the three 
 assassins, who were armed with revolvers. The Prince was killed 
 on the spot, Madame Anka died in a few hours, the Princess was 
 only slightly wounded. 
 
 June 22nd. The Queen gave a breakfast in the garden of 
 Buckingham Palace, and 600 were asked. She walked from the 
 Palace, attended by the Lord Chamberlain and the Duchesses of 
 Wellington and Roxburgh, and received her company very gra- 
 ciously. She was looking remarkably well, and everybody said 
 she seemed to enjoy her party. 
 
 June 24:th. The heat is extraordinary ; the papers state that 
 the maximum in the shade from the 12th to the 21st has ranged 
 from 78 to 95 Fahrenheit. 
 
 July $th. In the middle of the debate in the Lords, Hardy 
 and Hunt came to me to say that the Commons had passed an 
 important amendment to the Scotch Reform Bill on its being 
 brought back from the House of Lords. The Government, not 
 expecting such a breach of faith, were not prepared to oppose it, 
 and it was carried, but they were most anxious that the House of 
 Lords should be firm and throw it out cofite que coute. Cairns 
 was half inclined to let it pass, but I took the responsibility upon 
 myself and appealed to Lord Russell, who promised to assist me in 
 rejecting this amendment, which he owned was a breach of faith. 
 
1868 THE ABERGELE RAILWAY ACCIDENT. 641 
 
 July \Wi. The heat is quite extraordinary, and no such 
 summer has been known in England for many years. 
 
 July 27tk. A sad accident occurred at Portsmouth, by which 
 Herbert Meacle } lost his life. He was sealing a cap of a shell 
 with gutta-percha, when it exploded and killed him, with his at- 
 tendant. Lord Clanwilliam was at Homburg. The Queen is 
 going to Switzerland on the 5th. 
 
 August 2lst. A fearful accident happened yesterday to the 
 Irish Limited Mail, which ran into some trucks laden with petro- 
 leum near Abergele. The concussion was not very severe, but the 
 oil exploded and set fire to the carriages next to the engine, con- 
 suming four with everybody in them. The Duchess of Abercorn, 
 with several of her children, were in the train, but, being at the 
 other end, escaped unhurt. The smoke produced by the petroleum 
 was so thick that those who got out of the carriages were not 
 aware that the front of the train was on fire, and only thought of 
 saving the mail-bags. The unfortunate passengers must have been 
 suffocated at once, for not one attempted to escape, and not a cry 
 was heard. Upwards of twenty are supposed to have perished, 
 amongst whom were Lord and Lady Farnham, Judge Berwick, 
 and Miss Berwick. 
 
 August 31s2, Heron Court. Sir Augustus and Lady Paget, 
 Sir Henry Wolff, the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, v and 
 Lord Edward Thy line, arrived. 
 
 September 10th. I rode to Canford. Lady Cornelia looks 
 very happy and pleased with her house and everything belonging 
 to her. 
 
 September 23rd. I left for London, intending to embark to- 
 morrow for France. 
 
 On leaving Paris I went to Nancy, which is an interesting 
 town, and thence down the valley of theMeurthe to Kniuivinont, 
 which is a most beautiful drive. The whole scenery of the V > 
 is equal to anything I know. On arriving at Remiremont. I 
 strolled out from the inn and met a man fishing in a beautifully 
 clear river. Fora five-franc piece he lent me his rod, and in half 
 
 1 Lord Clanwilliam's son. 
 
 T T 
 
642 MEMOIKS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1868 
 
 an hour I had caught some very fine trout of two or three pounds 
 each. The inn is not very good, and I left Remiremoiit the 
 next day, and reached Gerardmer, a sort of watering-place in the 
 mountains. The scenery here is perfection ; lakes and thick pine 
 forests, with large openings made in them where inns and villas 
 have been built. The country is full of bright streams, in which 
 it is said there is excellent trout-fishing, and this must be the 
 case. The pines are of vast size, and numbers of walks and 
 paths have been cut through the woods. The hotel was very 
 comfortable, but it is new, and the place not yet frequented ; 
 when developed and better known it cannot fail to be a favourite 
 resort for a holiday. 
 
 From Gerardmer I went on to Plombieres, where Louis Napoleon 
 and Cavour met in 1858 and settled the fate of Italy and Savoy. 
 It is a clean, but very dismal, town, with nothing to distinguish 
 it but the compact between these two men. 
 
 I returned to Nancy, and on reaching Strasburg and entering 
 the hotel I was told to my horror that Count Walewski was just 
 dead there. He was seized with apoplexy soon after he had arrived 
 with Madame Walewska. She is in bad health, and he had helped 
 to carry her upstairs, seated her on a chair, and went into the 
 next room. He immediately called out to his daughter, ' Give me 
 a glass of water, quick ! and a doctor ! ' They rushed in and 
 found him on the floor quite dead. He had a complaint of the 
 heart, and carrying Madame Walewska upstairs probably brought 
 on the attack. I have had a great deal of official business and 
 social relations with him, and always found him agreeable and a 
 perfect gentleman. 
 
 From Strasburg, I returned straight to London, via Rheims 
 and Amiens, the shortest route to England. 
 
 October 2Sth. The Dowager Duchess of Sutherland died 
 yesterday. "We returned from Benacre, in Norfolk, which had been 
 hired by Colonel Charteris, where we had some very good partridge- 
 driving. 
 
 November 12th. I went yesterday with the Duke of Marl- 
 borough to Windsor for the Privy Council. Disraeli looked put 
 
1868 UNANIMOUS RESIGNATION. 643 
 
 out. I think her Majesty wanted the Bishop of London to be 
 made Archbishop, but he objected. 
 
 November 18^. Sir Henry Wolff has been beaten at Christ- 
 church by a majority of forty-two. Everything proves what a 
 Radical bill Lord Derby and Disraeli have brought in, for Sir 
 Henry was supported by every gentleman in the neighbourhood. 
 
 The elections are going on as badly as possible all over the 
 country, so our fate is decided. 
 
 November 2lst. Blenheim, where I am having some excellent 
 shooting. A large party here : Mr. and Mrs. Holford, Lord and 
 Lady Mount Charles, Mr. 1 and Mrs. Hardy, Lord and Lady 
 Feversham, Lord and Lady Alan Churchill. Mrs. Holford sings 
 beautifully. 
 
 November 2Gth. Seeing we were in a dead minority, Mr. 
 Gathorne Hardy told me that he was for resigning at once, with- 
 out waiting to be turned out by a vote of the Commons. 
 
 November 28th. We held a Cabinet, and determined to resign 
 at once. 2 Disraeli is going to Windsor immediately. The 
 counties have behaved splendidly, and the ' Times,' of course, says 
 that they must be reformed, grudging us our miserable minority 
 of 272. Mrs. Disraeli has been made Viscountess Beaconsfield. 
 
 December 2nd. Cabinet Council to-day, at which Disraeli 
 read the manifesto which he addresses, on going out, to his party 
 in both Houses. The Government are unanimous for resignation. 
 
 December 5th. I went to Hatfield. The ' Times ' says that 
 Gladstone has nearly completed his Cabinet, and gives a list of its 
 supposed members, which are certainly as Radical as possible. 
 Big Ben called, and said he had heard that Disraeli wanted t. 
 throw over the Irish Church, but, finding his colleagues would not 
 go with him, was forced to resign. I told him this was not tru*-. 
 and that I believed he invented the story himself. The majority 
 of my people and labourers at Heron Court voted against Woltf, 
 my bailiff telling them, 'You must vote for Wolff, but you 
 voting against yourselves.' 
 
 December IQth. Parliament met to-day, but the Queen's 
 
 1 Afterwards Viscount Cranbrook. 
 
 2 In 1874 our successor, Mr. GlntU>m\ saw him-fit' in exactly the same 
 predicament, and resigned without facing Parliament. 
 
644 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1868 
 
 Speech will not be before Tuesday. The new Administration is 
 composed as follows : Premier, Mr. Gladstone ; Foreign Secretary, 
 Lord Clarendon ; Home Secretary, Mr. Bruce ; Colonies, Lord 
 Granville ; War, Mr. Cardwell ; India, Duke of Argyll ; Admi- 
 ralty, Mr. Childers ; Lord Chancellor, Lord Justice Wood ; 
 Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Lowe ; Board of Trade, Mr. 
 Bright ; Lord President, Lord de Grey ; Privy Seal, Lord 
 Kimberley ; Postmaster-General, Lord Hartingtoii ; Poor Law 
 Board, Mr. Goschen ; Secretary for Ireland, 1 Mr. Chichester For- 
 tescue ; Lord- Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Spencer ; Attorney- 
 General, Sir Robert Collier ; Solicitor-General, Mr. Coleridge ; 
 Lord Steward, Lord Bessborough ; Lord Chamberlain, Lord Sydney. 
 
 A Council is held at Windsor to-day, for the Household to give 
 up their badges of office. 
 
 December 15th. The two Houses will probably adjourn till 
 February, when the Queen's Speech will be delivered. Lord 
 Derby is still ill, and obliged to be carried up and down stairs. 
 
 December \$th. It is now settled that Lord Cairns is to lead 
 the Conservative party in the House of Lords, as I have given up 
 the leadership. Lord Cairns sounded Lord Salisbury as to whether 
 he would lead the Opposition, but he refused to do so at present, 
 although he seomed pleased, but promised his support, and is now 
 cordially with us. 
 
 From Lord Derby to Lord M. 
 
 Knowsley : December 20, 1868. 
 
 My dear MalmesLury, Your ideas about the 'latter half of a 
 month appear to be of" the vaguest, as you were unable to come here 
 either on the llth or from the 18th to the 23rd however, come when 
 you will, you will always be sure of a welcome. I had hoped to get Lord 
 and Lady Cairns down here on the llth, but they are making a flying 
 visit to Kome, and will not, I imagine, be back tiU just before the meet- 
 ing of Parliament, which, by the way, the new Government have put off 
 quite as long as was decent for men who were in such breathless haste to 
 carry out their policy. I should have liked to have had an opportunity 
 of talking over the subject of the ' lead ' with you and Cairns, but on the 
 whole I think the proposed arrangement, subject to Disraeli's concur - 
 
 1 Now Lord Carlingford, President of the Council, 1884. 
 
1868 FATAL HUNTING ACCIDENT. 645 
 
 rence, which of course should be had, is satisfactory. I am not sure 
 that it would not be more so, considering how new Cairns is to the 
 bulk of the party, if you were to hold on till Easter, before which, 
 especially as it falls early, our House will not have much to do. 
 
 Yours sincerely, 
 
 DERBY. 
 
 1869 
 
 January \st. Left London for Heron Court. 
 
 January 5th. Lord and Lady Bath, Lady Ailesbury, and 
 Colonel and Lady Margaret Charteris arrived, but the rivers were 
 too high for any wild-fowl shooting. 
 
 January 19th. I went to Knowsley, where Lord Derby is laid 
 up with gout. 
 
 January 2Qth. Lord Derby approves of my having given up 
 the leadership of the House of Lords. He also acknowledges that 
 he was wrong in his disapproval of Government going out before 
 Parliament met. He thought at the time that our party would 
 blame us for doing so, but now he sees that, far from that, they 
 applaud what they all consider a dignified and honest course. The 
 little Prince Royal of Belgium is dead, after a long illness. He 
 was the only child, and his loss is much regretted by his country. 
 
 February Qth. A terrible accide nthas occurred out hunting 
 near Newby. Sir Charles Slingsby, master of the hounds, Sir 
 George Wombwell, two Mr. Yyners, some other gentlemen, and 
 eleven horses, attempted to cross a ferry. The river was flooded 
 and rapid, and the horses became restive, upsetting the boat. Sir 
 Charles Slingsby got clear, and nearly reached the shore, when lie 
 threw up his arms, and immediately sank. Sir George Wombwoll 
 was saved by Mr. Vyner, who pulled him out of the boat, \vhk-li 
 was floating bottom upwards. Five persons and eight horses W.T, 
 drowned. 
 
 February 15th. I gave the Parliamentary dinner to-day to 
 twenty-three Peers. I addressed them, and inform^ 1 1 horn of my re- 
 signation of the leadership of the Opposition in the House of Lords, 
 and proposed as my successor Lord Cairns, who was uimniiiiously 
 chosen. 
 
 February 16^. Parliament was formally opened to-day but 
 
646 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1869 
 
 the Queen was not present. The Address was carried without 
 opposition. Lord Derby is better, and went to the House. 
 
 Everybody is talking of Mr. Bright's speech at the Fishmongers' 
 dinner, in which he said that the advice he gave his colleagues was 
 seldom followed, and his whole tone was so offensive that it is 
 supposed he intends to resign office whenever he can do so. He 
 is said to be perfectly inefficient as a man of business, and so in- 
 dolent, that he hardly ever goes to his office. 
 
 February 18th. I called on Lady Palmerston to inquire after 
 her daughter, Lady Jocelyn, who has been thrown out of a cab and 
 much hurt. I hear that 8,000 people attended Sir C. Slingsby's 
 funeral. His horse and the hounds, immediately after the acci- 
 dent, returned to look for him, and remained by the body. 
 
 March 2nd. Gladstone introduced his Irish Church Bill yes- 
 terday in a speech of three hours. It disendows as well as 
 disestablishes the Irish Church, and abolishes the right of the 
 Bishops to sit in the House of Lords after January 1871. The 
 property of the Church amounts to sixteen millions, all of which 
 falls into the hands of the State. It is a complete act of spoliation, 
 and far beyond what was expected. 
 
 We went to Miss Pennefather's wedding-breakfast at Lady 
 Emily Hankey's. She marries Lord Stanhope. Disraeli was 
 there. He told me the Queen had sent him her last book. 
 
 March 3rd. A very hard frost, which has killed all the 
 blossoms. 
 
 March 8th. I left London for Italy, on a visit to the Pagets. 
 Sir Augustus is Minister at Florence. I crossed in a snowstorm, 
 and the cold was so great at Calais that I could not sleep undressed. 
 
 March 10th, Paris. I started at 7.15 this evening for Nice, 
 from whence I posted by the Corniche to Genoa, and then by 
 railway to Florence. 1 
 
 March 25th, We heard that the Irish Church Bill was carried 
 in the Commons by a majority of 118. The weather at Florence 
 was very bad ; it rained all day. 
 
 i I found the Pagets in the Orlandini Palace. They received me with the 
 greatest kindness and hospitality, and I enjoyed myself for three weeks in this 
 beautiful town, which is much improved, and made the capital of Italy. There are 
 an immense number of new buildings, and large sums have been invested in new 
 streets. 
 
1869 THE LIFE PEERAGES HILL. G47 
 
 March 2Glh. I sent a telegram to Lady Malmesbury asking 
 her to ascertain whether our party meant to oppose the Life Peer- 
 ages Bill, which I should resist to the utmost if I were present, 
 and I would go back on. purpose to do so. 
 
 The state of Italy is most wretched, and it is on the eve of 
 bankruptcy ; they are paying dearly for their dream of liberty. 
 They have got conscription, ten per cent, income tax, all other 
 taxes trebled, and money is so scarce that they have paper notes 
 down to 2\d. They still cry out to have Rome as a capital. If 
 that is ever accomplished, the people who are laying out money to 
 enlarge Florence will be half ruined. 
 
 March 30th. I heard with great grief of the death of my 
 popular old friend, Matt Burrell. He was thrown from his horse 
 on the 24th, in a remote part of his parish of Chatton, in Northum- 
 berland, and lay in the road, quietly waiting for the labourers to 
 come home from their work, as he could not move, having broken 
 both bones of his leg. He was taken home, and at first was 
 thought to be doing well ; but his heart suddenly stopped, and he 
 died on the 29th. He was a most popular man and an excellent 
 clergyman. 
 
 April IQth. Returned from Italy on the 13th. The Irish 
 Church Bill was resumed last night, and Mr. Newdegate's motion, 
 ' That the bill be committed that day six months,' was rejected 
 by a majority of 126. 
 
 April 20th. Called on Lord Derby, who was very feeble, and 
 suffering to-day from the exertion of going to the House of Lords 
 yesterday. 
 
 April 27th. In the House of Lords the Life Peerages Bill 
 came on. Lord Derby and Lord Cairns supported the second 
 reading, which passed without a division. I -shall divide tho 
 House upon it at a future stage. 
 
 Lord Malmesbury's Speech on the Life Peerages />///, 
 April 27, 1869. 
 
 My Lords, It is not my intention to oppose 1 1 i read- 
 
 ing of this bill, although I confess that if I hail Uvn \>\ 
 when it was first introduced into your Lordships' ll.uisr I .should 
 
(548 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1869 
 
 have been an exception to the unanimity with which it seems to 
 have been received. Let your Lordships consider what you are 
 about to do in agreeing to the principle of this measure. From 
 what I have heard and read of the last debate, I think that the 
 importance of this measure has hardly been realised by your 
 Lordships, and that, in assenting to it, you may perhaps be doing 
 more than you are aware of. The noble earl who has introduced 
 the bill (Earl Russell) is no doubt one of our greatest reformers. 
 He has also written upon the Constitution a subject which no 
 man is supposed to understand better than himself. But in all 
 his reforms, important as they have been in his reform of the 
 House of Commons in 1832 ; in his proposed reform of the House 
 of Commons afterwards, which he did not carry into effect ; and 
 in the reforms of the House of Commons which he assisted the 
 late Government to carry the noble earl has always kept strictly 
 within the lines of the Constitution. In altering the House of 
 Commons, he proposed nothing that could be called innovation ; 
 he extended the lines of the Constitution, but kept strictly within 
 them. Now, in the present measure, the noble earl has proposed 
 a great innovation he has gone altogether beyond the lines of 
 the Constitution, and is not only proposing to alter the principles 
 upon which the House of Lords has always existed, but he is 
 altering the Constitution at the same time. I am very much 
 mistaken if it is not one of the first principles of the Constitution 
 that a peerage should be hereditary ; that, indeed, is the very 
 essence of a peerage. Now, the bill at once sweeps away that 
 principle. 
 
 The term ' Life Peer ' is a singular blunder, as it appears to 
 me, for the life peers contemplated by the bill would not really be 
 peers, because they will not be the pares of those who will be 
 their colleagues in this House. The meaning of that word, as we 
 have always understood it, is, that here all are equal in social 
 position, in political rights, and in that great privilege of handing 
 down our names and titles to our posterity. Now, the life peers 
 will not be equal to ourselves in respect of this most important 
 privilege ; they will be unable to transmit to their sons the titles 
 and dignities given them by the Crown. Nor, again, if we look 
 upon ourselves as the nobility of the country, will they be noble, 
 
i860 SPEECH OX LIFE PEKftAGES. 649 
 
 because the very essence of nobility is the transmission of that 
 distinction to the son of the recipient. A peerage, as it exists in 
 this country, is a very modern institution as compared with that 
 of nobility. Nobility is one of the oldest institutions in the world. 
 In the Roman Empire, from the earliest ages, there were patrician 
 families, showing that the nobility was handed down from genera- 
 tion to generation. In the feudal ages, also, nobility was always 
 considered hereditary ; and to such an extent was this carried, 
 that though the Crown could create, it could not withdraw a titlo, 
 except by reason of felony, treason to the Crown, or cowardice in 
 the field, proved against a person in the ranks of the nobility. 
 No doubt the monarchs of those days were often reckless of all 
 principles whatever ; but they adhered still, for form's sake, to 
 the one I have mentioned, when they wished to get rid of certain 
 nobles organised conspiracies against them, and got up sham 
 accusations and sham trials ; but they were always obliged to 
 prove acts of felony before they could deprive these nobles of the 
 titles which the Crown had conferred upon them. 
 
 Your Lordships are therefore, I think, about to go a step 
 further than you really intend, because you will, by the creation 
 of these life peerages, be making a very great innovation, not only 
 among your own nobility, which has the privilege of being also an 
 Estate of Parliament, but infringing on the first principles of 
 nobility, as it has existed for fourteen centuries before the estab- 
 lishment of English peerages. I am, moreover, afraid that some 
 members of your Lordships' House, who have spoken on this 
 question, have made rather too light of the apprehension that 
 those peers, who, being created only for life, will be unable to hand 
 down their titles and honours to their descendants, will be 
 regarded as not being equal to those whose peerage is placed upon 
 a different footing. If I know something of human nature, I 
 cannot help being of opinion that there will be a feeling, so far as 
 they are concerned, not certainly of the slightest disrespect, 1 >u 
 that they are of a grade not quite on a level with the rest of your 
 Lordships. I may add I have always observed that the greatest 
 pleasure a man derives from having the honour of the peerage 
 conferred upon him by the Crown arises from the fact that he is 
 enabled to transmit it to his son and his successors. I ha\<- < 
 
650 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1869 
 
 known instances of men who, being childless, declined the honour 
 of a peerage, saying it was of no. value to them, but that, if they 
 had sons, they should be glad to accept it. Now, that is the 
 feeling ; it appears to me to be a noble sentiment, and one which 
 ought to be respected, and I should be very sorry that the 
 nobility of this country should not look upon it as the highest 
 privilege they could possess to be able to transmit their title and 
 distinctions to their posterity. 
 
 I very much doubt whether many persons will be found to 
 seek for the honour of a life peerage, for it seems to me it would 
 amount I will not say to an insult, but to a very humiliating 
 slight, to offer a gentleman a peerage, and at the same time to tell 
 him that the title and dignity conferred upon him shall not 
 descend to his son, supposing him to have one. To a man who 
 happens to have no son, indeed, it may be of less consequence 
 whether his peerage is for life or not ; but then no good reason 
 can be urged against making a man in that position a peer after 
 the old fashion, if it is deemed desirable that the peerage should 
 be conferred upon him at all. You object to giving a man a 
 peerage which shall be hereditary because he does not possess the 
 means you deem to be necessary to support the honour of the next 
 generation ; but how do you know that his son, if he had one, 
 might not, by marriage, or some other honourable means, acquire 
 a fortune sufficient for the support of the dignity ? But, my 
 Lords, I, for one, protest against the justice of the statement that 
 it is necessary a peer should be rich in order to maintain in this 
 country the respect which belongs to his position. It might have 
 been very well to use such an argument as that seventy or eighty 
 years ago, when public opinion obliged every peer to live ostenta- 
 tiously ; when he could not drive out without having four horses 
 to his carriage, and being attended by outriders, and when he 
 wore his stars and ribands morning and night. There is, however, 
 110 sort of resemblance between the state of things which existed 
 in those days and that which exists at present. A peer now comes 
 up to town by railway, in the company of every person who 
 chooses to travel in that way ; he moves about as unostentatiously 
 as any other class of persons. There are, in fact, no such dis- 
 tinctions in many respects as formerly prevailed between a peer 
 
1869 SPEECH ON LIFE PEERAGES. 651 
 
 and other members of the community, and there is, therefore, I 
 contend, no necessity whatever why they should require to have 
 large fortunes to maintain what is called their dignity in this 
 country. They are respected, not according to their riches, but 
 their usefulness as members of the legislature and in their several 
 localities. 
 
 It seems to me, then, that the arguments founded on poverty, 
 when urged in favour of the institution of life peers, fall altogether 
 to the ground. And let me suppose that poverty furnishes a good 
 reason why we should resort to the creation of life peers. Would 
 not such a state of things be calculated to throw a dangerous 
 power into the hands of the Minister of the Crown who is to 
 decide upon the persons who are to receive such peerages? 
 Would not peers so made be very much under the command of 
 the Minister by whom they happened to be created ? Again, a 
 life peer falls into bad health, and the Minister will have twenty 
 applications to supply his place. Now, that being so, I should like 
 to know from the noble earl who has brought this bill forward, 
 and who has said it will not have any effect on the state of parties, 
 how he arrives at that conclusion. Let your Lordships consider 
 the probabilities of the future by the experience of the past. 
 The noble earl is aware that his party has been in office twenty- 
 nine out of the last forty years, and, if that be true, is it not fail- 
 to calculate that they would have had the appointment of at least 
 three-fourths of those twenty-eight life peers in that time, enough 
 to decide, in the course of seven years, the result of a division in 
 your Lordships' House, for, when I divided the House on a ques- 
 tion relating to the Danish War, the party majority in a full 
 House, was, I believe, only nine ? 
 
 These, my Lords, are some of the objections wlm-h I cut- 
 to this proposal. It would, however, seem that you are abm 
 give a second reading to the bill ; and I would simply oWnv. in 
 conclusion, that I cannot help thinking you may herea! 
 cause to repent what you will have done, if you assent to tin- 
 creation of life peerages, when, on the occasion of great di\ i 
 much discontent will be expressed; and it will !< said by tin- 
 public, 'Such and such a bill was only nxrriod l.y tho votes of lit'.- 
 peers.' 
 
G52 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1869 
 
 May 1st. Debate last night in both Houses on the state of 
 Ireland, which is worse than it has been for some time. Two 
 murders have been committed within the last week, and a great 
 number of threatening letters have been received, which always 
 precede the murders. It is evident that the Church Confiscation 
 Bill has increased the agitation rather than diminished it, as the 
 lower orders think they will now get all they want by violence. 
 What they really want is the land. 
 
 May 6th. The state of Ireland gets worse, and the Govern- 
 ment have decided to pass a bill to deprive the Mayor of Cork of 
 his office of mayor, and to prevent his exercising the duties of 
 magistrate. One morning he got up, went to the court two hours 
 before the other magistrates, and discharged all the prisoners, 
 without hearing any evidence. 
 
 May \1tli. My uncle, Admiral Dashwood, died at Geneva. 
 He had been all through the great war, at the battle of Copen- 
 hagen with Nelson, and lost his arm in the celebrated frigate 
 action when Sir James Gordon, in the ' Active,' took the ' Pomone.' 
 Subsequently he was at the battle of Algiers, &C. 1 
 
 May VI ill. A most curious discovery has been made at 
 Madrid. Just at the time when the question of religious liberty 
 was being discussed in the Cortes, Serrano had ordered a piece of 
 ground to be levelled, in order to build on it, and the workmen 
 came upon large quantities of human bones, skulls, lumps of 
 blackening flesh, pieces of chains, and braids of hair. It was 
 then recollected that the auto dafe used to take place on that spot 
 in former days. Crowds of people rushed to the place, and the 
 investigation was continued. They found layer upon layer of 
 human remains, showing that hundreds had been inhumanly sacri- 
 ficed. The excitement and indignation this produced among the 
 people was tremendous, and, the party for religious freedom 
 
 1 He was sent there in H.M.S. ' Prometheus,' a month before the battle, to get 
 the English Consul and his family off', which, as the Dey was verv snspicious ot 
 our intentions, Avas difficult. The Consul refused to leave, but his wife, in disguise 
 and her baby in a basket, went down to Captain Dashwood's gig. Just as they 
 passed through the gate of the town the child cried and betrayed them ; the guard 
 turned out, and it was only by rushing down to the boat that the crew and the 
 whole party narrowly escaped being taken prisoners, and reached the ' Prometheus ' 
 in safety. 
 
1869 THE IRISH CHURCH BILL. 653 
 
 taking advantage of it, a bill on the subject was passed by an 
 enormous majority. 
 
 May 18th. We went down to Heron Court for the Whitsun- 
 tide holidays. Thorns, laburnums, and rhododendrons in a blaze 
 of colour, but I was kept at home by the gout. 
 
 May 29th. There was a meeting of a few Peers at Chester- 
 field House to receive some deputations from the religious bodies 
 in Ireland. One deputation from the Presbyterians stated that 
 they had made up their differences with the Established Church, 
 seeing that they had been deceived as to the Catholics, having 
 been made to believe that they would not benefit by the plunder, 
 but they now saw their mistake and would stand by us. A groat 
 meeting is to be held at Glasgow directly ; it looks as if a reaction 
 had set in. Dined at the Wiltons a large party. 
 
 June 1st. A meeting of the principal Conservative peers took 
 place this morning at the Carlton Club, to consider what course 
 they will take on the Irish Church Bill. Opinions were divided, 
 but the majority were for throwing it out. If our party v 
 united we might do so, but no doubt some will either vote for the 
 Government or stay away amongst them the two archbishops 
 so there is no chance of the bill being rejected on the second 
 reading. 
 
 June 3rd. The Life Peerages Bill passed the second reading, 
 on the understanding that only two were to be created every \ 
 and the number limited to twenty-eight. This is the mo.xt absurd 
 arrangement that could possibly be conceived, and I shall try to 
 throw it out on the third reading. 
 
 June llth. Lady Carrington called to announce the marriage 
 of her daughter with Lord Petersham. Lord Derl-v i 
 speak on Thursday on the Irish Church Bill. 
 
 June 14th. The discussion on the Irish Church P.ill came on 
 to-day in the House of Lords, and I could not dine at the 1 > 
 gals in consequence. Great ball at the I!runn> 
 
 June 17 th. A great many \\ent to the House of Lor 
 hear Lord Derby speak on the Irish Church P.ill. All the good 
 places in the gallery were taken early, but several l.i. 
 there who had no right, and some P< ided 
 
 in consequence. Lord Derby's speech was a very good one, and 
 
654 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1869 
 
 the peroration very eloquent and touching ; but his voice was 
 feeble, he looked pale and ill, and his manner had lost its energy. 
 It was altogether very painful for those who love him to see such 
 evident symptoms of failing strength. The mind, however, is 
 as clear and fresh as ever. I came home at half-past three A.M. 
 with the news that the second reading of the Irish Church Bill 
 had passed by thirty-three 179 to 146. Fifty or sixty of 
 our party voted with the Government. 
 
 June 28th. I went to the Queen's breakfast to the Viceroy of 
 Egypt, which was very brilliant ; but the wind was so cold from 
 the 1ST.E. that it spoiled all enjoyment. Dined afterwards at 
 Stafford House, where there was a banquet to the Viceroy. 
 
 July 1st. The Irish Church Bill has been in committee all 
 this week, and several amendments have been passed. 
 
 July 3rd. Lord Salisbury's amendment respecting the glebe- 
 houses and land was carried by a majority of 144 213 to 69 
 many Liberal peers voting with the majority. The Duke of 
 Cleveland's amendment to grant equivalent gifts to the Roman 
 Catholics and Dissenters out of the surplus was rejected by a 
 majority of 33. 
 
 July Qth. The debate on the Irish Church Bill was resumed 
 last night in the House of Lords, and the Archbishop of Canter- 
 bury proposed three amendments. He withdrew the first two, 
 but the last, Ho vest grants, royal as well as private, in the 
 new Church body,' was carried by a majority of 50. Lord 
 Cairns's amendment on the sixty-eighth clause, reserving the 
 surplus for future Parliamentary distribution, was carried by 
 a majority of 70, and the bill passed through committee. 
 
 Lord Malmesbury 's &peecli on the Third Reading of the Life 
 Peerages Bill, July 8th, 1869. 
 
 My Lords, I have given notice, even at this late period 
 of the session, that I shall feel it my duty to oppose the bill of the 
 noble earl (Earl Russell), and to move that it be read this day 
 three months a third time. It is now exactly three months since 
 the noble earl introduced it, and it is for him to explain why he 
 has allowed it to remain so long under your Lordships' considera- 
 
1869 SPEECH ON THE THIRD RKADING. 655 
 
 tion ; but I believe the more you have seen of it the less you have 
 liked it. The object of the noble earl in bringing forward the bill is, 
 no doubt, a very worthy one. It is, as I understand, to strengthen 
 the practical powers of the House, to increase its prestige, and 
 enable eminent men, who do not possess a large fortune, to sit in 
 the House, without transmitting to their descendants the expn i 
 or supposed expenses, of an hereditary peerage. Now, I venture- 
 to think that this House requires very little increase of practical 
 power and prestige. I am aware that many persons, both in their 
 speeches and writings, have represented that this House is not on 
 a level with the opinions of the times, and that it cannot, there- 
 fore, march pari passu with the House of Commons ; but that 
 does not appear to me to be the case. 
 
 What, let us consider, is the composition of this House, 
 as the oldest legislative body in Europe, and as the highest in 
 character and general respect ? Some persons have said that it is 
 a House of mere landowners that is, men of a sort of upper-class 
 farmers and being so, that they are not as fitted as they might 
 be for the consideration of the general questions which agitate the 
 world. But is that the fact ? Of course many of us are land- 
 owners, and are not, I think, as such, incapacitated from con- 
 sidering general questions ; but it is not true that we are only 
 landowners. Property of every kind belongs to members of this 
 House. We are not only owners of land, but owners and even 
 lessees of mines and other industrial property. Among us there 
 are also bankers, railway directors, and men most eminent for 
 their knowledge of commercial affairs, such as the .Marquis of 
 Salisbury and other peers. There are others who are eminent 
 officers in the army and navy, who are ready to enter upon 
 discussions of interest to your Lordships relative to those pro: 
 sions. There are more than fifty peers who have luvn emin 
 and distinguished members of the House of (.'mmn'Mis. There are 
 eminent diplomatists like Lord Stratford <! lleiU-liHo and Lord 
 Cowley. There arc historians, among whom I \\\ \\\\ 
 
 noble friend behind me 1 (Earl Stanhope), who, if ever your Lord- 
 ships wev. point of history, would set you rL 
 There arc writers, both of prose and poetry, including nr 
 i The late Lord Stnnliope. 
 
656 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 friend opposite (Lord Hough ton), and another noble lord (Lord 
 Lytton), than whom no English writer can be more distinguished. 
 There are twelve or fifteen peers who possess immense leasehold 
 property in this metropolis, and who can assist us in discussions 
 on property, and who are conversant with the wants of the middle 
 and lower classes. There are eminent lawyers, and a great num- 
 ber of magistrates, accustomed to judicial decisions, many of them 
 being chairmen of quarter sessions. Now, if your Lordships con- 
 sider this catalogue of peers with various qualifications, is it 
 possible to suppose that a legislative assembly can be more com- 
 plete in its construction than the House of Lords is ? 
 
 This assembly, as I understand it, has existed for about four 
 centuries, and I am not aware that at any period it has done any- 
 thing to derogate from its character and dignity. It is not for a 
 member of the House to say much on the subject ; but during the 
 last few days or weeks your Lordships according to the opinions 
 of the public Press, and of public opinion everywhere expressed 
 have most creditably, in the eyes of the country, maintained your 
 powers of debate and your general capacity in considering im- 
 portant subjects. Well, that being the case, I ask your Lord- 
 ships whether you think there is any necessity for altering one of 
 the fundamental rules of our Constitution namely, that peerages 
 should be hereditary ? I venture to think there is not. When I 
 consider the opinion of the noble earl himself, that such a 
 measure as he has proposed is necessary in order to popularise 
 this assembly, I feel compelled to differ from him altogether. 
 We have had what may be considered the test of the opinion of 
 the people transmitted to us recently by a gentleman supposed to 
 represent the most popular opinions of the day, and one, at the 
 same time, representing her Majesty's Government. That right 
 hon. gentleman has publicly declared that this bill is but a 
 childish tinkering of legislation. It is no less a person than Mr. 
 Bright, a distinguished member of her Majesty's Government, 
 who has expressed himself thus. Now, I want to know whether 
 her Majesty's Government generally agree with Mr. Bright on this 
 point. At all events, so far as the argument of the noble earl 
 goes, as to the necessity of such a bill in order to make this 
 assembly more popular, I think the evidence of the right hon. 
 
1869 SPEECH ON THE THIRD READING. 657 
 
 gentleman in question is worthy of consideration, for he is sup 
 posed to know pretty well what the popular opinion is, and it 
 would be hardly fair to make this an exception and assert that he 
 cannot answer for popular opinion on this subject. 
 
 The noble earl's second reason for introducing this bill was, 
 that it would give an opportunity to men of eminence and ability, 
 but without fortune, to enter this House. Now, he has not 
 given any names to prove that any eminent men who would hav 
 done good service in this assembly would have refused peerages 
 on account of their being hereditary. It would be hardly be- 
 coming to mention the names of living persons ; but I may 
 mention two very eminent men who declined entering this House 
 because they had no children. And I have always thought it 
 one of the noblest feelings of human nature that a man should 
 not be ambitious of a seat in your Lordships' House from any 
 selfish vanity, but in order that he might transmit the honour to 
 his descendants. Your Lordships will probably recollect the very 
 touching letter written by Mr. Burke to Mr. Pitt, when, being 
 offered a peerage, he said that ambition and life had lost all 
 interest in his heart since the death of his only son. On that 
 ground he refused a peerage ; and Lord Kingsdown, whose death 
 has been so great a loss to this House, to my knowledge, more than 
 once refused to accept a peerage although he was so eminent in 
 his profession and was so calculated to confer honour on the Houso 
 because he had no family. It is true that, ultimately, he frit 
 it his duty to accept it. It is supposed that there are men who 
 would accept life peerages ; but I very much doubt wht>tli> 
 such men as your Lordships would wish to enter this House would 
 do so. Of course, there are men who would accept anythii. 
 is offered them ; but these are not the persons whose adi 
 the noble earl contemplates. It appears to me that they would 
 stand in such a false position that no men with the usual amount 
 of pride and self-respect would accept these peerages. 
 would not be your Lordships' peers, according to the true sense of 
 the expression, because they would not be your equals in r 
 of privileges. They would not transmit the titl> t<> tit 
 ants; and they would, therefore, l>e on a different and lu\\i>r 
 footing from the rest of the House. They would not be noMes, 
 
 uu 
 
658 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 
 
 because the very essence of nobility is in the succession of the 
 title to posterity. They would thus be in a false position, to say 
 nothing of the equivocal position of their families, both sons and 
 daughters. 
 
 I do not think, therefore, the noble earl would really get such 
 recruits as he wishes, and such as your Lordships would like to 
 see added to this assembly. If, however, such recruits could be 
 got, observe the political power which would be given to a Prime 
 Minister. I have seen in the public prints a suggestion that a 
 man with such a philosophic mind as the late member for West- 
 minster (Mr. Mill) might very properly be made a life peer if 
 such a measure as the present were passed. Now I do not 
 think that that was a good illustration of the advantage supposed 
 to be derived from this measure ; for supposing the noble earl 
 had been Prime Minister, and had created Mr. Mill a life peer under 
 this bill, he would certainly not have popularised this House by 
 admitting a man who had just failed in an attempt to get a seat 
 in the House of Commons by popular election. Life peerages 
 would present a temptation to a Minister, much more than is the 
 case with hereditary peerages, to create peers in order to gain 
 political strength ; and if they were courted, the result would be 
 that every year the Minister would have before him a list of 
 candidates for that distinction. Thus, if the noble earl's expecta- 
 tions be correct, there would be great objection from a political 
 point of view. Mr. Bright has spoken of the bill in terms of the 
 utmost contempt ; and whether or not he is right in thinking 
 this bill would give no satisfaction to the middle and lower classes, 
 it is my belief that persons who accepted these peerages would 
 find themselves attended with such inconveniences that they would 
 regret having done so. At all events, I think that it has not been 
 proved that this change in our ancient Constitution is necessary 
 or expedient, and, in the absence of sucli proof, I protest against 
 a change in our Constitution, which has been successful in Dera- 
 tion for more than four centuries. For these reasons it is' that I 
 move that the bill be read a third time this clay three months. 
 
 July th. Third reading of the Life Peerages Bill came on 
 last night in the House of Lords, which I was determined to 
 
1869 REJECTION OF THE LIFE l>EEKA(iK> HILL. ljf,f 
 
 oppose, although it had been supported by Lord ])orby, Lord 
 Cairns, and a number of my party. I therefore made a. deli!.' 
 speech against it, and to my great satisfaction succeeded in tin-ow- 
 ing it out by a majority of twenty-nine 106 to 77 converting 
 to my views both my leaders and many others who had supported 
 the bill. I had returned from Italy on purpose to effect this, 
 and to have done so at the last stage was an unexpected and very 
 agreeable success. 
 
 July 12th. Wilberforce, Bishop of Oxford, voted with the 
 Government on the Irish Church Bill. Someone observing him 
 going out with them in the division said : * The Bishop of Oxford 
 is going the wrong way.' ' No,' observed Lord Chelmsford, ' it 
 is the road to Winchester.' * Lord Devon moved the omission of 
 the reservation in Clause 1 3 of the right of present Irish Bishops 
 to retain their seats, and carried it by 182. He had never given 
 Lord Cairns the slightest intimation of his motion, and had been 
 canvassing, with the assistance of Lord Bath. Lord Stanhope 
 then moved his amendment to provide residences for the Roman 
 Catholic priests and Presbyterian ministers, and carried it by 
 121 to 114. A great many Whigs voted against the Government, 
 and a number of our side with them. The bill then passed, and 
 the House adjourned at twelve o'clock. 
 
 July 16th. Dined at the Bradfords. The House of Commons 
 threw out the Lords' amendment last night in the preamble, 
 postponing the appropriation of the surplus, by 222. The Con- 
 current 'Endowment clause was rejected by a majority of 89, and 
 all the other amendments, except immaterial ones, met with the 
 same fate, Gladstone showing the greatest hostility and bittern 
 He proposes to give 500,000/., in lieu of grants, to the Chin 
 which, of course, is a much smaller sum thai-, it is entitled to. 
 
 /Jfy 21 s. The Irish Church Bill was brought Kuk to tin- 
 Lords, and Lord Cairns moved 'that the Lord- 
 amendment made in the preamble to which t! 
 disagreed.' The motion was carried by 7^. Lord Ciauville 
 adjourned the House, saying he could not go on with t 
 without consulting his colleagues. 
 
 i He was nftonvnr.ls m:ulo liUlui> i-f Wim-lus'.cr. 
 
660 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER* 1869 
 
 July 2'2nd. The House of Lords has agreed to a compromise. 
 Lord Cairns settled it with Lord Granville, taking the whole re- 
 sponsibility upon himself, for he never consulted any of his party, 
 and a great many are much displeased. Lord Derby was so angry 
 that he left the House. Gladstone wanted to throw up the bill 
 after the debate of last Tuesday, when the words of the preamble 
 were re-inserted, but he was out voted in his Cabinet, and it is said 
 that Lord Granville told him that if he gave up the bill he 
 must find somebody else to lead the Lords. He must have 
 intended to provoke a collision between the two Houses, and the 
 feeling he showed on this occasion proves, and not for the first 
 time, what his sentiments are against that institution. 
 
 Lithographed Circular from Lord Cairns to the House of Lords. 
 
 July 24, 18G9. 
 
 My Lord, I am unwilling to rest upon my public statement the 
 explanation of the course adopted by me on Thursday in reference to 
 the Irish Church Bill ; a course which was, and to those Peers who 
 have honoured me with their confidence must have appeared to be, a 
 wide departure from the limits of duty under which such confidence is 
 iisually reposed. 
 
 It was only at mid-day on Thursday that I satisfied myself that 
 there was a willingness on the part of the Government to make such 
 concessions as it might be possible to accept, and it was not until a few 
 minutes before five o'clock that the precise details of these concessions 
 were completely specified. 
 
 It would have been an inexpressible relief to me had I then been 
 able to consult with all, or even some, of those with whom I was 
 acting ; not only because I should thus have avoided a serious responsi- 
 bility, but also because I could have pointed out in private, what I 
 could not do publicly, the material advantages which appeared to me 
 to flow from these concessions, as compared with a prolonged contest. 
 
 To consult, however, or even to delay, was obviously impossible, 
 and I had to choose between the alternatives of declining an arrange- 
 ment which could not have been renewed after the debate had com- 
 menced, or of accepting terms which, while they secured more for the 
 Church than I believe would ever again have been obtained, enabled 
 us to put an end to what was a violent, and was rapidly becoming a 
 dangerous, strain upon the constitutional relations of the two Houses. 
 
 I could not but choose, at any risk, the latter alternative, and the 
 
DEATH OF LADY PALMERSTON. 661 
 
 only circumstance which could make me regret my choice would be if 
 any member of the party should suppose that I had wantonly, or even 
 willingly, taken such a step without that full communication and con- 
 saltation which is always desirable. I have the honour to be, my 
 Lord, your faithful servant, CAIKNS. 
 
 August 12th. I arrived at Chillingham from Lowther Castle. 
 Found Sir Edwin Landseer staying here, Avithhis friend Mr. Hill, 
 who is taking care of him, as his mind is affected, and has been 
 so, more or less, ever since he had a severe accident on the railway ; 
 yet he painted two beautiful life-size pictures of red deer for Lord 
 Tankerville. 
 
 August 13th. The papers to-day announce the death of Lady 
 Palmerston, 1 which took place at Brocket, after a week's illness. 
 She was the last of the four friends Lady Jersey, Lady Willough- 
 by, and Lady Tankerville. They began life together, married at 
 the same time, were firm friends all their lives, and died at the 
 same age. 
 
 August I8th. We went to Longleat, where we found a family 
 party and Sir A. Paget. 
 
 August 23rd. Returned, to Heron Court. 
 
 October 3rd. I was grieved to-day to hear that Ferdinand St. 
 Maur died last Thursday. It must have been sudden, for when 
 I saw Lady Ulrica, his sister, at Longleat, she never mentioned 
 that her brother was ill. What dreadful sorrow has fallen on tlx 
 Duke and Duchess of Somerset, losing their two sons within so 
 short a time ! 
 
 October l^th. The accounts of Lord Derby are bad, and I am 
 very unhappy. I got a sad letter from Freddy Stanley, but h- 
 does not seem to have quite given up all hope. 
 
 October 16th. Left Heron Court for London. I called to 
 inquire for Lord Derby the account was very bad. I saw Colonel 
 Talbot, his son-in-law, who says there is no hope. 
 
 October 17th. The news of Lord Derby is much tin- 
 Ho is gradually sinking. 
 
 1 Lady Palmerston had been the widow of Enrl Cowpor, Jind was sister 
 
 Melbourne, Her younger HII inhontoiUh-cjullan.!-. I .-yin 
 
 JIampshire. 
 
6G2 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1869 
 
 October 18th. Lady Malmesbury got a very pretty letter from 
 Lord Stanley, full of affection for his father and mother, and 
 kindness to us, but he gives very little hope. There is a report 
 that the Liverpool doctor, not calculating on his weakness, gave 
 him a dose of opium equal to what he was accustomed to prescribe 
 for him when in comparative health, and that it produced a state 
 of collapse from Avhich he has never rallied. 
 
 October 21st. Lord Derby still lives, but gets weaker every 
 day ; he is quite unconscious, and has taken no nourishment for 
 several days. 
 
 October 23rd. Lord Derby died this morning at seven o'clock. 
 In him I lose my greatest friend, and the country a most brilliant 
 and accomplished statesman. 
 
 The public acts which will be most closely associated with his 
 name are the emancipation of our slaves in the West Indies, which 
 he accomplished when Colonial Secretary ; in the ready recog- 
 nition of the Second French Empire under Louis Napoleon, in 
 spite of the grudging hesitations and objections of the Great 
 Powers to follow suit ; and thirdly, the passing of his Reform Bill 
 in 1867, under which law we are now living and have lived for 
 seventeen years. When. Prime Minister, which he was three 
 times, he was always in a dead minority in the House of Commons, 
 and therefore hampered in all his policy. He thus never had a 
 fair chance of developing his wishes, and died before the wheel of 
 fortune turned, in 1874, in favour of the Conservatives, which 
 enabled Disraeli to display unfettered that genius which will 
 render his administration one of the great landmarks of English 
 history. 
 
 With regard to Lord Derby's power of speech, I never heard 
 but one opinion namely, that he was the most popular orator of 
 his time. This seemed proved by the fact that whenever he was 
 expected to address the House of Lords on any great question the 
 place could hardly hold the audience which nocked to hear him 
 from every part of the building the galleries being always 
 crowded with peeresses. I never saw this impression made by any 
 other speaker there excepting Lord Lyndhurst. There was a 
 
1870 LAST DAYS OF THE EMPIRE. 663 
 
 peculiar charm in Lord Derby's voice which was a pure tenor 
 and in the brilliancy and English character of his diction. If 
 he has been called the Rupert of Debate, it must be from tin- 
 vigour of his charge alone, for he had none of the rashness of his 
 prototype, but, on the contrary, much reflection and calmness 
 'before action, and was very nervous before making a prepared 
 speech. 
 
 The death of Lord Derby was followed, in 1870, by that of 
 Lord Clarendon, the able English Foreign Secretary, by the 
 Franco-German war, and by the collapse of Louis Napoleon's 
 Empire. I have had so many relations with the latter which I 
 have noticed, that I do not think it out of place, before I conclude 
 my memoirs, to relate some episodes of his remaining life. 
 
 On April 181 left London for Florence, on a visit to Sir A. 
 and Lady Paget, 1 who held the British Legation, and after a 
 fortnight most agreeably passed there, returned to Paris. The 
 I plebiscite had just been repeated, to confirm the Liberalised Con- 
 stitution under the Olivier Ministry, and resulted in an approval 
 of the Emperor and his Government by above 7,000,000 votes. 
 The Due de Gramont was just made Minister of Foreign Aft'.. 
 and on May 19 the Emperor gave a dinner, said to be in honour 
 of the Duke's installation, to which he invited me. 
 
 I found him much altered in appearance, and looking very ill, 
 it being three years since I had seen him. He received me with 
 his usual kindness, and made me sit by the Empress at dinner, 
 where I had the advantage of admiring her beautiful should 
 On her right sat the Due de Gramont, the rest of the company 
 consisting of Sir John and Lady Stanley (nee Talleyrand) and 
 some French guests. The Empress and Gramont both abused the 
 Press, which always was her bete noire. Increased liberty had 
 been given to it, or rather to newspapers, and both my nei^hlxnirs 
 seemed to think it dangerous, although th> i so 
 
 favourable to their wishes. After dinner the Emperor invited the 
 
 i When the monarchy of Italy was unified, Sir A. Paget was p;> 
 Ambassador at Rome. The Kinh.-i.-y rakttooe near P..r!.-i Piawas a very bad one, 
 
 but is now the best and handsoim'st in th> Diplomatic Si-rvico. havinir I n r. 
 
 rebuilt, principally under the direction of Lady P;i-M, who has all the ; 
 art in practice as well as theory. 
 
1 57 ') 
 
 toefc me- iiiiuiii xy imii I lad at 
 
 wMi Bam. I rataaJHly beggar by &m~ 
 fcb'wcififf^ ncftndBti wa wffifc counted up, bat 
 
 voted fc Jfo&." Bfei. Bfijwswso^ yypfamgJ tttat this had taken 
 
 nn esartadtt s^eamD EaaraaefeE -w4e tfe feueL^ were unpopular and 
 
 the KBamdte moBiranB*, aawB i&rit SQQyiNNI soldiers had 
 
 I 
 
 I matte the remark, to 
 ily 
 
 d to be trancjuily 
 
 that at that moment he had n ifea of the 
 *Bfc& out the first week of the 
 
 > i> 
 
 and q^uiet than I found 
 ajpeuiIatTve and hypoth" 
 
 by filing, andl I fiadl srare that not a thought of the 
 
 Gandaickit& for the 
 diliiiMidL Count B&marck had kept 
 
 .. .,. } - ,,,,, M , , -, ., ^ 
 
 to force a (quarrel 
 in his conversation 
 o Italy, which had become 
 : and he recognised that 
 that he had com- 
 L liBiiiiig tne cause of creating a 
 tfcffi irery frontier of France and 
 ''WTtatb would Italy do> to show her 
 He events of the followrng- two months 
 
 men- vas more the result of bodily sufier- 
 
 L mfi rdkun^inn from at deadly dfisBeafflfr tftan from any moral 
 nnritiiBLj; ami tftarftto* frft. aft Bft must have done, that "the life 
 Ifiot Ms aran: would have a better chance 
 5 throne under a parliamentarv and irre- 
 
 ^IfuiirtwBfe; ftuit that was not the case, and their mismaBO 
 
LAST DATS OF THE EMPIRE. : 
 
 at the provocations of Prussia under Bismarck must always be 
 cited as the most incapable diplomacy on record. 
 
 The result of my visit and conversation with the Emperor was 
 one of extreme pain, for I saw that he was no longer the same 
 man of sanguine energy and self-reliance, and had grown prema- 
 turely old and broken. The Due de Gramont was an agreeable 
 and polished man in society, but vain and impetuous, and had 
 more liberty of action than was given by the Emperor during his 
 former regime to his Foreign Ministers. The Duke himself 
 me the following account of the last scene on July 14, before the 
 declaration of war : 
 
 The Hohenzollern candidateship to the throne of Spain was 
 abandoned, and the Emperor was decidedly luyMJ to accept 
 this renouncement and to patch up the quarrel, and turn this 
 result into a diplomatic success ; but his Ministers had avoided no 
 opportunity of publishing the insult to all France, and the Press 
 stirred the anger and vanity of the public to a pitch of madness. 
 Xone had yet taken advantage of this characteristic tempi 
 the Emperor. Before the final resolve to declare war the Emperor, 
 Empress, and Ministers went to St. Cloud. After some discussion 
 Gramont told me that the Empress, a high-spirited and ii 
 sionable woman, made a strong and most excited address, ( 
 that ' war was inevitable if the honour of France was to be sus- 
 tained.' She was immediately followed by Marshal Le Boeof, 
 who, in the most violent toiu\ threw j x>rtfolio and 
 
 that if war was not declared he would -i\e it up and ren 
 his military rank. The Emperor gave A\ 
 straight to the Chamber to announce the fatal news> 
 
 Such was his account to me of the most momentous 
 tion which has occurred in Europe since 1>1,\ In it 1 do not see 
 in the Emperor the same man who, with so much caution and 
 preparation, bided his time before he atta. ria in Ita! 
 
 is:>9, and who with such rure peneTerance after years of failure 
 and prison raised himself to what appeared I 
 possible throne. 1 attribute this change in the Kmpen 
 his broken health and acute sufferings, and to a mind which had 
 l,,vn weakened BMi he renounced his personal 
 
 of responsible Minivers. From the moment he did this in 
 
666 MEMOIRS OF AN EX-MINISTER. 1870 
 
 and 1869 his old enemies attacked and undermined him with 
 increased power, and were joined by those who had formerly upset, 
 by their incapacity, the Bourbon and Orleans dynasties, 1 all being 
 bent on abusing the new freedom he had granted. 
 
 On March 20, 1871, Louis Napoleon landed at Dover after 
 his captivity at Wilhelmshohe, and on the 21st I went down to 
 Chislehurst to see him. The Empress and his son met him at 
 Dover, and his hearty reception by the crowd must have shown 
 him the generosity and also the gratitude which the English 
 people felt at the steadfast policy 2 of friendship which he had for 
 twenty years displayed for their country. After a few minutes 
 he came into the room alone, and with that remarkable smile 
 which could light up his dark countenance he shook me heartily 
 by the hand. I confess that I never was more moved. His quiet 
 and calm dignity and absence of all nervousness and irritability 
 were the grandest examples of human moral courage that the 
 severest Stoic could have imagined. 
 
 I felt overpowered by the position. All the past rushed to 
 my memory : our youth together at Rome in 1829, his dreams of 
 power at that time, his subsequent desperate attempts to obtain 
 it ; his prison, where I found him still sanguine and unchanged ; 
 his wonderful escape from Ham, and his residence in London, 
 where, in the riots of 1848, he acted the special constable like 
 any Englishman. His election as President by millions in France 
 in 1850 ; his further one by millions to the Imperial Crown ; the 
 part I had myself acted as an English Minister in that event, 
 which had realised all his early dreams ; the glory of his reign of 
 twenty years over France, which he had enriched beyond belief, 3 
 and adorned beyond all other countries and capitals ; his libera- 
 
 1 Thiers, Guizot, &c. 
 
 2 Englishmen remembered the Crimean war and his sympathetic action when 
 proprio motu, he took their part against the seizure of the American delegates who 
 were coming over in the British packet. Still more when, in the crisis of our 
 Indian Mutiny, our safety depended on rapid action, the Emperor offered to allow 
 our troops a passage through France. His reception of the English at Paris during 
 his reign was exceptionally friendly, and must have been felt and contrasted with 
 that which they used to meet with under previous Governments. 
 
 3 This was proved by the facility with which France paid her enormous forfeit 
 to Prussia for the War. 
 
1871 LAST DAYS OF THE EMPIRE. C67 
 
 tion of Italy all these memories crowded upon me as the man 
 stood before me whose race had been so successful and romantic, 
 now without a crown, without an army, without a country or an 
 inch of ground which he could call his own, except the house he 
 hired in an English village. 
 
 I must have shown, for I could not conceal, what I felt, as, 
 again shaking my hand, he said : * A la guerre, comme a la guerre. 
 C'est bien bon de venir me voir.' In a quiet, natural way he 
 then praised the kindness of the Germans at Wilhelmshohe ; nor 
 did a single complaint escape him during our conversation. He 
 said he had been trompe as to the force and preparation of his 
 army, but without mentioning names ; nor did he abuse any one, 
 until I mentioned General Trochu, who deserted the Empress, 
 whom he had sworn to defend, and gave Paris up to the mob, 
 when the Emperor remarked, ' Ah ! voila un dr61e.' During half 
 an hour he conversed with me as calmly as in the best days of his 
 life, with a dignity and resignation which might be that of a 
 fatalist, but could hardly be obtained from any other creed ; and 
 when I left him that was, not for the first time, my impression. 
 
 When I saw him again in 1872 I found him much more 
 depressed at the destruction of Paris, and at the anarchy pn-vail- 
 ing over France, than he was at his own misfortunes ; and that 
 the Communists should have committed such horrors in the pre- 
 sence of their enemies, the Prussian armies, appeared to him the 
 very acme of humiliation and of national infamy. 
 
 On January 9, 1873, he died in the presence of the Empress, 
 who never left him, released from the storms of a fitful existence, 
 from intense physical suffering, and saved from knowing the loss 
 of his only son, whose fate she was soon destined to deplore alone. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 ABE 
 
 ABERDEEN, Lord, mentioned, 97, 
 
 i 113, 118, 217, 286, 307, 316, 324, 
 346 sqq., 389 ; difficulty in forming 
 his Ministry (1852), 288 ; list of his 
 Cabinet, 289; difficulties of his 
 Ministry, 305, 324, 332, 334, 345, 
 346 ; drifting into a war,' 309 ; 
 difficulty with Lord Palmerston, 
 322; aids Turkey against Russia, 
 329 : failure of chief bills proposed 
 by iris Ministry, 332 ; changes in 
 his Ministry, 333 ; resignation, 348 
 
 Vbd-el-Kader, 79, 118, 122 
 
 Vindications, royal, two in one month, 
 94 
 
 Vbergele, dreadful railway accident 
 at, 641 
 
 Vbolition of Church Rates Bill, 57, 
 377, 416 
 
 \ccident at a ferry near Newby, 645 
 
 Occidents in sporting, 186, 188 
 
 Adderley, Mr., 573 
 
 Addington, Mr., Permanent Under- 
 secretary for Foreign Affairs, 239 
 
 1 Adullamites,' the, 619 n., 620, 622 
 
 Afghan campaign (1842), 103 sqq. 
 
 Agrarian riots in the South and West 
 of England (1830), 30 
 
 Ailesbury, Lady, 53 n., 105, 255, 278, 
 
 Lord, 1 75 
 
 Akhbar Khan : his treachery to 
 
 General Elphinstone, 104 
 Alabama ' and ' Kcarsage,' engage- 
 ment between, 597 
 Alabama' claims, the, 625 
 
 Albert, Archduke, 624 
 
 Albert Hall, 630 
 
 Albert, Prince Consort, r mentioned, 
 84, 240, 373, 377, 394, 428, 432,;. 41::, 
 444, 453, 488, 490, 508, 519, 528; 
 
 ALV 
 
 the discussions on his annual allow- 
 ance, 81 ; the question of precedence, 
 82 sqq. ; the dismissal of Lord Pal- 
 merston, 224 ; at Balmoral, 262, 
 263 ; at Bagshor, 275 ; on the 
 national defences, 276, 285 ; on 
 Xapoleon III.'s proposal for the 
 Queen's niece, 289 ; newspaper at- 
 tacks on (1854), 322 ; vindication 
 of him, 323; his praise of the 
 English officers in the Crimea. 
 353; the reception of the Due de 
 Malakoff as ambassador, 432 ; his 
 death, 550 
 
 Alfred, Prince : proposal to bestow 
 Greece on him, 567 ; shot at, in 
 Australia, 638 
 
 Algeria, the French in (1840), 79, 118, 
 122 ; insurrection in (1864), 597 
 
 Alexander I., Emperor (of Russia), 
 at the great naval review at Spit- 
 head (1814), 3 
 
 II., Emperor (of Russia), 383 ; shot 
 at in Paris, 631 
 
 Alexandria, blockade of (1840), 91 
 
 Alice, Princess, 466 
 
 Alliance, offensive and defensive, 
 between England anil France, pro 
 pused by Lord Palmerston, 510 
 
 Allied armies in the Crimea, 335 sqq. : 
 dreadful state of the English 
 soldiers, 341, 343 ; Mr. Roebuck's 
 motion for inquiry, 317 ; their 
 strength (1855), 357 
 
 Alteration of Oaths Bill (1856), 380 
 
 Alvanley, Lord : his story of a diffi- 
 culty at whist, 45 ; calls out Daniel 
 O'Connell, 49 ; anecdote of him and 
 Lord Cardigan, 49 ; his duel with 
 Morgan O'Connell, 49; his death, 
 399' 
 
<;7o 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 AMA 
 
 { Amazon,' the, burnt at sea, 222 
 America, civil war in, 540 sq., 544 sqq., 
 
 547, 551, 554, 556 sqq., 560, 567, 578, 
 
 579, 584, 604 
 American (newspaper) excitement 
 
 against England (1838), 64 
 Americans in Rome, stories of, 639 
 Amoy (China), capture of, 103 
 Anderson, the conjurer, 377 
 Anglo-French Convention (1854), 331 
 Annexation of Naples to Sardinian 
 
 Kingdom, 529 
 Anson, General, death of, 401 
 
 Lord, 294 
 
 Mrs., 381 ; her death, 457 
 Antonelli, Cardinal, 269 
 Antrobus, Lady, 51 
 Appouyi, Count, 456, 471, 622 
 
 Countess, 498, 520 ; her advice to 
 Lord Stanley, 622 
 
 Arbutlmot, Mrs., killed In" lightning, 
 607 
 
 Argyll, Duke of, 289, 412; Privy 
 Seal, 493 ; Secretary for India 
 (1868), 6-14 
 
 Aries, visit to, 596 
 
 Arthur, Prince, 453 
 
 Ashanti question, the, 597 
 
 Aspromonte, Garibaldi wounded at, 
 559 
 
 Assessed Taxes Act (1851), Mr. Dis- 
 raeli's amendment to, 210 
 
 Assheton Smith, Mr., celebrated as a 
 horseman, 49 
 
 Assignats, the, of the Napoleonic war 
 period, 6 
 
 Astley, Mr., Lord Aberdeen's charge 
 against, 327 
 
 A thole, Duke of, 558 
 
 Atlantic cable, the, 608 
 
 Attache's (to Embassies), French, their 
 order of precedence, 68 sq\ 
 
 Auckland, Lord, 47 
 
 Augustenburg, Duke of, 590 
 
 An male, Due d', mentioned, 543 ; de- 
 feats Abd-el-Kader, 122 n. 
 
 Duchesse d', 402 
 
 Austria : its relations with England, 
 232, 295, 384 ; treaty regarding the 
 Crimean war, 342;" alleged secret 
 treaty, 387 sqq.; relations with 
 Italy (1848), 154, 168, 172, 179, 
 389 ; with Koine (1848), 169 ; with 
 France, 389, 457, 469 sqq. ; with 
 Prussia, 620 sqq.; with Turkey, 
 .">9, 333 ; its position in regard to 
 the Crimean War, 342, 356 ; advised 
 
 BED 
 
 peace (1855), 856 ; joins Prussia 
 
 against Denmark, 589 sqq. 
 Austrian war against Prussia and 
 
 Italy, 620 sqq. 
 
 Austro-French war : an armistice, 498 
 Auvergne, visit to, f;60 
 Avignon, visit to, 38 
 Azeglio, M. d', 256. 276, 379, 429, 436, 
 
 446,470,475,490,520 
 
 BADEN-BADEX, Emperor Na- 
 poleon at, 523 
 Baden, Grand Duke of, 184 
 Baiae, Bay of, attempt to swim across, 
 
 23 
 
 Baie des Trepasse's, visit to, 539 
 Bagot, Sir Charles, English Minister 
 
 at the Hague, 15 
 Balaclava, 336 ; the charge of the six 
 
 hundred, 339 ; railway at, 351 
 ' Balances,' the (hotel at Geneva), the 
 
 scene of Casanova's romance with 
 
 Henrietta, 16 
 Ballot, Mr. Grotc's motion for the 
 
 (1839), 77 
 Balmoral, the driest place in Great 
 
 Britain, 508 
 Bank Charter Act, the suspension of 
 
 (1857), 409 
 Bank of France, suspension of cash 
 
 payments, 162 
 Bankes, Mr., 151 
 
 Baraguay-d'Hilliers, General, 487, 490 
 Bariatinski, Prince, 556 
 Baring, Mrs., 509 
 
 Mr. Tom, 416 
 
 Sir Francis, 363 
 Barnard, Genera], 401 
 
 Barrows, the contents of three opened 
 on the heaths near Heron Court, 8 
 
 Basque war, 56 ; the author's pain 
 phlet on, 56 ; how it ended, 57 
 
 Bath, Lord, 326, 438, 595, 614, 622 
 
 Batlmrst, Lord, 131 
 
 Battersea Agricultural Show (1862), 
 558 
 
 Battue shooting, Lord Derby's perfect 
 organisation of, at Knowsley, 33 
 
 Bavaria, King of, and the Greek suc- 
 cession, 268, 270, 273 
 
 Beaconsfield, Lord. See Disraeli, Mr 
 
 Beales, Mr. E., 624 
 
 Beaufort, Duke of, 387, 419 
 
 Beaumont, Lord, 122, 123, 245 
 
 Beauregard, General, 556, 579 
 
 Bedford, Duke of, 332 
 
INDEX. 
 
 671 
 
 BED 
 
 Bedeau, General, 185, 218 
 
 Belgian question, 247, 2G9 
 
 Belgians, King of the (Leopold), 446, 
 497 ; his death, 611 
 
 Belgiojoso, Princess, 26, 185 
 
 Belgrad, Russian dispute about, 382, 
 386 
 
 Bellamy, Mr., 211 
 
 Bern, General, 177, 184 
 
 Bence Jones, Dr., 543, 585 
 
 Benckendorf, General, 277 
 
 Ben Drury, public tutor at Eton ; his 
 skill in driving a four-in-hand, 13 
 
 Benedek, General, 495, 511 
 
 Benedetti, Count, 519 
 
 Ben Nevis, ascent of, 113 
 
 Bentinck, Lord George : his activity 
 as a political partisan, 32 ; letter of, 
 1 26 ; resigns the leadership of the 
 Protectionists, 151 ; his death, 172 
 
 Mr. George ('Big Ben'), 390, 412, 
 469 
 
 Bentivoglio, Cardinal, the portrait of, 
 by Vandyke, 19 
 
 Beresford, Mr., 151, 211 
 
 Berkeley, Mr. Grantley, his method 
 of choosing a gamekeeper, 8 ; men- 
 tioned, 546, 560 
 
 Berlin, disturbances at (1848), 163 
 
 Bernal Osborne, Mr., 194 
 
 Bernard, Sir Andrew, 20 
 
 Dr., 422, 428, 432, 452 
 Bernstorff, Count, 592 
 
 Madame, 226, 478, 520 
 
 Berryer, M., 67, 216 ; mot on Xapo- 
 
 leon III., 290 
 Bessarabia, 370, 382 
 Bessborough, Lord,209 ; Lord Steward 
 
 (1868), 6-14 
 Bethell, Sir Richard, becomes Lord 
 
 Chancellor (1861), 543 
 Beyrout, bombardment of, 92 
 Bidache, the Duke de Gramont's 
 
 castle, burnt by the Bande Noire 
 
 (1793), 87 ; visit to, 575 
 Bidwell, Mr., 418, 437, 448, 467, 602 ; 
 
 letter from, 535 
 
 Bille, M. (Danish Minister), 591 
 ' Birkenhcad,' wreck of the, 245 
 Birmingham riots, the (1839), 78 
 Bismarck, Prince, 618 
 Blackwood, Mrs., 46 
 Blanc, M. Louis, 169 
 Blenheim, visit to, 583 
 Blessington, Lady, guests at her house 
 
 at Kensington Gore, 15, 27, 89 ; her 
 
 death, I 84 
 
 BUI 
 
 Blockade -running (American Civil 
 War), 566 
 
 Blood, Rev. Mr., saved from the 
 ' Amazon,' 223 
 
 Bloomfield, Lord, 147, 241, 251. 261, 
 444, 455, 457 
 
 Board of Admiralty, committee of 
 inquiry on the, 538 
 
 Boissy, Marquis de, husband of Coun- 
 tess Guiccioli, 27 
 
 Bonneval, Comte de, 16 
 
 Madame de, 162 
 
 Bordeaux, Due de, visits to England 
 (1843), 108 
 
 visit to, 574 
 
 Borthwick, Mr. (of the 'Morning 
 
 Post'), 277, 460 
 Bothy, a night in a, 507 
 Boulogne, Prince Louis Napoleon's 
 
 attempt on, 90, 117 
 Bournemouth, the rapid rise of, 8, 56 ; 
 
 the new pier at, 546 
 Bourqueney, M. de, 354 
 Bowie, Rev. Mr., his private school at 
 
 Wimborne, 10 ; his eccentricities, 
 
 11 
 Bowles, General Sir George, 162, 218, 
 
 319, 342 
 Bowood, the author's visits at, as a 
 
 boy, 13 
 Brabant, Duchess of, 440 
 
 Duke of, 440 
 Brabazon, Captain, 533, 535 
 Bragg, General (Confederate), 579, 
 
 Ou4: 
 
 BraidAVood, Mr. (Metropolitan Fire 
 
 Brigade), 542 
 
 Bran, Lord Ossulston's deerhound, 43 
 Brandev, Mr., his collection of fossils 
 
 from Christchurch cliffs, 11 
 Brazil, Lord Palmerston's treatment 
 
 of, 274 
 Breadalbane, Lad}-, 359 
 
 Lord, 307 
 
 Breech-loading gun, the cause of the 
 Prussian success of 1866, 623 
 
 Brenton, John, an old servant of the 
 author, 536 ; his death, 541 
 
 Bribery Bill (1852), 253 
 
 Brigandage, Neapolitan, 571 
 
 Briggs, Mr., the murder of, 599 sq. 
 
 Bright, Mr. John, 205, 434, 613 ; 
 speech on the annexation of Savoy 
 and Nice, 514; violent attack on 
 Mr. Disraeli, 639 ; President of 
 Board of Trade (1868), 644 
 
 Brighton, a journey to, in 1835, 46 
 
672 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 BRO 
 
 Broglie, Due de, 116, 141, 216 
 
 Broomfield, large yew tree at, 496 
 
 Brotherton, Colonel, anecdote of, 16 
 
 General, 325 
 
 Brougham, Lord, mentioned, SO, 43, 
 47, 74, 75, 83, 178, 183, 199, 422, 
 599, 623 ; anecdote of his bad 
 French, 67 ; scene with Bunsen, 
 394 ; letters from, 265 sq. ; en- 
 deavours to reconcile Lord Palmer- 
 ston and Lord John Russell, 427 
 
 Bruce, Mr., 505, 513 ; Home Secretary 
 (1868), 644 
 
 Briinnow, Baron, mentioned, 116, 229, 
 235, 268, 274, 276, 325, 342, 377, 
 380, 426, 472, 529, 589 ; letter from, 
 290 ; mot on the Duke of Welling- 
 ton's funeral, 279 
 
 Buchanan, Mr., 258 
 
 Buckingham, Duke of, 128 ; President 
 of the Council (1866), 622 
 
 Buller, Sir John, 80, 109 
 
 Bull fights in Madrid, 149 
 
 Bull's Run, battle of, 544 
 
 Bulwer-Lytton, Sir E., 15, 364, 367, 
 368, 456 ; Secretary for the Colo- 
 nies (1858), 417 ; resignation, 418, 
 421 
 
 Bulwer, Sir Henry, mentioned, 15, 
 129, 146, 214, 247, 250, 258, 259, 
 275, 447 ; Ambassador to Constanti- 
 nople, 435, 441 
 
 Bunsen, Count, mentioned, 236, 251, 
 252, 274 ; attacked by Brougham in 
 the House of Lords, 194 ; object of 
 his sham scene with Lord Claren- 
 don, 328 ; recalled from London, 
 330 
 
 Buol, Count, 232, 234, 240, 245, 247, 
 250, 255, 458, 464 
 
 Burghersh, Lord, English Minister at 
 Florence (1828), 18, 337 
 
 Burgoyne, Sir John, 344 ' 
 
 Burlington, Lady, 46 
 
 Burrell, Captain, anecdote of, 340 
 
 General, 95 
 
 Rev. Mr., anecdote by, 187 ; his 
 death, 647 
 
 Butcher, Mr., of the yacht ' Medina,' 
 
 anecdote of, 4 
 Butler, General (American), 557 
 
 Mrs. (nee Kemble), 142 
 Byng, Mr. (' Poodle Byng '), 327 
 Byron, his bad reputation through 
 
 Europe (1828), 16 ; how he wrote 
 * Don Juan,' 25 ; his pet goose, ib. ; 
 infatuation of women for him, ib. 
 
 CAR 
 
 CABINET DINNERS, 241 
 
 \J Cabrera, General, 57, 193 
 
 Cadiz, Duke of (husband of Queen 
 Isabella), 129 
 
 'Cagliari' affair, the, 421 sqq., 429 
 sqq., 433, 438 
 
 Cairns, LorJ, 633, 660 ; Lord Chan- 
 cellor, 637 
 
 Calais, Commission sanitalre at (1832), 
 35 
 
 Cambridge (Adolphus Frederick), 
 Duke of, his death (1850), 196 
 
 Duchess of, 71, 105 
 
 (George) Duke of, 325, 330, 343, 
 379 
 
 Cameron, Colonel, anecdote about, 
 
 202 
 Campbell, General Sir Colin, 401, 406, 
 
 410, 413 
 
 Lord, 398 ; Lord Chancellor (1859), 
 493 
 
 Campana, Signor, his collection of 
 
 Etruscan vases, 135 
 Canada, insurrection in (1837), 63, 
 
 64, 72 ; (1849) 183 
 Candia, Count. See Mario 
 
 offered by Emperor Nicholas to 
 England as a bribe, 328 
 
 Cannes, Lord Brougham's house at, 
 
 140 
 Canning, Lady, 104, 108, 110, 381, 403 ; 
 
 her death, 549 
 
 Lord, mentioned, 110, 113, 120, 
 138, 146, 406 sqq., 410, 412, 416 ; 
 his description of affairs in Madrid 
 (1847), 146 ; letters from, 146, 203 ; 
 opposed to the recognition of Napo- 
 leon III., 285, 286 ; his death, 557 
 
 Mr., 2 ; his death, 27 
 
 Sir Stratford, 229, 235, 248 
 Canrobert, General, 339, 357; his 
 
 praise of the English troops, 353 ; 
 
 superseded in his command, 363 
 Cantelupe, Lord, 191 
 Canterbury election case (1853), 304 
 Canton, storming of (1841), 101 ; 
 
 bombardment of, 386 ; claims of 
 
 merchants for compensation, 410 
 Capitan Pasha, the, 78 
 Capri, 136 
 
 Capua, Garibaldi defeated at, 527 
 Carbonari, the, 18; threats against 
 
 Napoleon III., 459, 466, 468 
 Cardigan, Lord, mentioned, 325, 339, 
 
 362 ; celebrated as a horseman, 49 ; 
 
 his trial in the House of Lords, 
 
 96 
 
INDEX. 
 
 673 
 
 CAR 
 
 Cardwofi, Mr., 120 sq. ; Secretary for 
 Ireland (1859), 493 ; War Secretary 
 (1868), 644 
 
 Carlists, the, 52-, 54 sq., 102 
 Carnarvon, Lord, 29, 56 n. ; on necro- 
 mancy and spiritualism, 568 ; Colo- 
 nial Secretary (1866), 622 ; resigna- 
 tion, 627 
 
 Carnival at Koine, 137 
 Carnot, M., 161 
 Caroline, Queen : feeling of Eton boys 
 
 against her, 18 
 Carrara marble works, 89 
 Carrington, Lady, 401 
 Casigliano, Duke of. 255, 259 
 Castel Fidardo, battle of, 52v 
 Castiglione, Madame, 400 
 Castles on the Loire, visit to, 547 
 Cavaignac, General, 214, 218 - 
 Cavour, Count, mentioned, 215, 379, 
 383, 387, 459 sq., 466, 498, sqq., 
 516, 520, 526, 529, 552, 571 ; his 
 death, 541 
 
 Cawnpore, 408, 410, 413 
 Cecil, Lord Robert (now Marquis of 
 
 Salisbury), 594 
 Cetto, Ban n, 274, 329 
 Ceylon, debate on (1851), 211 
 Chablais, 519 
 Chalons, Camp of, 559 
 Chamarande (M. de Persigny V), visit 
 
 to, 562, 564 
 
 Changarnier, General, 199, 214, 218 
 ( 'harles Albert. See Sardinia, King of 
 ' Charles et Georges,' the case of the, 
 
 453, 454, 461, 467 
 
 Charlotte, Empress (of Mexico), C31 
 Charras, General, 214, 218 
 Chartists, the (1840), 80, 107; (1848), 
 
 165 
 
 Chelmsford, Lord : Lord Chancellor 
 18. r 8), 417, (1866) 622; succeeded 
 by Lord Cairn?, C37 ; mot on Dr. 
 Wilberforce, <!59 
 Chelsea, Lord, 497 
 Chesterfield, Lord : his death, 619 
 Childers, Mr., First Lord of the 
 
 Admiralty (1868). (Ml 
 Chillingham (Lord Tankerville's), 
 visits to, 14, 27; adventure with a 
 wild bull at, 42 
 Chimay, Prince de, 460 
 China, difficulty with, 84, 96, 103 ; 
 treaty concluded with (1841), 96; 
 war with (1857), 386, S90, 393 
 Cholera, the visitation of, in IS'll- 
 32, 30 ; Dr. QUID'S remedy, ib. ; in 
 
 COM 
 
 London (1KI8), 171; in England 
 (1865), 608 ; in the Crimea, 337 
 Chotek, Baron, 463 
 ( 'hreptovich, Count, 382, 404 
 Chri.stchurch Head : plentifulness of 
 black game in its vicinity in the 
 author's youth, 7 ; its clifl's rich in 
 fossils, 11 
 
 the borough of, ] 2 ; distinguished 
 men connected with, ib. 
 
 Christina, Princess (afterwards Queen 
 of Spain), at King Bomba's Court, 
 23 
 
 Chiistopher, Mr., 103 
 
 Christy, Mr., English Minister at 
 Brazil, 576 
 
 Church Act (1845), 115 
 
 Church Rate Bill, 440, 523, 542 
 
 Churchill, Lady, 432 
 
 Cornelia*: her marriage, 640 
 
 Cialdini, General, 526, 558 
 Clanricarde, Lord, 318, 433 
 Clanwilliam, Lord, 75, 197, 322 
 Claremont, Colonel, 496 
 Clarendon, Ladv, 395 
 
 Lord, mentioned, 127, 206, 218, 226, 
 295, 307 sqq., 325, 327 sqq., 349, 
 360, 378. 380, 387, 4S3, 455, 477, 479, 
 512, 552, 619 sq. ; scene between 
 Bunsen and him, 3'28 ; letter from, 
 438 ; Foreign Secretary (1868), 
 644 ; his death, 663 
 
 Clausel, Marshal, 90 
 Clav, Mr., 57 
 
 Sir W., 877 
 
 Clerkeuwell prison, the explosion at, 
 
 635 
 
 Clermont, visit to, 561 
 Clifford, Sir Augustus, 595 
 Clothilde, Princess : her mot on her 
 
 own marriage, 518 
 Cluny Castle, visit to, 186 
 Cobden, Mr, 129, 280 n., 391, 491, 
 
 536, 558; President of the Board of 
 
 Trade (185 1 J), 4l8 
 Colborne, Sir John, 72, 73 
 ( 'oldiester, Lord, 380 
 Coleridge, Mr., Solicitor-Genera 
 
 ( 1868), 644 
 Collier, Sir R., Attoraev-Gerera 
 
 (1868), 644 
 Colorcdo, Mdme., 334 
 Colviilo, Lord, 226, 398 
 Comet of 1857, the, 399; of 1858, 
 
 448 
 Comi-tun. Mr, -11, 15. 49,72,98 
 
 X X 
 
674 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Condrieu, the wine of, 37 . 
 Congress: of Paris (1856), 37/, 384, 
 
 .J.V_'; on the Principalities, 465; 
 
 proposed, on Italian affairs, 469 
 
 sqq , 475 sqq. 
 
 Connellan, Mr. Cony, story of, 400 
 Conservative party : their position in 
 
 regard to the Corn Laws (1839), 74, 
 
 1 21 ; disorganisation of (1856), 385 
 Convention between Austria and the 
 
 Porto, ;::54 
 ( '(inyngham, Lord Albert, 19 sq. 
 
 Mr.', 40S 
 
 C(ok, Mr, the author's private tutor 
 
 at Heron Court and Eton, 11, 12, 
 
 14 
 Copleston (afterwards Bishop of 
 
 Llandaff), Provost of Oriel, 14 
 Corn Laws, proposed abolition of 
 
 (1837), 57; ( 1838), 73 sqq. ; (1840), 
 
 84, 87; (1841), 97; (1842), 103; 
 
 (1845), 118 sqq. ; (1846), 121, 126 ; 
 
 (in House of Lords), 127 
 Coronation of Queen Victoria, 71 
 Corporation Bill (1835), 52 
 Corrv, Mr., 115 ; First Lord of the 
 
 Admiralty (1866), 628 
 
 Admiral, 335 
 
 Corti, Count (Italian Ambassador), 
 
 463 
 
 Costa, Sir Michael, 576 
 Coteroffiano, Count : his duel with 
 
 Mr. F. St. John, 40 
 Cotton trade, state of (1^62), 558 
 County franchise, Mr. Locke King's 
 
 Bill (1858), 433 
 Coup d'etat of Prince Louis Napoleon 
 
 (Dec. 2, 1851), 215 sq. 
 'Courtney, Sir William,' leader of 
 
 rioters in Kent (1838), 70 
 Courvoisier, the murderer of Lord 
 
 William Eussell, 86 
 Covent Garden Opera House burnt, 
 
 377 
 
 Cowley, Lady, 480 
 ~- Lord, 231*, 243, 247, 254 sq., 260, 
 
 277, 2*0, 282 sq., 297, 315, 414, 418 
 
 pq., 425, 466,468 sqq. ; on the origin 
 
 of the numeral 'III.' in Napoleon's 
 
 title, 284 
 
 Cracow annexed to Austria, 133 
 Crampton, Lady (nee Balfe), 542 
 
 Mr., 242 
 
 Mr. (American Minister), 380 
 
 Sir John, 428, 542 
 
 Cranborne, Lord, Secretary for India 
 (1866), 620 ; resignation, 628 
 
 DEP 
 
 Cramvorth, Lord Chancellor in the 
 Aberdeen Ministry, 289 
 
 Craven, Lady Mary, 455, 483 ; her 
 portrait by Grant, 556 
 
 Crawford, Mr. Sharman, 101 
 
 Crimean war, the, 331 sqq. ; treaty be- 
 tween Austria and England, 342 sq. 
 
 CrSnan Canal, the, laughable incident 
 on, 111 
 
 Crofters of the Isle of Skye (in 1838), 
 72 
 
 Cruisers, American, 551 
 
 Crusol, view from the ruined castle of, 
 37 
 
 Crystal Palace (1851), strange pro- 
 posals for testing its strength, 200 
 
 Curious discovery at Madrid, 652 
 
 Curzon, Mr., 402 
 
 Cust, Sir E., 381 
 
 Custozza, battle of, 620 
 
 DAIRYMAID and the Duke, the 
 558 
 
 Dallas, Mr. (American Minister), 381, 
 521 
 
 Mrs., 381, 485 
 
 Darner, Colonel, 45 ; acts as second to 
 Lord Alvanley in a duel, 49 
 
 Mr., 556 
 
 Danish question (1858), 449 
 
 Danish Succession question, the. 241, 
 
 249 ; a convention signed, 25 1 
 Dannenberg, General, 313 
 Danubian Principalities, 311, 329, 
 
 334, 403, 438, 441 sq. 
 'Dark Mile' Glen, 112 
 Daru, Count, 216 
 
 Dashwood, Admiral, 74 ; his death, 652 
 Death sentence on Welsh rioters 
 
 (1840), 80 
 
 Deceased Wife's Sister's Bill, 540 
 Deficit of rents (1849), 176 
 De Grey, Lord, 100 
 
 Lord (now Marquis of Ripon), 
 517 ; Lord President (1868), 644 
 
 Delane, Mr. J. T., 494 
 
 Delhi, fall of, 407 
 
 De la Warr, Lord, 454 
 
 Dembinski, General, 184 
 
 Denison, Mr. (Speaker, 1866), 613 
 
 Denmark, King of: his death, 583 
 
 Dentici, Princess, 136 
 
 relations with Prussia, 169, 181 
 Deposition of Pope Pius IX. decreed 
 
 at Rome, 176 
 Deputation from City of London to 
 
INDEX. 
 
 675 
 
 DER 
 
 Emperor Napoleon in favour of 
 peace (1853), 303 
 
 Derby, Lady, 226, 278, 396, 471, 517, 
 525, 615 
 
 (Fourteenth.) Earl of, mentioned, 1, 
 31, 44, 81, 105, 107, 108, 119, 122 sq., 
 125, 142, 151, 155, 175, 180, 183, 
 205, 213, 257, 306, 332, 343, 348, 
 367, 376, 379, 398, 404, 411, 500, 
 537, 588, 621, 623, 626, 633, 637, 
 640 ; his perfect organisation of 
 battue shooting at Knows!ey, 33 ; 
 his mental pOAvers exemplified, ib. ; 
 speeches mentioned, 47, 82, 288, 324, 
 362, 380 ; the Irish Registration Bill 
 (1840), 86 ; letters from, 190, 194, 
 197, 201, 213, 217, 222 sq., 233, 264, 
 267 sq., 304, 306, 318, 336, 345, 376, 
 382, 385, 395, 509, 514, 525, 532, 
 533, 565, 567, 569, 602, 609, 616, 
 644 ; opinion of Mr. Disraeli's 
 speeches (1851), 201; attempt td 
 form a Ministry (1851), 206; his 
 proposed policy in that year, 207 ; 
 on the county franchise, 224, 250, 
 318; Prime Minister (1852), 227; 
 list of his Ministry, 237 ; general 
 election, 260 ; Chancellor of Oxford, 
 274 ; memorandum on Napoleon 
 III.'s title, 2(7; adherence to free 
 trade, 277 ; resignation of his 
 Ministry, 286; praise of Lord 
 Malmdsbury, 288 ; installed Chan- 
 cellor of Oxford, 309 ; his ' Iliad,' 
 &c., 317 ; his manner of life in 
 London, 332 ; fails in the endeavour 
 to form a Ministry (1855), 349 ; his 
 praise of the Peelites, 349 ; his 
 
 I principle of ' one thing at a time ' 
 illustrated, 360 ; on Life Peerages, 
 376 ; on the disorganisation of the 
 Conservative party, 385 ; on Lord 
 Palmerston's political tactic.-, 385 ; 
 enthusiastic reception by the Con- 
 servatives (1857), 391 ; on the 
 ( 'hinese War, .">!>7; attacks Lord Can- 
 ning, 412; Prime Minister (1858) : 
 list of his Cabinet, 417 ; joke on the 
 ' Wooden Spoons of Old England,' 
 441; his Reform Bill (1858), 456, 
 462, 464 ; dissolves Parliament-, 
 47.'! ; defeat and resignation of his 
 Ministry, 4<IO ; ma-lc K.G., 490 ; 
 Paper 'Duty Bill, 522 ; on the 
 Volunteers. '524 ; proposal of making 
 Italy into two kingdoms divided 
 by Uie Papal States^ 541 ; joke on 
 
 DIS 
 
 Lord John Russell, 543 ; on Prince 
 Albert's death, 552 ; his noble 
 exertions during the Cotton famine, 
 566 n. ; at the Mansion House ( 1863), 
 377; the Schleswig-Holstein ques- 
 tion, 598 ; his translation of Homer, 
 602 ; Prime Minister (1866) : list of 
 his Cabinet, 622 ; ' a leap in the 
 dark,' 631 ; resignation, 637 ; speech 
 on the Irish Church Bill (1869), 
 654 ; his death, 662 ; sketch of his 
 career, ib. 
 
 De Ros, General Lord, 165, 376 
 
 Desart, Lord, death of, 605 
 
 Devonshire, Duke of, 46, 84, 110, 136 
 
 Dickens, Mr. Charles, 15 
 
 Dietrichstein, Count, Austrian Am- 
 bassador in London, 168 sq. 
 
 Dijon, visit to, 554 sq. 
 
 Diplomatic Relations with Rome Bill, 
 154 
 
 Disraeli, Mr., mentioned, 15, 32 sq., 
 95, 121, 126, 187, 197, 202, 206, 
 210, 227, 257, 294, 308, 309, 317, 
 332, 336. 34<, 361, 365, 367, 368, 
 372, 390, 396, 411, 423, 426, 437, 
 456, 474, 483, 491, 500, 525, 534, 
 5b7, 573, 577, 585, 597, 637, 645 ; 
 his early speeches in Parliament, 
 32 ; challenged Morgan O'Connell, 
 50 ; his marriage, 95 ; attacks on 
 Sir R. Peel, 121, 126 ; letters from, 
 187, 189, 220, 260, 292, 31!). :;26. 
 344, 372, 537, 579, 632 ; a difficulty 
 with Lord Derby, 226 ; joke on his 
 appointment in Lord Derby's min- 
 istry, 231; Chancellor of 'the Ex- 
 chequer and Leader of the House 
 of Commons, 237; lirst Budget 
 speech, 250 ; views on free trade, 
 260, 280; malt tax. 281; on the 
 Reform Bill (1853). 317 ; at Heron 
 Court, 320; on the Eastern (Ques- 
 tion. :'_.">; disagreement with Lord 
 Derby, ;!.")() ; unpopularity < 
 885; attack on Lord Palmereton, 
 
 3S7 ; speech on the secret treaty 
 with Austria, .".'.Ml; his position on 
 the China question, 39] ; Chancellor 
 Of tin- K.\ehe M uer <js;,S). H7 ; 
 difficulties with his partv. 433 ; Re- 
 form Bill. 46:. ; the forty-shilling 
 freeholder, i-'.s ; disliked by the 
 party, 541 ; diatribe against Mr. 
 Walpole, 557 ; the Junior Conserva- 
 tive Club, 579; the ScUetwig-Uol- 
 stein question, 598 ; on the Reform 
 
 X x 2 
 
C76 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 bis 
 
 Bill of 18C6, G19 ; Chancellor of the 
 Exchequer (I860), 622 ; the ' Six 
 Hours' Reform Bill, 627 sqq. ; en 
 Proxies, 632 ; Prime Minister, G3G ; 
 dissolution of Parliament, 639 ; re- 
 signation, (> i:> 
 
 Disraeli, Mrs., 95, 320, 573, GOO, 643 ; 
 anecdote of, 179 
 
 Divorce Bill, the, 399 
 
 Doche, 185 
 
 Dcuhvell, Mrs.: a beautiful Italian 
 lady at Rome (1828), 19, 175 
 
 Don Juan of Spain, 400 
 
 Donongbmore, Lord, President of the 
 Board of Trade (1859), 467 
 
 Dorchester, attack on farmers at, 191 
 
 D'Orsay, Count : his skill as a painter, 
 15 
 
 Douglas, Lord, 67, 68 
 
 Douro, Lord, 209, 279 
 
 Drawing-room story, a, 404 
 
 Dresden, insurrection in (1849), 184 
 
 Drouyn de 1'IIuys, 282 sqq., 297, 803, 
 354, 356, 360, 564, 566, 619 
 
 Dual vote given up. 629 
 
 Duke, Sir James, 303 
 
 Dumas, General, 161 
 
 Duncannon, Lord, 97 
 
 Duucombe, Mr, 253 
 
 Dundas. Admiral, 331, 335 
 
 Dundonald, Lady, 46 
 
 Lord, his death, 530 
 
 Dunkellin, Lord, 338, 443, G21 
 
 Durham, Lord, 43, 72 sqq. ; his mar- 
 riage, 332 
 
 Dutch women, an example of their 
 marvellous constitution, 15 
 
 Duty on Paper Bill (18GO), 522, 525, 
 541 
 
 Dynamite, clock-work apparatus for : 
 the first inventor, 415 
 
 EAGLES in tl.e Highlands,! : 
 Eastern Question, the, 89 
 East India Company. 128 
 Eboli, Duchesse d','22 
 Ebrington, Lord, Lord-Lieutenant 
 
 Ireland (1839), 74 
 Ecclesiastical Titles Bill, 201, 212 
 Ecuador, the Presidency of, offered to 
 
 Prince Louis Napoleon, 1 16 
 Eddisbury, Lord (afterwards Lord 
 
 Stanley of Alderley), 175 
 Egerton, Lord F., 56" 
 Eglinton Lady, 476 
 Lord 78, 124 : 207, 398 ; his death, 547 
 
 EVA 
 
 Egypt, relations of, with Turkey, 78, 
 iil sqq., 235 ; affairs of, 245 ; offered 
 bv Emperor Nicholas to England as 
 a'bribe, 328 
 
 Elcho, Lord, 577 
 
 Elgin, Lord, 184, 3G2, 401, 535 ; Post- 
 master-General (1859), 493 
 
 Ellenborough, Lord, 107, 343, 348,350, 
 358, 3G2, 391, 398, 401, 402, 411, 
 441; President of the Board of 
 Control (1858), 417 ; Lord Can- 
 ning's proclamation, 434, 435 ; his 
 resignation, 435 
 
 Ellesmere, Lord : his death, 390 
 
 Ellice, Mr. ('Bear Ellice'), 28, G2, 
 173, 498 
 
 Elliot, Admiral, concludes a treaty 
 with China, 96 
 
 Elliott, Mr., 428 
 
 Elopements : of Miss Colquhoun Grant 
 with Mr. Brinsley Sheridan, 50 ; of 
 Lady Adela Villiers with Captain 
 Ibbotson, 119; of Lady Adelaide 
 Vane with Mr. Law, 226 
 
 Elphinstone, General : the calamity of 
 the Khoord Cabul Pass, 106 
 
 Lord, 46, 406, 41 G ; his death, 524 
 Ely, Lady, 364, 394, 463, 483, 550, 
 
 552 
 
 Emerson Tennent, Sir, 270 
 Emperor of Austria, abdication of 
 
 (1848), 175 
 
 ' Enchanted Stag.' the, 507 
 Espartero, General, 108 
 Esterhazy, Prince Nicholas, 101, 102, 
 
 497 
 
 Princess, 163, 312. 314 
 
 Eton, the state of the school in 1821, 
 12; incidents of school life, 12; a 
 boy killed in a school fight, 13 ; 
 fights between ' town and gown,' 13 
 Etruscan vases, 135 
 Eu, Queen Victoria's visit to, 108 
 Eugenie. Empress, 297, 316, 372, 394, 
 410, 455, 563 ; in England, 358 sqq., 
 403 ; birth of her son, 378 : injured 
 in Orsini's attempt to assassinate 
 the Emperor, 414 ; private visit to 
 London, 530, 564 
 Eupatoria, Russians defeated by the 
 
 Turks at, 352 
 
 Europa,' the, burnt at sea, 333 
 European war threatened, 458 
 Evans, Colonel, commander of the 
 Westminster Legion in Spain, 54 ; 
 his nickname among his soldiers, 
 56 ; in the Crimean War, 58 
 
INDEX. 
 
 677 
 
 EVE 
 
 Everett, Mr., 105] 
 
 Exhibition building (of 1862), Parlia- 
 mentary dispute about the, 577 
 Exhibition of 1851, 210 
 Extraordinary heat, 640 
 Eyre, General (American), 65 
 Governor (of Jamaica), 611 
 
 "PAGEL, Baron, 630 
 
 1 Fane, Sir Henry, 45 
 
 Faucigny, 519 
 
 Fav<irt de 1'Anglade, Madame, 303 n. 
 
 Federal War in America, 540, 544 
 sqq., 547, 551, 554, 556 sqq., 560, 
 567, 578, 579, 584, 604; French 
 mediation refused, 572 
 
 Fenian murderers executed at Man- 
 chester, 635 
 
 Ferguson, Dr., 392 
 
 Ferozeshah, battle of, 123 
 
 Fialin, the real name of M. de Per- 
 signy, 224 n. 
 
 Firewood, heavy cost of. in France 
 (1832), 37 
 
 Fisheries dispute with the United 
 States, 260, 264, 271 ; Convention, 
 396 
 
 Fitz-Clarence, Lord Adolphus, 359 
 
 Fitzgerald, Lord Otho : his marriage, 
 533 n. 
 
 Mr. Seymour, 418, 516 
 Fitzhardinge, Lord : his last words, 
 
 412 
 Fitzharris, Lord. See Malmesbury, 
 
 (Second) Earl of 
 Fitz william, Lord, 327 
 Flahault, Corate de, 159, 303, 486, 
 
 590 ; Ambassador to London 531 ; 
 
 recalled, 566 
 
 Comtesse de, 60, 510, 529, 592 
 Fleming, Mr., 46 
 
 Fleury, Colonel, 215 
 Flint guns still used by Italian sports- 
 men in 1828, 24 
 Flood in London (1811), 101 
 Florence, visits to, 18, 133, 646 
 Fontainebleau, the Court at (I8f>.'>), 
 
 314 ; a shooting party at, 315 
 Fontevrault, Abbey of,'visit to, 580 
 Forcadel, Lieutenant, 56 
 Force, Comtesse de la, murder of, 377 
 Foreign Enlistment Bill (1854), 343 
 Foreign Office, the work of the, 585 
 Foreign political questions in 1852, 
 
 resume of, 240 
 Forests of the Highlands, 113 
 
 GAB 
 
 ' Fornarina,' the, by Raphael, 19 
 Fort Constantino (Sebastopol), attack 
 
 on, 338 
 Fortescue, Mr. Chichester, Secretary 
 
 for Ireland (1868), 644 
 Fort Sumter, bombardment of, 540 
 Fossils from the blue London clay 
 
 found on Christchurch cliffs, 11 
 Fould, M., 224 
 France, incidents of travel in (1832), 
 
 35 sqq. 
 
 Francis, Sir Philip, anecdote of, 54 
 Franklin. Sir John : news of his fate, 
 
 337 
 Franz Josef (Archrlukc, afterwards 
 
 Emperor of Austria), 175 ; attempt 
 
 to assassinate him, 295 sq. ; with 
 
 his army in Lombardy, 497 sqq. ; 
 
 why he accepted Napoleon's terms 
 
 of peace, 501 
 French Court, the, in 1837, 59 ; in 
 
 1838, 68 
 
 Crown jewels, the, 253 
 
 expedition to Rome, 183 sqq. 
 
 language ; its study banished from 
 English schools during the long 
 war, 10 
 
 Queen of the : her death, 615 
 Frederick William of Prussia, Prince : 
 
 his marriage to the Princess Royal 
 
 of England, 399, 415 
 Freeborn, Mr., 258 
 Free-trade, 128 
 Fremantle, Sir Thomas, 115 
 Fuad Pasha, 633 
 Furious donkey, a, 561 
 
 n ABLESZ, FieM-Marshal, 623 
 
 vJ Gaeta, the bombardment of, pre- 
 vented by the French, 531 
 
 Gaggiotti, Signora, the 'Corinne' of 
 Koine, 135 ; in London, 214 
 
 Gallwey, General Sir William: visit 
 to his villa at Chatelaine, 16 
 
 Gamba, Count (father of Countess 
 Guiccioli), 22 ; a visit to his house 
 at Ravenna, 24 
 
 Gambling among English visitors at 
 Rome (1828), 20 
 
 Gamekeepers: a test for choosing 
 them, 8 
 
 Garibaldi, 185, 446; in the war in 
 Lombardy, 488 ; in Sicily, 521 sqq. ; 
 in Naples, 526 ; defeated at Capua, 
 ;">_' 7 ; in rebellion against Virtor 
 Emauuel, 558; wounded and c;i[ - 
 
678 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 GAR 
 
 turctl at Aspromonte, 559 ; in 
 London, 593 ; on the Papacy, 594 ; 
 on Emperor Napoleon, ib. ; why he 
 so soon left England, 594 ; arrested 
 (1867), 633 
 
 Gamier Pages, M., 162 
 
 Garotters, 568, 573 
 
 ' Gazington ' hounds : a scratch pack 
 kept by Mr. Welby, Loid E. 
 Thynne, and the author when at 
 Oriel College, 14 
 
 Geneva, a visit to, 16 
 
 George IV. : Eton boys took his side 
 in the trial of Queen Caroline, 13 
 
 German States, the, and the war in 
 Lombardy, 502, 504 
 
 Ghuznee, capture and destruction of, 
 107 
 
 Gilbert, General, 183 
 
 Gilmour, Mr., 79 
 
 Girardin, M. Emile de, 162 
 
 Glenelg, Lord, 377 
 
 Glen Maly, 114 
 
 Gladstone, Mr., mentioned, 114, 115, 
 154, 206, 277, 320, 322, 347, 351, 
 352, 387, 389, 390, 391, 393, 419, 
 438, 440, 477, 577 ; his personal 
 appearance (in 1844), 114 ; opposi- 
 tion to Mr. Disraeli, 251 ; proposed 
 entry into Lord Derby's Ministry, 
 282 ; Chancellor of the Exchequer 
 in the Aberdeen Ministry, 289 ; 
 Oxford election (1852), 292; op- 
 posed the proposal to repeal tax 
 on advertisements, 305 ; his iirst 
 Budget, 305 ; invited to join Lord 
 Derby (1855), 351 ; desirous to join 
 Lord Derby, 387 ; refuses to join 
 Lord Derby (1858), 417 ; thoroughly 
 opposed to the Derby Ministry, 
 421 ; Commissioner of the Ionian 
 Islands, 455 ; Chancellor of the 
 Exchequer, 493 ; Reform Bill 
 (1860), 522 ; violent speech against 
 Palmerston, 524 ; the duty on fire 
 insurances, 554 ; Reform Bill (1866), 
 614 ; Bill for Redistribution of 
 Seats, 618 ; resignation, 621 ; re- 
 signation of leadership of the Oppo- 
 sition, 629 ; angered at Mr. Disraeli's 
 elevation, 639 ; attacks his Govern- 
 ment, 640 ; Prime Minister : list of 
 his Cabinet, 644 ; his Irish Church 
 Bill, 646 sqq. ; his sentiments 
 against the House of Lords, 660 
 Gloucester, Duchess of : her death, 
 895 
 
 GEE 
 
 Gold, exceptional case of rent paid in, 
 during the Napoleonic wars, 6 
 
 Goodricke, Lady : anecdote of her 
 little daughter, 187 
 
 Sir H , 41 
 Goojerat, battle of, 181 
 Gordon, Sir Arthur, 262 
 
 Sir Robert, 262 
 Gore, Mrs., 365 
 
 Gb'rgey, dictator of Hungary, 186 
 
 Goritz, battle of, 168 
 
 Gortschakoff, General, 277, 334 ; his 
 panegyric on the Duke of Welling- 
 ton, 282 
 
 Goschen, Mr., President of Poor Law 
 Board (1868), 644 
 
 Gough, Sir Hugh (afterwards Lord 
 Gough), 123, 177, 181 
 
 Grafton, Duchess of, 334 
 
 Graham, Sir James, 107, 120, 204, 
 206, 436, 440 ; over the Admiralty 
 in the Aberdeen Ministry, 289 ; his 
 violent speech against Louis Napo- 
 leon, 301 
 
 Gramont, Due de (Lady Tankerville's 
 father) : anecdotes of Louis XV. 
 told by, 36 
 
 Granby, Lord (afterwards Duke of 
 Rutland), 379 ; leader of the Pro- 
 tectionists, 152 
 
 Grand tournament, Lord Eglinton's, 
 78 
 
 Grant, General (American), 584, 605 
 
 Sir Colquhoun, 50 
 Sir Patrick, 406, 413 
 
 Miss Colquhoun (Mrs. Brinsley 
 Sheridan), 50 
 
 Granville, Lady, 46 
 
 Lord, mentioned, 45, 95, 218, 234, 
 240, 342, 362, 392, 402, 433, 549, 
 584, 617, 660; President of the 
 Council, (1854), 289 ; Chancellor of 
 the Duchy of Lancaster (1854), 
 333 ; President of the Council 
 (1859), 493; Colonial Secretary 
 (1868). 644 
 
 Gravel Pits (Sebastopol), the attack 
 
 on, 363 
 
 Greathed, Colonel, 411 
 'Great Stag of Gusach,' the, 146 
 Greek Question, the (1850), 193, 267; 
 
 (1862), 567 ; treaty signed, 280 
 Greville, Mr. Charles, 409, 463 
 
 Henry, 462 
 
 Grey, Lord, mentioned, 29, 44, 46 sqq., 
 
 183, 389, 398, 416, 419, 433, 509, 
 
 511, 517, 520; description of his 
 
INDEX. 
 
 679 
 
 GKE 
 
 family life, 28 ; epigram on his 
 politics, 62 ; opposition to the Derby 
 Ministry, 283 ; refuses to join the 
 Derby Ministry (1858), 417 
 
 Grey, Sir Charles, 638 
 
 Sir George, 241, 260, 319, 322; 
 Secretary for the Colonies (1854), 
 333 ; Chancellor of the Duchy of 
 Lancaster (1859), 493 ; Home Secre- 
 tary (1861), 545 ; opposed to the 
 
 flogging of garotters, 573 
 jrisi, MJ " 
 
 Grisi, Madame, 200 
 
 Gros, Baron, French Ambassador to 
 London, 566 
 
 Grosvenor, Lord (now Duke of West- 
 minster), 615, 619 n. 
 
 Guards, the, despatched to the Crimea, 
 325 ; their losses there, 343 ; their 
 entry into London (1856), 381 
 
 Guiccioli, Countess, description of, 21 ; 
 aided by the author to escape from 
 Rome, 24 ; a visit to her father's 
 house, 24 ; her stories about Byron, 
 25 ; anxiety for him when he went 
 to Greece, 25 ; a guest at Lady 
 Blessington's parties, 27 ; letter 
 from, 227 
 
 Guiche, Due de (Lady Tankerville's 
 brother), 30, 109 
 
 (afterwards Due de Gra- 
 
 mont), Lady Tankerville's nephew, 
 30, 109, 481, 579, 663; French 
 Minister at Turin, 302, 383 
 
 Guildhall : the Queen present at a 
 ball there, 212 
 
 Guizot, M., 59, 67, 83, 95, 156, 158, 
 164, 172, 387 
 
 (iumba Kusleby, the disaster at, 334 
 
 Gurney, Mr., 303 
 
 Gye, Mr., 377 
 
 Gyulai, General, 486, 496, 511 
 
 HABEAS CORPUS ACT suspended 
 in Ireland, 614 
 Halford, Sir Henry (Court physician 
 
 in 1831-2), attacked by Brougham 
 
 for fighting shy of cholera cases, 30 
 Halifax, Lord. See Wood, Sir Charles 
 Ham, a visit to Prince Louis Napoleon 
 
 at, 116 
 
 Hamelin, Admiral, 332 
 Hamilton, Dowager Duchess of, her 
 
 death, 487 
 
 Duke of, his death. .".77 
 
 Lady Beatrice (Countess of Dur- 
 ham), 332 
 
 Hamilton, Lady Louisa, 441 
 
 Mr. (of the 'Morning Herald '), 399 
 Hammond, Mr., 239 
 
 Hamond, Mr., 443 
 
 Hampden, Dr. : his appointment to 
 the See of Hereford, 151 
 
 Hampshire: the district of, around 
 Bournemouth, rich in objects of 
 natural history, 8 ; the Lord-Lieu- 
 tenancy of, 265, 271 
 
 'Happy Family' (of Ministers and 
 ex -Ministers) at Buckingham 
 Palace, 395 
 
 Hango (Baltic), the affair of, 364 
 
 Hanover, King of, 523 
 
 Hardinge, Lady, 180 
 
 Lord, 179, 275, 280, 323, 341, 315, 
 361, 369 ; his death, 381 
 
 Sir Henry, 123 
 Hardwicke/Lord, 182, 207, 308 ; Lord 
 
 Privy Seal (1858), 417 
 Hardy, Mr. Gathorne, President of 
 
 the Poor Law Board (1866), 622 
 Harlington, the largest yew-tree in 
 
 England at, 496 
 Harper's Ferry, battle of, 560 
 Harris, Hon. E. A. J., letter from, 
 
 518 
 
 Rev. A., 15 
 
 Mr. Charles (the author's brother), 
 53, 90 ; Bishop of Gibraltar, 53 ; 
 Archdeacon of Wilts, 570 
 
 Mrs. Charles : her death, 604 
 
 Mr. Edward (the author's brother), 
 mentioned, 2, 9, 10, 12, 110, 226, 
 292 ; M.P. for Christchurch, and 
 British Minister at Berne and the 
 Hague, 13 n. 
 
 Mr. George, 372, 383 ; his mis- 
 sion to Prince Louis Napoleon, 
 262 ; letter from, 295 ; his death, 
 408 
 
 Mr. -See Malmesbury, (First) 
 Earl of 
 
 Harrison, Captain (of the 'Great 
 
 Eastern'), drowned, 510 
 Hartington. Lord, Postmaster-General 
 
 (1868), 644 
 Harvey, Sir John, 96 
 Hastings, Lady Flora, 78 
 Hatherley, Lord, Lord Chancellor 
 
 (1868), 644 
 Havelock, General, 404, 408, 410, 413 ; 
 
 his death, 413 
 Hay, Lady E., -'?75 
 llaynau, Marshal. 177 ; attack on, in 
 
 London, 276 
 
680 
 
 INDEX, 
 
 HAY 
 
 Hayter, Captain, 619 
 Heathcote, Mr., 74 
 
 Sir Gilbert, 44, 210 
 Heaths near Bournemouth, used to be 
 rich in objects of natural history, 8 ; 
 the barrows on them, 8 
 
 Heleuti, Princess, her marriage, G10 
 Urn-harrier (a species of hawk): 
 formerly favoured the locality 
 where Bournemouth now stands, 7 ; 
 n gamekeeper's method of finding 
 their nests, 7 
 
 Henley, Mr., 207 sq., 417 
 
 Herbert, Lady Mary, 58 
 
 Herbert, Mr. Sidney (afterwards 
 Lord Herbert), mentioned, 98, 
 115, 120, 124, 172, 190, 200, 237, 
 282, 347, 361, 387, 392 sq., 488, 
 .313 ; his passionate attack on the 
 author, 124 ; letter from, 190 ; part 
 proprietor of the ' Morning Chro- 
 nicle,' 237 n.; War Secretary in the 
 Aberdeen Ministry, 289 ; letter 
 from, 373 ; his views on Russian 
 aggression, 374 ; War Secretary 
 (1859), 493; illness and death, 
 543 sq. 
 
 Herbert Mrs. Sidney, 306 
 
 Heron Court, account of, 4 ; its neigh- 
 bourhood a great resort of smug- 
 glers, 5 
 
 Henries, Mr., 207, 210 
 
 Hertford, Marquis of, 164, 270 
 
 Hesse, Marshal, 497, 511 
 
 Highclifle, its dangerous position, 202 
 
 Highlands, the : value of sporting 
 rights in 1832 and now, 41 
 
 Hill, Mr., British Minister at Naples 
 (1829), 22 
 
 HoneoEollern candidateship to the 
 throne of Spain, the, 665 
 
 Prince, 433 
 
 Holdbury, a Chartist leader (1840), 
 80 
 
 Holland, Queen of. See Queen of the 
 Netherlands 
 
 Holy Places,the, 287 sqq., 294, 300, 304 
 
 Home and spiritualism, 563 
 
 Hooper, Mr., Chairman of Customs, 
 anecdote of, 5 
 
 Hope, Admiral, 505 
 
 IIorsfall, Mr., 540 
 
 Hothatn, Sir Charles, 244, 313, 32G 
 
 Hounds: the author part-owner of a 
 scratch pack when at Oriel College, 
 
 Howard, Mrs., 255, 2Q2 ? 276 
 
 IBI 
 
 Howick, Lord, 31, 47 
 
 Ilowick (Lord Grey's house), a visit 
 to, 28 
 
 Hudson, Sir James, 256, 383, 449, 
 451, 455, 462, 475, 480, 528 
 
 Hughenden, visit to, 600 
 
 Hugon, Admiral, 91 
 
 Hume, Mr., his motion on the allow- 
 ance to Prince Albert, 81 
 
 Hungary, revolution in, 163 
 
 Hunting in 1832, 41 
 
 ' Hunt, Lord,' leader of agrarian 
 rioters in Wiltshire and Hampshire 
 (1830), 31 
 
 Hurricane on Loch Arkaig, 450 ; in 
 Hampshire (18iiG), 6J3 
 
 Hyde Park riot (1866), 624 
 
 llylton, Lord, 385, 395 
 
 TBBOTSOX, Captain, 119 
 J- Lady Adela, death of, 525 
 Ibrahim Pasha, 93 sq. 
 Illegible writing of some Ministers, 238 
 Income tax, 151, 155, 201, 210 ; abor- 
 tive demonstration against, 161 ; 
 
 reduction of (1857), 390 
 India Bill (1853), the, 310 
 Indian Government Bill (1858) 436, 
 
 439, 442 
 Indian Mutiny (1857), 399, 401, 404 
 
 sqq. 
 
 Infernal machine, one on show, 456 
 ' Influence,' the, at Madrid, 147 
 Inkerman, battle of, 339 ; the Russian 
 
 loss at, 342 
 Innspruck, description of the women 
 
 of, 130 ; a letter of Lord Fitzharris's 
 
 found at, 131 
 
 Insurrections of 1818, the, 152 sqq. 
 Inverness, Duchess of, 57 
 Ionian Islands, cession of, to Greece, 569 
 Irby, Mr., 45 
 Ireland, the abortive rebellion (1848), 
 
 171 ; a Franchise Bill (1850), 191 ; 
 
 a Tenant Right Bill, 277 : state of, 
 
 in 1869, 652 
 Irish Church : the question in 1835, 
 
 47 ; the Resolutions on (1868), 639 ; 
 
 Mr. Gladstone's Bill, 646, 653, 659 
 
 Corporation Bill (1835), O Con- 
 nell's failure in the debate thereon. 
 55 
 
 Poor Law Bill (1847), 142 ; (1819) 
 185 
 
 Registraton Bill, Lord Stanley's, 
 86 sq. ; Lord Morpeth's, 95 
 
INDEX. 
 
 681 
 
 IRQ 
 
 Ironclads (American), engagement 
 
 between, 554 
 Isle of Serpents (Danube) seized by 
 
 the Russians, 381, 386 
 
 of Skye, sport in the, 41 ; the 
 crofters, 72 
 
 of Wight, 3 sq., 45 
 Ismail, the blowing-up of, 38 1 
 Italian question, 465 ; a Confedera- 
 tion, with the Pops as its head, pro- 
 posed, 409 
 
 Italy, visits to, 18 sqq., 130 sqq. 
 Ivrygoyen, the old Due do Gramont's 
 
 servant, 37 
 Izzett Mahomet Pasha, appointed 
 
 Pasha of Egypt (1840), 93 
 
 JAMAICA. BILL (1839), 75 
 v Jamaica, insurrection in, 610 
 Jarnac, M. cle, 159 
 Jaucourt, Count de, 401, 432, 492 
 Jetierson Davis, Mr., 607 
 Jcllachich, Ban of Croatia, 174, 181 
 Jellalabad, held by Sir 11. Sale, 104 
 'Jem Macdonald,' 330, 340 
 Jenks, Dr., mentioned, 17 
 Jersev, political refugees in, 2'j;3 
 
 Ladv, 15, 119, 165, 230, 235, 277, 
 303, 455, 525 ; her death, 629 
 
 Lord, 230, 235 ; his death, 506 
 Jewish Disabilities Bill, 153, 154, 170, 
 
 210, 305, 428, 440 
 Jocelyn, Lady, 172, 208, 616 
 
 Lo'rd, 172, 281, 318 
 
 Johnstone, General (Confederate), 579 
 
 Joinville, Prince de, 113 
 
 Jollift'e. See Lord Hylton 
 
 J ones, Under-Sheriff .Thomas, 478 
 
 Josefstadt, battle o f ', 622 
 
 Ju-ire/,, 557 ; French defeated by, 601, 
 
 607 
 Juuior Conservative Club, 579 
 
 KAlillAK, island of (Persian Gulf), 
 occupation of, 387 
 Kars, the fall of, 370. :;7.> 
 Keate, Dr., Master of Eton, mentioned, 
 
 13 
 
 Kellett, Captain, 311 
 Kellv, Sir Fit/.rov, 6 1C 
 Kent, Duehess of, 71. * I, 252, 433 
 
 Miss Constance, ea-r of, I>HI; 
 Kertch, capture of, 
 Ressner, Baron, \:\* 
 Keilmansegge, Count (Hanoverian 
 
 Minister), -121, 181,571 
 
 Khoord Cabul Pass, the calamity at 
 
 (1842), 104 
 Kinglake, Mr., 433, 514, 620; letter 
 
 from, 516 ; his ' History of the 
 
 Crimean War,' 571 
 Kingscote, Mr., 567 
 Kimberley, Lord, Privy Seal (1838), 
 
 644 
 Kinnaird, Lord, visit to, at Fealar in 
 
 Athol, 41 
 KisselefF, M., 283 ; his account of the 
 
 coup (Fetat of Dec. 2, 302 
 Knightley, Sir Charles, 211 
 Knowslev, visits to, 32, 119, 171, 213, 
 
 317 
 Knox, Mr., Editor of the ' Morning 
 
 Herald,' 188, 213, 223 
 Koniggratz (or Sadowa), battle of, 
 
 623 sq. 
 KorsakofF, Madame, mot on her dress, 
 
 614 
 
 Kossuth, 186, 213 n., 221, 263 
 Kung, Prince, 535 
 
 T ABLACHE, 185 
 
 -U Laird, Mr. : case of the two 
 vessels built by him for the Con- 
 federates, 582 
 
 La Marmora, General, 384 
 
 Lamartine, Madame, 170 
 
 M., 160, 169 ; his mot on t!e pro- 
 cession of laundresses, 165 
 
 Lamoriciere, General, 171, 214, 218 ; 
 
 as Papal General, 526 sq. 
 Lancelotti, Princess, 131 
 Landseer, Sir E., 661 ; his portraits 
 
 of Lady Fitzharris (1832), 41, 66 ; 
 
 quarrel with Mrs. Norton, 197 
 Laugiewicz, the Polish Dictator, 57.5 
 Lansd nvne, Ladv. death of, 210 
 
 Lord, 13, 17, 97, 178, 204, > 
 318,320,351; letter from, 233 ; his 
 death, 618 
 
 Latour, Count, murder of, 173 
 Lauriston, Colonel, J 1"! 
 Lavradi >, Count, 469 
 L-iwrem -e. Mr. (Ameriean Minister, 
 1851), his wife's mt about him, 
 
 Sir John, 484 
 
 Lnyard, Mr., ;>t'l ; Undcr-Sccretary 
 for Forei-n Atl'airs (ist',1 ). :,\:> 
 
 Li-.lrii Kulliii. M.. I'M, 1" 
 
 !..-. General (Confederate), 560, 578, 
 579, 6(i5 
 
 1. '.-ke. Admiral Sir Hem 
 
682 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 LEF 
 
 Leflo, General, 218 
 
 Lehzen, Baroness, 76 
 
 Lennox, Lady Augusta, her marriage, 
 
 214 ; receives the courtesy title of 
 
 Princess, 241 
 
 Lord Henry, 315, 466 
 
 Leon, Count,' intended duel of, with 
 Prince Louis Napoleon, 83 
 
 Leon, Don Diego, 102 
 
 Leopold, King of the Belgians, 266 
 
 Les Baux, visit to, 596 
 
 Lesseps, M. de, 184 
 
 Levee, amusing scene at a, 528 
 
 Lever, Mr. Charles, 570 
 
 Lewis, Sir G. C., 19, 414; Home, 
 Secretary (1859), 493 ; War Secre- 
 tary (1861), 545 
 
 ' Liberating Greek Army,' the, 19 
 
 Lich field, Lady, 134 
 
 Lord, death of, 328 
 Liddell, Mr., 44 
 
 Lieven, Princesse de, 59, 67, 251, 255, 
 318, 342, 375 ; her death, 386 
 
 Life Guards, scene at their departure 
 for the campaign of 1815, 3 
 
 Life Peerages Question, the, 376, 377 ; 
 Bill (1869), 647, 653, 659 
 
 Lincoln, Lord, 237 
 
 President, assassination of, 606 
 Lindsay, Mr., 525 
 
 Lisbon, insurrection at (1840), 91 
 
 Lissa, naval battle of, 625 
 
 Littlecote, scene of a story in ' Rokebv/ 
 102 
 
 Littler, Sir John, 124 
 
 Local history records preserved in 
 France, 564 
 
 Loch Arkaig, description of, 112 
 
 Locke-King, Mr. (10/. county fran- 
 chise), 538 
 
 Locke, Mrs., 66 , 
 
 Loftus, Lady Augustus, 618 
 
 Lord Augustus, 428 
 Lola Montes, account of, 153 
 Lombardy, revolution in (1848), 164 ; 
 
 annexed to Sardinia, 499 
 Londesborough, Lady, her marriage 
 
 to Lord Otho Fitzgerald, 533 n. 
 Londonderry, Lady, 468 ; mishap 
 
 with her dress, 2 11 
 Lonsdale Lord, 237, 417 : letter from 
 
 321 
 Lords, House of, and the Reform Bill 
 
 of 1832, 29; Municipal Reform 
 
 Bill (1835), 52 
 
 Loughborough, Lord, 402, 405 
 Louis Philippe, attempts to assassinate 
 
 him (1835), 52; (1846), 126; 
 another plot against his life (1837), 
 55 ; visit to Windeor, 114 ; abdica- 
 tion and dethronement, 156 ; arrival 
 in England, 160 
 
 Louis XV. : his favourite dish, 36 
 Lovaine, Lord, Vice-President of the 
 
 Council, 467 
 
 Love, Captain, master of late Lord 
 Malmesbury's official yacht, the 
 Medina,' 4 
 
 General, 263 
 
 Lowe, Mr., 615, 620 ; Chancellor of 
 the Exchequer (1868), 644 
 
 Mrs., 620 
 
 Lucan, Lord, 339, i 62, 440 
 
 Lucera, infamous proclamation at, 553 
 
 Lucknow, Havelook's advance on, 
 405 ; the relief of. 408, 411, 413, 429 
 
 Lushington, Mrs. (Mrs. Carnac), 84 
 
 Luxemburg question, between France 
 and Prussia, 620, 631 
 
 Lyndhur.st, Lord, 362, 377, 549 ; his 
 portrait painted by Count d'Orsay, 
 15 ; a great speech by, when 
 eighty- eight years old, 522 
 
 Lyons, Admiral Lord, 12, 336 sq , 375 
 
 Lord, 462, 549, 51 
 
 General (Federal), 545 
 
 Mr., 426 
 
 visit to, 555 
 Lyster, Colonel, 46 
 
 MACCLESFIELD, Lady, 584 
 Macdonald; Norman, 44,45,208, 
 361 ; death of, 412 
 
 Macdonald, Lord, 41, 42, 72 
 
 MacMahon, General, 443, 496 
 
 MacNaghten, Lieutenant-General, 
 murder of, 103 
 
 Madiai affair, the, 269 
 
 Madrid, insurrection at (1840), 91, 
 101 ; the Court of (1847), 148 ; de- 
 scription of the country around, 149 
 
 Magdala, fall of, 638 
 
 Magenis, Sir Arthur, 235, 243, 248, 497 
 
 Magenta, battle of, 489 
 
 Magnan, Marshal, 302 
 
 Mahmoud Pasha, 93 
 
 Mahon, Lord, 179, 329 
 
 Maidstone, Lord, his motion against 
 O'Connell, 65 
 
 Major, M. (a doctor in Napoleon's 
 army), attends the author "during 
 an illness, 17 
 
 Malakoff, Due de (Marshal Pelissier), 
 
 
INDEX. 
 
 683 
 
 MAL 
 
 440. 452, 458, 472 ; French Am- 
 bassador to London (1858), 427, 
 430 sqq. ; enthusiastic reception by 
 the people, 432 ; anecdote of, 453 ; 
 his affection for Lord Raglan, 453 ; 
 recall, 483 ; his death, 597 
 
 Malakoff, Duchesse de, 452, 483 
 
 Tower, the, attack on, 365, 370 
 
 Malaret, M. de, 484 
 
 ' Male et feme/I^ use of the expression 
 in French, 605 
 
 Malmesbury, Countess of (Lady Em- 
 ma Bennet) mentioned, 27, 46, 58 
 sqq., 67, 69,' 162 so., 168, 210, 226, 
 241, 245, 253, 257^, 261, 271, 309, 
 317, 332, 334, 353, 359, 414, 419, 
 437, 447, 452, 471, 483, 520, 560, 
 600, 605, 620, 634, 647, 662 ; the 
 epitaph on her monument, 27 ; her 
 courage in a serious accident, 40 ; 
 dangerous illness, 627 
 
 Malmesbury, (First) Earl of : Heron 
 Court bequeathed to him by his 
 uncle (Mr. Hooper), 5 ; married 
 Lady Dorothy Ashley, 5 ; visits the 
 author and his brother at school (at 
 Wimborne"), 10 ; his death, 13 ; his 
 'Diplomatic Journal and Corre- 
 spondence ' published bv the author, 
 32, 239, 319 
 
 Malmesbury, (Second) Earl of: ap- 
 pointed Under-Secretary to the 
 Foreign Office on the same day as 
 the author was born, 1 ; his political 
 principles, 2, 9, 12 ; Governor of the 
 Isle of Wight, 3 ;his official yacht, 
 the ' Medina,' 3 ; his long sorrow 
 for the loss of his Avife, 9 ; kept an 
 exact journal of his sport for forty 
 vcars, 9 ; opposed the Reform Bill 
 (1832), 9 ; his death, 101 ; discovery 
 by the author of a letter of his at 
 Innspruck, 131 
 
 Malmesbury, (Third) Earl of: his 
 birth, 1 ; "incidents of his childhood, 
 
 3 ; at Richmond House, 3 ; anec- 
 dote about the 'Medina' (his fa- 
 ther's yacht), 4 ; at Heron Court, 
 
 4 ; rencontre with smugglers, 6 ; 
 death of his mother, 9 ; at school at 
 Wimborne, 10; persecuted by his 
 schoolfellows as the son of a ' vul- 
 pecide,' 10 ; enthusiasm t'<>r collect- 
 ing fossils, 11; at Eton, 12; fag 
 to Trench (brother of late A n-h- 
 liishop of Dublin), 12 ; meets Tom 
 Moore at Bowood, 13 ; at Oriel Col- 
 
 MAL 
 
 lege, Oxford, 14 ; meets Prince 
 Louis Napoleon, 15 ; incidents of a 
 visit to the Continent, 16 sqq. ; ac- 
 cidentally receives a dangerous 
 wound, 17 ; at Florence, 18 ; social 
 life in Rome, 19 ; sport under diffi- 
 culties, 20 ; meets the Countess 
 Guiccioli, 21 ; King Bcmba indi- 
 rectly saves his life, 21 ; in a storm 
 in the Mediterranean, 21 ; arrested 
 by Neapolitan police, 22 ; attempt 
 to swim across the Bay of Baiae, 23 ; 
 presented at Court at Naples, 23 ; 
 aids Countess Guiccioli to escape 
 from Rome, 24 ; an Italian family 
 of sportsmen, 24 ; introduced to 
 Queen Hortense and Prince Louis 
 Napoleon, 26 ; return to England, 
 27; marries Lady Emma Bennet, 27 ; 
 visits Earl Grey (at Howick), 28 ; 
 Reform Bill riot at Darlington, 29 ; 
 agrarian riots in Hampshire, 31 ; 
 introduced to Lord Stanley (after- 
 wards fourteenth Earl of Derby), 
 31; first takes a strong part 'in 
 politics, 32 ; is appointed to the 
 Foreign Office, 32 ; publishes his 
 grandfather's ' Diplomatic Journal 
 and Correspondence,' 32 ; visits to 
 Knowsley, 32 ; the author's deep 
 feeling for the loss of Lord Derby, 
 33 ; travels with his wife through 
 France and Italy, 35 sqq. ; a boat 
 accident on the Lake of Geneva, in ; 
 pamphlet on the Basque War. :>r> ; 
 invited to stand for Portsmouth. .">s ; 
 his butler a Paris mouchard, 60 ; at 
 the Versailles fetes (1837), 60 ; 
 failure at Portsmouth election. 62 ; 
 Bewick's swan, 65; in Paris, Ut! sqq.; 
 Queeu Victoria's coronation, 71 ; 
 Lord Eglinton's Grand Tournament, 
 78 ; candidate for Wilton. 98 ; death 
 of his father, 101 ; a quadrille at a 
 State Ball, 105; attacked by Mr. 
 Sidney Herbert for leaving Peel, 
 124; visit to Germanv anil Italy. 
 129 sqq.; deficit of rents (149), 
 176; interviews with the Prin.v 
 President (Louis Napoleon), 180, 
 191 ; Protectionist movement, I'.'o ; 
 Fmcign Secretary (18.V.M. 
 letters "to Lord Westmorland. _':! I, 
 247, 248, 255 ; to Sir Stratford Can- 
 ning. -':;:>; to Lord C \\1. -v . 
 -.'in. -Jl.'t. -217. -J.M 
 111. I is sqq.. I -jr.. I-J7 MMi 
 
684 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 MAL 
 
 441, 442, 447 sqq., 451, 456 sqq., 
 461 sqq., 464 sq., 469,471, 474 sqq., 
 482, 485, 492 sq. ; to Lord Bloom- 
 lii-ltl, 211, 251, '252 ; to Mr. Cramp- 
 ton, 242 ; to Sir Hamilton Seymour, 
 2451, 280 ; to Hon. Charles Murray, 
 215; to Hon. P. C. Scarlett, 246, 
 250, 257 ; to Lieiit.-Col. Kose, 249 ; 
 to Sir James Hudson, 256 ; to Mr. 
 Buchanan, 258 ; to Sir II. Bulwer, 
 258, 259 ; to Lord Derby, 264, 
 271, 356, 511 ; to the Queen, 284 ; 
 to Emperor Napoleon, 230, 294 ; to 
 Lord Stanley, 370 ; to Lord Can- 
 ning, 434 ; to Count Walewski, 
 444 ; to Count Persigny, 581 ; the 
 question of Napoleon's title, 276, 
 281 ; praised by Lord Derby, 288 ; 
 resignation, 289 ; interview with 
 Emperor Napoleon, 297 ; the Tur- 
 kish difficulty, 307; at a Palais 
 Royal tooth-drawer's, 314 ; at 
 Fontainebleau, 314 ; quarrel with 
 Lord Aberdeen, 327 ; presented 
 to Victor Emanuel, 374 ; New 
 Forest Commission ; 393 ; one of a 
 ' Happy Family,' 394 ; a drawing- 
 room story, 404 ; Foreign Secretary 
 (1858), 417 ; written down by the 
 'Post,' 426 ; visit to Mr. Rarey's 
 establishment, 442 ; with the Queen 
 to Berlin, 443 ; a G.C.B., 470 ; a sup- 
 pressed despatch, 481 n., 504 ; re- 
 signation, 490 ; a Blue-book pub- 
 Lshed too late, 491 ; a German 
 coalition, 502 ; interviews with 
 Emperor Napoleon, 501, 539 ; visit 
 to Brittany, 538 ; Dijon and 
 Lyons, 554 ; Auvergne, 560 ; Bor- 
 deaux, 574 ; Nantes, 581 ; Aries, 
 595 ; a rude reception by Mr. Dis- 
 raeli, 599 ; Lord Privy Seal (1866), 
 622 ; visit to Nancy, 641 ; resigna- 
 tion of the Disraeli Cabinet, 643 ; 
 resignation of Leadership of the 
 Opposition in the Lords, 645 ; 
 speeches on the Life Peerages Bill 
 (1869), 647, 654 
 Malt tax, in Mr. Disraeli's Budget 
 
 (1852), 275, 284 
 McCaskell, General, 123 
 McClellan, General (American), 560, 
 
 567 
 
 McClintock, Captain, 540 
 McClure, Captain : the expedition in 
 
 search of Franklin, 311 
 ' Manchester clique,' the, 417 
 
 Manchester, Duchess of, 413, 432, 447, 
 450, 506 
 
 Duke of, 447, 450, 506 
 
 political riots at (1842), 107 
 Manners, Lord John, 207, 328, 456, 
 
 514 ; President of the Board of 
 Works (1866), 622; letters from, 
 628 
 
 Manninsr, Mr. and Mrs., the execution 
 of, 187 
 
 Manteuffel, M., 241, 252, 451 
 
 Manvers, Lord, 172 
 
 Manzoni's 'Ode to Napoleon,' 317 
 
 Marcelin, M., accidentally wounds 
 the author during a fencing lesson, 
 17 
 
 March, Lord, 466 
 
 Mar Forest, 41 
 
 Mario (Count Candia), 36, 77, 185, 
 200, 576 
 
 Maritime law, discussion in Parlia- 
 ment on (1856), 380 
 
 Marlborough, Duke of, 556 ; Colonial 
 Secretary (1867), 628 
 
 Marotto, General, 57 
 
 Martinetti, Madame, mistress of Na- 
 poleon I., 67 
 
 Mary Queen of Scots, portraits of, 
 616 
 
 Mary of Cambridge, Princess, 315 ; 
 her marriage, 619 
 
 Massone, M., 451 
 
 Mather, Mr., 246, 250, 253, 255, 257 
 sq. 
 
 Mathew, Mr. G. B. ; letter on Mexican 
 affairs (1864), 586 sqq. 
 
 Mathews, Charles, 42 
 
 Mathilde, Princesse,410, 521 
 
 Matuschewitz, Count, 41 
 
 Maun Singh, 412 
 
 Mauren, M, de, 153 
 
 Maximilian, Emperor, 607 ; his exe- 
 cution, 631 
 
 Maxse, Captain, 337 
 
 Maxwell, Sir Stirling, 637 
 
 Mayue, Mr. (chief of London police ; 
 afterwards Sir Richard), 166, 573 
 
 Maynooth College, grant to, Lord 
 Aberdeen's Ministry defeated there- 
 on, 306 
 
 Mazzini, Siguor, 185, 263, 295, 527, 
 593 
 
 Meade, Herbert, accident to, 641 
 
 ' Medina,' the, Lord Fitzharris's 
 official yacht, 3 
 
 Mediterranean, a tremendous storm 
 in the, 21 
 
INDEX. 
 
 685 
 
 Mehemet Ali, Pasha of Egypt (1840), 
 
 91 sqq. 
 Melbourne, Lord, mentioned, 51, 75 
 
 sqq. ; his trial (Mrs. Norton's case), 
 
 53; resignation of his Ministry 
 
 (1839), 75 ; defeated by Sir R. Peel 
 
 (1841), 97 
 Melcy, M. de, husband of Grisi, 
 
 his duel -\vith Lord Cafltlereagb, 
 
 71 
 
 Memorandum (secret) between Eng- 
 land and Russia regarding the 
 
 Holy Places, 308 
 Menagerie, the (Thirteenth) Earl of 
 
 Derby's, 213 
 
 Menschikoff, Prince, 294, 307, 338, T42 
 Metternich, Prince, 159, ]C8; flies 
 
 from Vienna, 1C3 
 
 Meyerbeer's opera Le Proplicte, 185 
 Mexican affairs in 1858, 449 ; in 
 
 1863-4, 587 sqq. 
 Mexico, French expedition to, 557, 
 
 676 
 
 Michael, Grand Duke, 339 
 Middleton, Mi?s, the 'dame' with 
 
 whom the author boarded at Eton, 
 
 12 
 Milan, entry of the French and 
 
 Italians into, 489 
 Mills, Mr. F., 205 
 Milner Gibson, Mr. 416 ; Poor Law 
 
 Board (1859), 493 
 Minto, Lord, 127, 164 
 Mires M. (the banker), the affair of, 
 
 537 
 
 Miresol, Count, 171 
 Mogaclor, occupation of, by the French 
 
 (1844), 113 
 Mole, M., 216 
 Molesworth, Ladv, 426 
 
 Sir W., 28!) .;!>:, 
 Monckton-Milnes, Mr., 168, 540 
 'Monroe doctrine,' the, Emperor Na- 
 poleon's views on, 299 
 
 Monsereau, feudal tower of, 580 
 Mont d'Or, visit to, 561 sq. 
 Monteagle, Lord, 522 
 Montebello, battle of, 486 
 
 Ducde, 159 
 Montemolin, Count, 129,164 
 Montenegro, its relations with Turkey, 
 
 294. 435 
 Monti jo, Mdlle. (afterwards Err press 
 
 of the French), 212 
 Montjoie, Madame de, H',7 
 Montpensier, Duchesse de, 158 
 Montrose, Duchess of, 172 
 
 NAP 
 
 Montrose, Duke of, 172 
 
 Moodkee, battle of, 12.'! 
 
 Moore, Tom, 13 
 
 Moreira, M. (Brazilian Minister"*, 
 
 400 
 Morny, M. de (afterwards Due dc\ 
 
 215", 224, 386 ; his death, 592 
 Duchesse de, 563 
 ' Morning Chronicle,' the, 237 n. 
 ' Morning Herald,' the, 399 
 'Morning Post,' the, Lord Palmer- 
 
 ston's paper, 460 
 Morpeth, Lord, 89, 121; his Iiish 
 
 Registration Bill, 96 
 Mortier, Marshal, killed by an in- 
 fernal machine, 52; anecdote of, 
 
 52 
 Moseley, Captain, nurses the author 
 
 during a serious illness, 17; his sad 
 
 death, 17 
 
 Moustier, Marquis de, 428 
 Municipal reform (1835), 51 sqq. 
 Muntz, Mr., 81 
 Murray, Hon. Charles, 245 
 Museo'nt Madrid, the, 149 
 Musurus, M. (Turkish Ambassador), 
 
 633; i widen death of his wife, 
 
 633 
 Mysterious creature of Loch Arkaig, 
 
 the, 406 
 
 NAAS, Lord, 210, 226; Secretary 
 for Ireland (1866), 622 
 Nadard's monster balloon, 582 
 Nana Sahib, 404, 413 
 Nancy, visit to, 611 
 Napier of MaiMlala, General Lori, 
 638 
 
 Admiral Sir Charles, in the Baltic, 
 330 ; the futile demonstration 
 before Cronstadt, 335; his death, 
 80 
 
 General Sir Charles, 178 
 
 Naples, King of ('Bomba'), indi- 
 rectly saves the author's lite. '.'I ; 
 his Court, 2-'! ; was not personally 
 unpopular, 'J.'> ; grants the Sicilians 
 a ('(institution, 158 ; attacks on him 
 by Lord ralmerstoii, I', 7 
 
 Naples. King if ( Francis II.X .M7 ; 
 the (iaribaldian invasii n. .Vj. 
 at Gaeta, ,VJ7 ; charged uith atro- 
 cities .":;i 
 
 troublesome activity of the police 
 (]*. i-J ; their "venalin 
 threatened b< niliaidment by F.ng- 
 
<;*<; 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 NAP 
 
 lish and French fleets, 384 ; the 
 Cagliari' case, 424 sqq., 429 sqq., 
 433, 438 ; the case of Poerio, 445 
 sq. ; his death, 48G ; visits to, 21, 135 
 
 Napoleon I. : his name a bugbear in 
 England at the time of the author's 
 birth, 2 ; his ashes removed from 
 St. Helena to Paris, 95; his will 
 given up to the French Govern- 
 ment, 277 
 
 Napoleon III. See Prince Louis 
 Napoleon 
 
 Prince (Jerome), 315, 455 ; his 
 marriage with Princess Clothilde, 
 458 
 
 Narvaez, Senor, 147, 211 ; his mot on 
 his deathbed, 211 n. 
 
 National Club, 211 
 
 National defences (1860), 511, 524 
 
 Naval uniforms in 1814, 3 
 
 Navigation Bill (1849), 178, 183 
 
 Neale, Mr., bequeaths a large sum to 
 the Queen, 263 
 
 Needle gun, Prussian, 622 
 
 Negro melodies, Mr. Gladstone's en- 
 thusiasm for, 524 
 
 Neill, General, 409 
 
 Nemours, Due de, 36, 157, 159. 168 
 
 Duchesse de, 157, 159, 160 ; her 
 death, 409 
 
 Nesselrode, Count, 279, 282, 329 ; 
 letter from, 291 
 
 Neufchatel. Prussia's rights over, 23G, 
 886 
 
 Neuilly, burning of, 158 
 
 Nevill, Major (Gyulai's aide-de- 
 camp), 511 
 
 Newby Park (Lord Grantham's), 
 visits to, 14 
 
 Newcastle, Duke of, 208, 289, 313, 
 325 sq., 331, 339, 343, 345. 361, 368, 
 372 ; Secretary for War (1854), 
 333; Colonial Secretarv (1859), 
 493 
 
 New Forest, dangerous ground for 
 hunting, 169 ; Commissioners, 393 
 
 Newman, Mr. (now Cardinal), anec- 
 dotes of, as tutor at Oriel College, 
 
 Nice, ceded to France, 499, 512, 516 
 Nicholas, Emperor (of Russia), men- 
 tioned, 24, 1 54 , 247, 309, 3 1 1, 31 3, 324 
 sq., 333, 342 ; in London, 110 ; his 
 opinion of Louis Napoleon, 282 ; 
 his rage after Inkerman, 342 ; his 
 death, 352 
 
 Grand Duke, 339 
 
 OKI 
 
 Nicholson, General, 409 
 Kiel, General, 314, 370 
 Noailles, Louis de, 127 
 Nolan, Captain, 339 
 Normanbv, Lady, 141 
 
 Lord, "18, 76, 127, 192 sqq., 222, 
 225, 487, 512 
 
 Normanton, Lord, 44 
 
 Northbrook, Lord (Sir Francis 
 
 Baring), 205 
 Northcote, Sir S., 577 ; President of 
 
 Board of Trade (1866), 622 ; India 
 
 Office, 628 
 Northumberland, Duchess of, 229 sq. 
 
 Duke of, 45, 208, 264, 305 sq. 
 Norton, Mrs., mentioned, 41, 46, 125, 
 
 173, 197, 363 ; aids Miss Colquhoun 
 Grant's elopement, 50 ; anecdote of, 
 51 ; the Melbourne trial, 53 ; at 
 Lady Minto's : a party question, 
 56 
 
 Notable dress, a, at a Drawing-Room, 
 486 
 
 Nott, General, 107 
 
 Nugent, Count, 1 70 
 
 AATHS BILL, 40 
 U Obrenovitch, Prince, 485 
 O'Brien, Sir Lucius (Lord Inchiquin), 
 53 
 
 Mr. Smith. See Smith O'Brien 
 O'Connell, Daniel, flattering Lord 
 
 John Russell, 46 ; called out by 
 Lord Alvanley, 49 ; his attack on 
 Mr. Disraeli, 50 ; on Mr. Disraeli's 
 speech on the Corn Laws Bill 
 (1846), 126 
 
 Morgan, his duel with Lord 
 Alvanley, 49 
 
 O'Connor, Feargus : the Chartist 
 fiasco of 1848, 167 
 
 Odessa, bombardment of, 331 
 
 Odilon Barrot, 157,216 
 
 ' Officious ' and' Official, 'difference be- 
 tween, in diplomatic usage, 225 n. 
 
 Oldenburg, Duke of, 260 
 
 Olga, Grand Duchess, 310 
 
 Olozaga, Piime Minister of Spain, 
 109 
 
 Omar Pasha, 313, 352 
 
 Opera, a row at the, in favour of 
 Tamburiui, 84 
 
 ' Opportunism,' 446 
 
 Oriel College, the author's life at, 14 ; 
 his contemporaries there who after- 
 wards became distinguished, 14 
 
INDEX. 
 
 (JH7 
 
 ORL 
 
 Orleans, Duchess 3 d', GO sq.,G9, 157, IfiO 
 
 Duke of, 36 ; his marriage, 60 ; 
 dreadful accident during the wed- 
 ding festivities, 61; at Chantilly, 
 69 ; his death, 106 
 
 Orloff, Count, 824, 334 
 
 Orsini's attempt to assassinate Napo- 
 leon III., 414 
 
 Ossulston, Lord, 42, 44, 74, 112, 129, 
 134, 196, 241, 2,32, 382, 394, 416, 
 490, 541 ; killed ' the Great Stag of 
 Gusach,' 14G ; birth of his son, 
 198; beat Sir G. Grev in Northum- 
 berland, 260 ; Lord Steward (1867). 
 633 
 
 Oudinot, General, 184 
 
 Ouseley, Sir Gore, 400 
 
 Outram, General Sir James, 407, 413, 
 437 
 
 Overstone, Lord, 517 
 
 Oxford, Bishop of (S. Wilbcrforce), 
 14, 391, 659. See also Wilberforce, 
 Samuel 
 
 ' DACTE de Famille,' 516 sq. 
 Paget, Lady, 445, 612, 663 
 
 Lord Alfred, 252 
 
 Sir Augustus, 462, 560, 584, 625, 
 646, 661, 663 
 
 Pakington, Sir John, 207, 267, 365, 
 400, 440 sqq., 490 ; Secretary of the 
 Admiralty, 622 ; War Office, 628 
 
 Palermo, atrocities at, 625 
 
 Palma, Cardinal, 174 
 
 Palmerston, Lady, 15, 111, 124, 221, 
 321, 328, 354/381, 395, 429, 466, 
 483, 490, 518, 520 sq., 531, 620; 
 letter from, 603 ; her death, 661 
 
 Lord, mentioned, 8, 45, 76, 89, 120, 
 129, 172, 192, 213 sq., 217 sq., 220 
 sq., 277, 314, 331, 333, 346 sqq., 
 351, 361, 368, 373, 377 sq., 383 sqq., 
 387 sq., 393, 416, 419, 429, 439, 455, 
 475, 488, 509, 519, 556 ; his policy 
 with respect to Spain, 54 sq., 57'; 
 his speech against the King of 
 Naples, 177 ; his action in the 
 Danish question (1849), 181; 
 favours Prince Louis Napoleon, 
 192, 218 ; his conduct on the Greek 
 question (1850), 1W ; Kadiral 
 speech in reference to Kossuth, 
 213; the causo of his dismissal 
 from office (1851), 218, 222; his 
 defence, 224 ; his amendment on 
 their Militia Bill overthrows the 
 
 PAR 
 
 Russell Ministry, 227 ; offered a 
 seat in Lord Derby's Ministry, 227, 
 229 ; letter to the author, 230 ; his 
 courtesy to the author, 237 ; the 
 'Civis Romanus' speech, 253; his 
 treatment of Brazil, 274 ; Home 
 Secretary in Lord Aberdeen's 
 Ministry, 289 ; on Russia and 
 Turkey, 307 ; resignation and 
 speed}' return to office, 311 sq., 322 ; 
 Prime Minister (1855), 349 ; attack 
 on Mr. Gladstone, 363 ; on the 
 Russians and the Treaty of Paris, 
 382 ; results of his aggressive 
 foreign policy, 384 ; on the secret 
 treaty with Austria, 389 ; beaten on 
 the China War question, 391 ; dis- 
 solution of Parliament, 392 ; his 
 popularity, 393 ; the Danubian 
 Principalities, 403 ; the Refugee 
 Bill, 415 sq. ; resignation, 417 ; 
 his unpunctuality, 427 ; reconciled 
 with Lord John Russell, 426 ; his 
 Schleswig treat}', 445 ; Prime 
 Minister : list of his Ministry, 493 ; 
 agrees to a 6/. franchise, 509 ; secret 
 correspondence with Emperor Xa- 
 poleon, 518 ; the Paper Duty Bill, 
 524 ; rearrangement of his Cabinet, 
 545 ; jllness, 551, 591, 607 ; opposes 
 the recognition of the Confederates, 
 559 ; the Stansfeld-Mazzini case, 
 593 ; the Schleswig-Holstein ques- 
 tion, 598 ; his death, 609 
 
 Panmure, Lord, 362, 412 ; War Min- 
 ister (1855), ."49 ; anecdote of, 363 ; 
 abuse of Lord Raglan, 367 
 
 Papal States invaded by Sardinian 
 troops, 526 
 
 Paraguay treaty, the, 307 
 
 Paris, Comte de, 156 sq. 
 
 dreadful cholera epidemic in, 
 (1831-2), 30 ; social life in, 35 sqq. ; 
 visits to, 35, 58, 66, 74, 180, 297 sqq ., 
 314, 329, 354, 372, :>:!'.', 554 s,,,,.. 
 574, 579, 595, 600, 607 sq., 635, 641, 
 663; insurrection at (1840), 91, 
 l.'iC ; abdication of Louis Philippe. 
 156 ; after the insurrection. 16:?. 
 164, 169, 171 ; the coup tfi-tat ..f 
 Dec. 2, 1851, 215 ?qq. ; the niinil><-rs 
 of killed and wounded in the dis- 
 turban< rs, -Ji'2 ; improvements 
 wrought by Napoleon III., 301 ; 
 Great Exhibition (1865), 1:117 ; 
 Emperor Alexander shot at, 631 
 
 'Parisina,' tableau from, 66 
 
688 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAR 
 
 POP 
 
 Parker, Admiral Hyde, 80(5 
 p'irkn-. Mr. Montague, mentioned, 
 'll, la, 20, 48, 112; returned for 
 Devon against Lord John Russell, 
 
 50 
 
 Paima, Duke of, 207; assassination 
 
 of, :J2!i 
 
 Parry, Mr. John, 605, G08 
 
 Party statistics in 1852, 287 
 
 Passports one means of catching a 
 thief, GO; Austrian demands re- 
 garding their contents, 295 
 
 Paturle, Madame, 635 
 
 P.-:ul Veronese's picture, ' The Tent of 
 Darius,' difficulty with Austria 
 about, .'J04 
 
 Peace with Russia, 071 ; between 
 France and Austria, 498 ; with 
 China, 535 
 
 Peel, General, 45G, 465, 619 ; Secre- 
 tary for War (18GG), 622; resigna- 
 tion, 627 
 
 Lady Emily, 383 
 
 Sir 'Robert', mentioned, 44, 47 sq., 
 51, 55, 64 sq'., 80, 92 sqq., 97 sq., 103, 
 107, 110, 116 sq., 120 sqq., 128, 146, 
 189, 308 ; difficulties of his Ministry 
 (1835), 48 sq. ; his resignation, 48; 
 on the Municipal Reform Bill, 52 ; 
 on Irish Corporation Bill, 73 ; 
 his amendment on the Canada Bill 
 (1838), 64; speeches on the Corn 
 Laws (1839), 73, 84 ; the question 
 of the appointment of the Queen's 
 ladies, 75 ; on the allowance to 
 Prince Albert, 82 ; Prime Minister 
 (1841), 101; his proposals on the 
 Corn Laws, 105, 121, 124 sqq.; 
 difficulties of his Ministry (1846), 
 128 ; his death, 196 ;. curious injunc- 
 tions in his will, 323 
 
 Sir R. (son of the Prime Minister )> 
 281, 594, insulted by Protectionist 
 farmers, 217 ; on the annexation of 
 Savoy and Nice, 515 ; Secretary for 
 Ireland (1861), 545 
 
 Pei-ho forts, the affair of the, 505 
 
 Pekin, 535 
 
 Pelham, Mr., 191 
 
 Pe'lissier, General, 363, 370. Se.e also 
 
 Malakoff, Due de 
 Pembroke, Lady 53, 58, 73. See also 
 
 Ailesbury, Lady 
 
 Lord, 58 
 
 Peninsular War, anecdote of an 
 English officer's coolness in the, 26 
 Pennefather, General, 366 
 
 Pennefather. Miss, her marriage, r>-lf> 
 Penny Postage Bill passed (l-SM'.i;, 
 
 78 
 
 Persano, Admiral, 625 
 Persian War (1857), 386, 390. -Io2 
 Persico, Countess, 383 
 Persigriy, M. de, mentioned. 79, 89, 
 215, 236, 297, 364. 384, 401, 414 MI., 
 418, 420, 425, 448,' 455, 499, 511 ^q., 
 517 'pq., 533,581, 586; letter from, 
 on the relations of France and 
 England after Dec. 26, 1851,218; 
 bluster about war, 251 ; his mar- 
 riage, 254 ; his views on the 
 Crimean War, 355 ; devoted to 
 Lord Palmerston, 4G1 ; resignation, 
 427 ; intrigues with Lord Palmer- 
 ston, 461 ; reappointed to London, 
 485 ; his account of the Peace with 
 Austria, 500 ; quarrel with Lady 
 Palmerston, 520; recalled, 531; 
 Mires, the banker's case, 538 
 Madame de, 401, 424, 426, 428, 
 448, 454, 488, 544; riddle pro- 
 posed by, 378 
 
 Pet goose,' Lord Byron's, 25 
 Petersham, Lord, 653 
 Phillips, Mr., 101 
 Phipps, Sir Charles. 262, 263, 267, 
 
 430, 444, 447, 551 
 
 Picconi, the author's courier (1828), 21 
 Piedmontese troops in Milan (1848), 
 
 164 
 
 Pierre, Mdme. de, 563 
 Pinetum, the, near Ravenna, 24 
 Pius IX., his escape from Rome, 19, 
 175 ; threatens to excommunicate 
 Victor Emanuel, 498 ; invasion of 
 his States, 531 
 Plantagenet statues in Frontevrault 
 
 Abbe}-, 580 
 
 Plougastel, Abbey of, 608 
 Poerio, Baron, 445 sq., 468 
 Poland, supposed designs of Napoleon 
 III. upon, 371 ; debate on the state 
 of (1862), 553; insurrection in 
 (1863), 570, 572 eq. 
 Polignac, Jules de, and Charles X., 
 
 53 ; his death, 141 
 
 Pollock, General, relief of Sir R. Sale 
 by, 106 ; defeat of Akhbnr Khan 
 and occupation of Cabul by, 107 
 Ponsonby, Lord, 345 
 Pope, the, and the British Catholics, 
 
 153 
 
 Popham, General (descendant of 
 Judge Popham), 102 
 
INDEX. 
 
 689 
 
 FOR 
 
 Portrait Gallery at South Kensington, 
 616 
 
 Portugal, English intervention in, 142 
 
 Potato crop, failure of, in Ireland 
 (1845), 118 
 
 Potocka, Countess, 75 
 
 Poulett Thompson, Mr., mentioned 
 47, 51, 71 sq., 74, 96 ; appointed 
 Governor of Canada, 78 ; letter 
 from, 9!) ; his death, 100 n. 
 
 ' Powder Ball ' at Buckingham Palace, 
 118 
 
 Power, Mr. (the sculptor), 133 
 
 Powerscourt, Ladv, 122 
 
 Powles, Mr., 303 
 
 Pozzo di Borgo, Russian Ambassador 
 at the Tuileries (1837), 58, 76 
 
 Prague, Peace of (1866), 625 
 
 Praslin, Due de, suicide of, 145 
 
 Duchesse de, murder of, 143 
 
 ' Press, The,' Mr. Disraeli's paper, 370, 
 379, 391 
 
 ' Prince,' The, lost in Black Sea, 311 
 
 Prince Louis Xapoleon (Napoleon 
 III.). 15, 18, 19, 176; the author 
 introduced to (at Home, 1829), 26 ; 
 description of him, 2o ; took p irt 
 in Lord Eglinton's Grand Tourna- 
 ment, 79 ; intended duel with 
 Count Leon frustrated, 84 ; his 
 mad attempt at Boulogne, 90 ; a 
 prisoner at Ham, 116; his escape 
 to England, 127 ; visit to Paris 
 after the insurrection (1848), 160 ; 
 acts as special constable in London, 
 166 ; proclaimed President of the 
 French Republic, 175 ; interviews 
 of the author with him, 180, 181, 
 191, 297 sq., 316, 357, 372, 394, 501 
 sqq., 539 sq., 663 sqq. ; Ministerial 
 difficulties, 198 sq. ; relations with 
 Kossuth, 213 n. ; the events of 
 Dec. 2, 214 sq. ; elected President 
 for ten years, 221 ; letters to the 
 author, 22!), 293 ; political events 
 of his Presidency, 231 sq;]. ; the 
 Orleans decrees, 254 ; the ' Empire ' 
 question, 255 sq. ; English appre- 
 hensions of war with France, -<>''> 
 sqq.; recognition of ' Napoleon III.' 
 hv F.ngland, 2*;} sqq. ; proposal fur 
 the hand of Princess Adelaide of 
 Hohenlohe, 286, 288 ; the question 
 of the Holy Places, 287, 304 ; his 
 civil list, 290; the Empress Ku- 
 ge'nie, 297 sq. ; on the political 
 questions of the day (1853), 298 
 
 , PRO 
 
 sqq. ; the Russo-Turkish question, 
 316 ; Convention with England 
 against Russia, 331 ; proposes to go 
 to the Crimea, 352 ; visits to Eng- 
 land, 354, 358 sqq., 403 ; reasoiis 
 for another campaign in the Crimea, 
 357 ; attempts to a-sassinate him, 
 360, 414 ; objects to the Vienna 
 Peace proposals, 368 ; supposed 
 designs upon Poland, 371: birth of 
 his son, 378; opinion of Mr. Dis- 
 raeli, 394 ; the Danubian Princi- 
 palities, 403 sq. ; disregard of .-ill 
 convenances at his Court, 410 ; 
 French irritation against England, 
 4,15 ; tension of relations with Eng- 
 land, 418 ; Italian designs against 
 Austria, 457 sqq. ; Mr. Borthwick of 
 the ' Morning Post,' 461 sq. ; letter 
 to Queen Victoria, 466 ; Carbonari 
 threats, 459, 466, 468 ; joins Iinly 
 against Austria, 481 ; with the 
 troops in Lombardy, 485 sqq. ; an 
 armistice, 498; peace, 499; his 
 opinion of Lord Derby's Ministrv, 
 501 sq. ; the English Press, 503 ; on 
 the history and results of the Lom- 
 bard War, 503 ; the English alli- 
 ance and the feeling in France, 508 ; 
 secret correspondence with Palmer- 
 ston, 518 ; his offer to Mr. Whit- 
 worth, 520 ; alleged designs on 
 Switzerland, 520 ; Sardinia and t he 
 Papal States, 526; case of Mires, 
 the banker, 537 ; supports England 
 in the 'Trent' affair, 549 n. ; wishes 
 to recognise the Confederates. 569, 
 562 ; his 'Life of Julius C;esar,' 
 561 sq. ; spiritualism, 563 ; his 
 mediation refused by Am erica. ~n'2 ; 
 letter to the Czar, .~>72 ; invi M i 
 rongress on European afK.irs, 5*:; ; 
 goes to Algiers. ti07 ; French ex- 
 pedition to Mexico, t;;;i ; summarv 
 <f the events of his career in 1*6: i, 
 1870, 1S71. ;6-_> ; .|q. ; his denth, 667 
 
 Prince Roval <f Belgium, de;;:h of. 
 615 
 
 Prim-ess Royal (of England), mar- 
 riage of. :;:>!i, n:. 
 
 Priory Church (Cliristchurch) : its 
 
 ancient wood screen, 612 
 Proniuiciuinifnto in Spain ((1 neral 
 
 Prim's). 612 
 Protection, 121, 1J7 
 Protectionist meeting at Salisbury, 
 
 190 
 
 \ v 
 
690 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PRO 
 
 Protectionist party headed by Lord 
 Stanley (Earl of Derby), 125 
 
 1 'nixies in the House of Lords, 632 
 
 Prussia : ill-feeling towards England 
 (1854), 328, 334 ; its position during 
 the Austro-French War (in Lom- 
 bnrdy), 472 sq., 481 sq., 486 sqq, 
 407, 502 ; relations with Austria 
 (1806), 616, 618 ; war begun, 620 
 
 1'nissin, Prince Regent of (afterwards 
 King of PWflrift and German Em- 
 peror), 523 ; in London, 164 ; diffi- 
 culty between him and his Parlia- 
 ment 570 ; in Paris, 631 
 
 Pusey, Dr., 606 
 
 Puy-de-Douie, visit to the, 561 
 
 Q HARTLEY, Dr. (of Christchurch): 
 his adventure with smugglers, 6 ; 
 how his fee was paid, 7 
 Queen Caroline : Eton boys favoured 
 the side of George IV. in connection 
 with her trial, 13 
 
 Christina (of Spain), 23 ; her ab- 
 dication, 94 
 
 Hortense (mother of Napoleon 
 III.), mentioned, 18, 19 ; the author 
 introduced to her, 26 ; Moray her 
 natural son, 215 n. 
 
 Isabella (of Spain). 109, 141, 147 
 sq. ; Louis Philippe's arrangement 
 of her marriage, 129 ; her character 
 and personal appearance, 148 
 
 of Portugal, in England, 433 
 
 of the Netherlands, in London, 608 ; 
 letter from, 630 ; her skill in politics, 
 631 n. 
 
 Victoria, her first Speech to Parlia- 
 ment, 62 ; her coronation, 71 ; her 
 difficulty with Sir R. Peel, 75 ; her 
 Speech announcing her intended 
 marriage, 79 ; her wedding, 83 ; 
 attempts on her life, (1840) 87, 
 (1842) 105, (1850) 195 ; the loss of 
 her keys, 116 ; her skill in dancing, 
 Ii8 ; the dismissal of Lord Palmer- 
 ston, 224 sq. ; a visit to Balmoral, 
 261 sq. ; Mr. Neale's legacy, 263 ; 
 anxious about the national defences, 
 275 ; Napoleon III.'s title, 277, 285 ; 
 objects to Lord Canning as Foreign 
 Minister, 286 ; on Napoleon IIL's 
 proposal for her niece, 290 ; the 
 naval review at Spithead, 326 ; an- 
 nounces the alliance with Turkey 
 against Russia, 329 ; visited by the 
 
 REP 
 
 Emperor and Empressof the French, 
 (1855) 358 sqq., (1857) 403 ; pre- 
 sentation of Crimean medals. 362 ; 
 Life Peerages, 377 ; review at 
 Aldershot, 381 ; reception of the 
 Due de Malakoff, 430 sqq.; the 
 Indian army, 464 ; letter from 
 Napoleon III., 466 ; refused her 
 assent to the terms of peace sug- 
 gested bj* France to Austria, 500 
 sq. ; review of Volunteers in Hyde 
 Park (1860), 523 ; death of Prince 
 Consort, 50 ; the proposal to make 
 Prince Alfred King of Greece, 567 ; 
 on the Danish question, 584, 589 ; 
 at the opening of Parliament (1866), 
 613 ; lays foundation stone of the 
 Albert Hall, 630 ; reception of the 
 Sultan. 633 
 
 Quc/als (Mexican binls), 586 
 Quin, Dr.: his remedv for cholera 
 (spirits of wine), 30 " 
 
 T)ACHEL, Madame (the French 
 
 It actress), 97, 196 
 
 Radetzky, Marshal, 164, 167, 172, 
 
 177 
 
 Radical mob at the Home Office, 634 
 Rae, Dr. : his account of the fate of 
 
 Sir John Franklin, 337 sq. 
 Raglan, Lord, 188. 325, 336 sq., 339, 
 342, 357; anecdotes of, 58, 188; 
 letter from, 440 ; his death, 366 
 Raikes, Mr., 68 ; his Memoirs, 409 
 Railway speculations (1847), 146 
 Ranelagh, Lord, threatened with an 
 indictment for joining the Cailist 
 arnw, 55 ; letter from, 559 
 Raphael, a painting by, 139 
 Rarey. Mr. (the horse-tamer). 442 
 Ravenna, a visit to Count Gamba's 
 
 house at, 24 
 
 'Reactionist brigands' (Naples), 544 
 ' Rebecca ' riots in Wales, 107 
 Redan, the, attack on, 365, 370 
 Redesdale, Lord, 200, 362, 607 
 Reed, Major, 361 
 
 Reform Bills: 1831, rejected by the 
 Lords, 29 ; riots in consequence, 29 
 sqq.; 1852 (Lord John Russell's), 
 224 sqq.; 1853-4 (Lord Aberdeen's), 
 317, 326, 332; 1858, 456, 462, 464; 
 I860 (Palmerston's), 520 sqq. ; 1866 
 (Gladstone's), 416 sq. ; 1867 (Dis- 
 raeli's), 627 sqq. 
 
 tion, 420 
 
INDEX. 
 
 691 
 
 REF 
 
 Reschid Pasha, 310 
 
 Revolutionary spirit iii Italy (1828), 
 
 the, 18 
 Rhenish provinces, French designs on, 
 
 523 
 Rheumatic fever : opposite methods 
 
 of treating it, 191 
 Rhine, the, visits to, 16, 129 gqq. 
 Rhone, the scenery on its banks, 37 
 Richards, Miss, 57, 193 
 Richelieu, Due de, 402, 541, 622 ; his 
 
 mot on M. de Bonneval, 66 
 Richmond (America), battle of, 558 
 
 Duke of, 32, 100, 121,124, 128, 176 ; 
 President of Board of Trade (1866), 
 628 
 
 Ripon, Lord, 100 ; Under-Secretary 
 for War (1861), 545 
 
 Ristori, Madame (the actress), 380,440 
 
 Rive, M. de la, 520 
 
 Roebuck, Mr., 121, 199, 205, 210, 345 
 gqq., 365, 368 sq., 402 ; his motion 
 for the abolition of the Lord-Lieu- 
 tenancy of Ireland, 428 
 
 Rogers, Samuel, anecdote of, 54 
 
 Rohan, Cardinal de, the arrest of, by 
 the Due de Gramont, 36 
 
 Romagna, a visit to (1829), 24; in- 
 vaded by Sardinian troops, 526 
 
 Rome, visits to, 19, 134, 137 ; an in- 
 undation at, 134 ; disturbances in 
 (1848), 169; revolution, 174 sq. ; 
 Republic proclaimed, 176 
 
 Rope railway at Liege, 129 
 
 Rose, Colonel (Lord Strathnairn), 249, 
 297, 328, 408 
 
 Mr. Philip (Mr. Disraeli's legal 
 adviser), 613 
 
 Sir George, 99 
 
 v Rosenkranz, General (American), 579 
 Rossi, Count (Prime Minister at 
 
 Rome), murder of. 171 
 Rothschild, Mr. Anthony, 170 
 Lionel, 170 
 
 Nathaniel, 302 
 
 Rmiget, General: his enormous weight, 
 
 Hi 
 
 Rouher, M., 618 sq. 
 Rumigny, General, 161 
 HusM'll. Dr. (war correspondent), 546 
 
 Lady William, on the reconcilia- 
 tion "of Lord PaliiHTston ;md Lord 
 John Resell, 436 
 
 Lord Cosmo: story of a novel 
 honeymoon trip. :;:;_' 
 
 Lora John, mentioned, I'- sqq., 52, 
 (ir, 75, 77,81, 97 sq., 119 >q., 127, 155, 
 
 SAL 
 
 203 sqq.,208, 210, 221, 257, 269, 281, 
 294 sq., 308, 326, 356, 374, 380, 443, 
 469, 478, 486, 488, 510, 514, 517, 
 571!, 585, 588 sq., 598, 640 ; Resolu- 
 tion on the Irish Church, 47 ; de- 
 feated in Devon, 53 ; his treatment 
 of the motion against O'Connell, 65; 
 unsuccessful attempt to form a Min- 
 istry (1845), 120 ; Prime Minister 
 (1846), 128; incidents of his Min- 
 istry, 142 sq., 151 sqq., 155, 161, 165 
 sq., 171, 175 sqq., 183 gqq., 186, 191, 
 193 sq., 200 sq., 203, 205; quarrel 
 with the Queen, 218 ; dismissal of 
 Lord Palmerston, 224 ; his Reform 
 Bill (1852), 226 ; his Ministry de- 
 feated, 227 ; Foreign Secretary in 
 the Aberdeen Ministry, 289 ; "sup- 
 ports the Maynooth Grant, 306 ; the 
 Vienna note, 310 ; the Reform Bill 
 of 1853, 322 ; President of the Coun- 
 cil (1854), 333 ; resignation, 345 ; 
 fails in the attempt to form a Min- 
 istry, 349 ; enters Lord Palmerston's 
 Cabinet as Minister for the Colonies, 
 352 ; at the Vienna Conference, 356, 
 860 ; his differences with the Min- 
 istry, 366 ; resignation, 368 ; tho- 
 roughly opposed to the Derby 
 Ministry, 420 ; relations with Lord 
 Palmerston, 429 ; a reconciliation 
 effected, 436 ; on the forty-shilling 
 freeholders, 467 ; Foreign Secretary, 
 493 ; on the affair of the Pei-ho forts, 
 513 ; attack on Emperor Napoleon, 
 518; Reform Bill (I860), 522; con- 
 tradictory despatches, 528 ; created 
 Earl Russell, 545 ; Schleswig-llol- 
 stein question, 565, 568 ; Prime 
 Minister, 609 ; resignation, (')_'! 
 I-'ussrll, Lord William, themmv 
 
 Mr. George, accident to, .">.>.". 
 
 K u ssi;i : at war with Turkey (1853), 
 311 sqq.; evasions of the Treat v of 
 Paris, :{ 1,384 
 
 SABOUROFF, fount. > 
 Sadowa. battle of, (i-.'i* sq. 
 Salamaiu 1 ;). Sruor, 1 It; MJ. 
 Sale, Sir Knbrrt, tin- Af-hnn calamity 
 ( IM-Ji, KU. 1D6. li:.; in London 
 with L:;ily Sal,-. Ill ; killed in the 
 Sikh war. 1'J:! 
 
 Salisl.urv. Proirrtii.niM mcctingat, 190 
 Salisbury, I.ruly. !'7 
 
692 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 SAL 
 
 Salisbury, Lord, President of the 
 Council (1858), 417 
 
 Saltoun, Lord, 102 
 
 Sandon, Lord (nowEarlof Harrowby), 
 97 
 
 San Ilemo, 140 
 
 Santiago, dreadful fire in a church at, 
 589 
 
 Sardinia, King of (Charles Albert), 
 grants his subjects a Constitution, 
 153 ; helps the Lombards against 
 Austria, 164 ; complete defeat of, by 
 Radetzky, 172 ; abdication, 179 
 
 King of (Victor Emanuel), 458, 
 618 ; his coarseness, 372 ; visit to 
 England, 373 ; proclaimed Dictator, 
 481 ; in the war in Lombardy, 488 
 sq.; in Naples (1860), 528/530; 
 his courage, 528 n. 
 
 Sardinian troops in the Crimea, 
 
 369 sqq. 
 Savoy, ceded to France, 500, 512, 516, 
 
 52l 
 Saxe-Coburg, Duke of, 157, 159, 482 
 
 Prince Leopold of, 245 
 Saxe-Weimar, Prince Edward of, 214, 
 
 241, 341, 549, 634 
 
 Princess Edward of, 241, 545 sq., 
 549 
 
 Saxony, King of, in London, 110 
 Scanty fancy-ball dress, a, 521 
 Scarlett, Colonel, 448 
 
 Hon. P. C., 246, 250, 253 sq., 257 
 Schamyl, the Circassian hero, 335 
 Schilder, General, 325 
 Schleswig-Holstein question (1858), 
 
 449 ; war, 58i, 586, 589 sqq., 597 sq. 
 
 Treaty (Palmerstou's), 445 
 Schwarzenberg, Prince, 232, 234 so., 
 
 240, 246 ; his death, 245 
 Scotch Reform Bill (1868),, 639 sq. 
 Sebastiani, Madame, 46, 50, 62, 68, 69 
 
 Marshal, French Ambassador 
 (1835) : his notions of fox-hunting, 
 48 ; his mother's epigram on his 
 pomposity, 50 ; anecdote of, 51; his 
 recall, 82, 143 
 
 Sebastopol, 336 sqq., 357 sq., 364 sq., 
 369 ; strength of the allied armies 
 before it (1855), 358; the Com- 
 mittee of Inquiry, 365 
 
 'Secretary for the' War Department' 
 and < Secretary at War,' 346 
 
 Security frdm Violence Bill (against 
 Garotting), 573 
 
 Se'gur, Madame de, 68 
 
 SOM 
 
 Serrano, General, 141, 147 sq. 
 Servia, Prince of, murdered, 640 
 Seville, siege of, 108 
 Seward, Mr., 551 
 
 Seymour, Admiral Sir George, 264, 
 386, 400 
 
 Lady, V3, 118, 124; in Lord 
 Eglinton's Grand Tournament, 79 
 
 Lord, 100, 118, 305, 345, 361 
 
 Sir G. Hamilton, 243, 247 sq., 280 
 291, 309 ; letters from, 391 sq. 
 
 Shaftesbury, Lady, 321, 429, 593 
 
 Lord, 5, 468 
 
 Shaw-Lefevre, Mr. (Speaker of the 
 House of Commons, 1839), 77 
 
 Sheerness Dockyard ; attempt to set 
 it on fire, 92 
 
 Sheridan, General (American), 605 
 
 Shrewsbury, Lord, 101), 259 
 
 Sibthorp, Colonel, 83, 191 
 
 Sicily, insurrection in (1848), 152; 
 Garibaldi's invasion, 521 sqq. 
 
 Sikh war, 123, 175, 181, 183 
 
 Silistria, siege of, .334 
 
 Simplon, crossing the, by the then 
 new road, 18 
 
 Simpson, General, 366, 369 
 
 Sinope, battle of, 317, 322, 323 
 
 ' Six Hours Reform Bill,' the, 627 n. 
 
 'Skedaddle,' a telegraph difficulty, 
 567 
 
 Slidell and Mason, Messrs. (Confede- 
 rate Commissioners), 548 sq., 551 
 sq. 
 
 Slingsby, Sir Charles, death of, 645 
 
 Smith, Mr. Vernon, 412, 437, 440, 475 
 
 Sir Harry, 125, 142 
 
 O'Brien/167, 171, 173 
 Smithett, Captain, 158, 358 
 Smugglers of the New Forest, stories 
 
 of the, 5 sq. 
 
 Smythe, Mr., 86 
 
 Snuff-boxes, contretemps in a presen- 
 tation of, 447 
 
 Soames, Mr , 576 
 
 Sobraon, victory of, 125 
 
 Socialist refugees in Switzerland, 250 
 
 Society in Paris, (1832) 36, (1837) 
 58 sq., (1838) 63 ; in Rome (1828) 
 19, (1847), 138 
 
 Solferino, battle of, 495 
 
 Soliman Pasha (Colonel Selves) 93 
 
 Somerset, Duke of, 398, 495; "First 
 Lord of the Admiralty (1859^) 41)3 
 
 Major, 123 
 Somertou, Lord, 359, 365 
 
INDEX. 
 
 693 
 
 SON 
 
 Sonnaz, General, 486 
 
 Sontag, Madame, 185 
 
 Sotheron Estcourt, Mr., Home Secre- 
 tary (1859), 467 
 
 Soult, Marsha], his appointment as 
 French Ambassador to England, 68 ; 
 the pictures he looted in Spain, 141 
 
 South American States, negotiations 
 with, 242 
 
 Spanish Marriages question, the, 129 
 
 Spencer, Lord, Lord-Lieutenant of 
 Ireland (1808), 644 
 
 Sphinx, the, at the EgA'ptiau Hall, 
 611 
 
 Spitalfields ball, the, 171 
 
 Spithead, the great naval review at, 
 in 1814, 3 ; (1854), 326 
 
 Spooner, Mr., 306 
 
 Spring Rice, Mr., 51, 57 
 
 St. Arnaud : his admiration of Lord 
 Raglan, 188 n. ; anecdote of, 314; 
 his death, 337, 340 ; letter of Napo- 
 leon III. to Madame St. Arnaud, 
 338 
 
 St. Esprit, bridge of, 38 
 
 St. John, Mr. Ferdinand : his duel 
 with Count Coterofh'ano, 39 ; anec- 
 dote about his twin sons, 40 
 
 St. Leonards, Lord, Lord Chancellor, 
 237, 305, 417 ; on Life Peerages, 
 376 
 
 St. Leu, Duchesse de. See Queen 
 Hortense 
 
 St. Mnur, Lord Edward, 595 ; death 
 of, 612 
 
 Stadion, Count, 486 
 
 Stafford, Lady, 383 
 
 Lord, 383 * 
 
 Mr., 305 sq., 410 
 
 ' Stag of Gusach, the Great,' 146 
 
 Stamford, Lord, 411 
 
 Stanhope, Lord, 426, 632 n., 659 ; his 
 
 marriage, 646 
 Stanley, Edward (Lord Derby's 
 
 grandson, 115, 210 
 
 Lady (Countess of Derby), 121 
 
 Lord. See Derby, (Fourteenth) 
 Earl of 
 
 Lord, afterwards (Fifteenth) Earl 
 of Derby, 209, 213, 239, 310, 358, 
 .",70, 464,' 585, 620 sq., 628, 662 ; his 
 :iim at popularity, 400; Secretary 
 lor the Colonies (1858), 419; 
 (i)) in ions on Reform, 464 ; speech 
 >n the- Reform P.ill ..f iN'.t 1 ,. 616; 
 FoiviMM Si-m-tary (1866). I'.-J-J ; 
 letter from, 629 
 
 TAL 
 
 Stanley Mr. ('Sir Benjamin Back- 
 bite '), Whig Whip in 1851, 209, 212 
 
 Mr. Sloane, 44 
 
 of Alderley, Lord, 327 
 Stansfield, Mr., 556 ; his relations 
 
 with Mazzini, 593 
 State ball at Buckingham Palace 
 
 (1842), 105 
 Stonewall Jackson, General, 560 ; his 
 
 death, 575 
 
 Stopford, Admiral, 335 
 Stracey, Sir Henry, 593 
 Stradbroke, Lord, "209 
 Strafford, Lord (Sir John Bvng), 50 
 Strahan, Paul & Co.'s bank, failure 
 
 of, 363, 365 
 
 Strangford, Lord : his marriage, 411 
 Stratford de Redcliffe, Lord, 207 
 Stratford, Lord, 260, 307, 447, 498 ; 
 
 his boast of having fomented the 
 
 Russo-Turkish war (1854), 326 
 Strathnairn, Field-Marshal Lord, 
 
 mentioned, 12 
 Strutt, Mr., 333 
 Stuart, Charles Edward, traditions of, 
 
 in the Highlands, 112 
 
 de Rothsay, Lady, 412, 473, 549 ; 
 anecdote of, 202 ' 
 
 de Rothsay, Lord: his death, 119 
 Start, Mrs., 114 sq. 
 
 Sugar duties, the, 111 
 
 Sultan of Turkey in Paris, 630 ; visit 
 
 to England, 632 
 Summer Palace at Pekin, plundered 
 
 and burnt, 535 
 
 Sunday Closing Bill (1863), 576 
 Sussex, Duke of, 71, 83 
 Sutherland, Dowager Duchess of, 
 
 593 ; her death, 61-2 
 
 Duke of, 615 
 
 Duchess of, 292, 594 
 
 Switzerland, a visit to, 1(1 ; a speci- 
 men of Swiss avarice. 40 ; its rela- 
 tions with Prussia (1852), 213 sq. 
 243, 258, 386 ; policy of the Derby 
 Ministry thereon, 231 
 
 Sword of state, the, 415 
 
 Sword-stick, a, trouble caused bv, in 
 Naples, 22 
 
 Sydi-nham. Lord. See Poulett Thomp- 
 son 
 
 Sydney, Lord, Lord Chamberlain 
 (1868), 644 
 
 rpALBOT, Colonel, :.-.:, 
 1 General, 17 i 
 
094 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 TAL 
 
 Talleyrand, Prince : his funeral, C9 
 Tangier, bombardment of, 113 
 Tankerville, Lady (nee De Gramont), 
 14, 51, 143, 167, 419, 424, 466, 490, 
 518, 531, 549 ; her death, 603 
 Lord, 14, 27 sqq., 54 ; his politics, 
 28 ; assaulted by a mob at Darling- 
 ton (1831), 29 ; his death, 495 
 Tanzimat Law (Turkish), 235, 248 sq., 
 
 254 
 Taunton, Lord (Mr. Labouchere), 
 
 205 
 
 Taxation, Mr. Disraeli's motion on 
 (1850), 191 ; taxes modified in his 
 first Budget, 284, 286 ; tax on ad- 
 vertisements and newspapers : pro- 
 posed repeal, 305 
 
 Taylor, Colonel, 72, 579 ; amusing 
 mistake of Mr. Disraeli in connec- 
 tion with, 396 
 
 Tchernaya, battle of the, 369 
 Tea duty, 541 
 
 Teck, Prince : his marriage, 619 
 Tegethoff, Admiral, 625 
 Temple, Mr. (Lord Palmerston's 
 
 brother), 136, 177 
 Tenants' Rights Bill (1855), 367 
 Terceira, Duke of, 62 
 Thames, foul state of the (1858), 439, 
 
 497 
 Theodore, King of Abyssinia, death 
 
 of, 638 
 
 Thesiger, Sir Frederick, 212 
 Thicrs, M., mentioned, 93, 157, 199, 
 
 211, 214 
 
 Thouvenel, M. de, 518, 563 
 Three Estates of the Realm, the, 632 
 Thy nne, Lady Edward, 517 
 Lord E., 113; part owner of the 
 ' Gazington ' hounds (Oriel College), 
 
 Titian, pictures by, 132; picture of, 
 by Sebastiano del Piombo, 140 
 
 TttieOB, Mdlle., 576 
 
 Tooley Street, the great fire in, 542 
 
 Torella, Princess, 136 
 
 Tornado at Heron Court, 294 
 
 Torrington, Lord, 209, 211 
 
 Toulon, visit to, 38 
 
 Tour d' Auvergne, Prince de la, French 
 Ambassador to London, 592 
 
 Tours, visit to, 579 
 
 Tower, great fire at the, 102 
 
 Transylvania entered by the Russians 
 (1849), 183 
 
 Treaty : of Peace with Russia, 378 
 sq. ; of Commerce with France 
 
 VEG 
 
 (1860), 515 ; of London (on Luxem- 
 burg), 631 
 
 Trelawney, Sir J., 542 
 
 Trench, Mr. (brother of late Arch- 
 bishop of Dublin), 12 
 
 Trent,' the affair of the, 548 sq., 551 
 
 Trochu, General, 489 
 
 Trollope : funny story of the origin of 
 the name, 173 
 
 Troubetskoi, Mdlle., 386 
 
 Troubridge, Sir Thomas, 363 
 
 Trout-fishing in France, 554 
 
 Truro, Lady, 542 
 
 Tuckett, Captain, 96 
 
 Tufnell, Mr., 81 
 
 Turgot, M., 221, 232, 240, 248, 254 
 261 
 
 Turin, visit to, 383 
 
 Louis Napoleon at, 500 
 
 Turkey and Egypt, the relations be- 
 tween, 78, 93* 
 
 Turkey and Greece, relations of, 
 329 sqq. 
 
 Turkey and Russia (1853), 307 sqq., 
 310 sq., 312 sqq., 319 sqq. ; com- 
 bined fleets in the Black Sea, 324, 
 329 sq. ; Russian proposals, 324 ; 
 England joins Turkey, 329 ; Con- 
 vention with Austria, 334 ; the 
 Turks at Balaclava, 338 
 
 Turkish Loan (1855)? 369 
 
 Tuscany, Grand Duke of, 153, 481 ; 
 state of the country, 259 
 
 Twins, a bet about, before their birth, 
 40 
 
 Tynemouth superstition, a, 213 
 
 Tyrol, a military funeral in the, 131 
 
 Tyrrell's Ford : why the Manor of 
 Avon paid an annual fine to the 
 Crown in its account, 5 
 
 TTHLANS (Austrian), the, 497 
 U Urquhart, Mr., 210 
 
 VAILLANT, Marshal, 302, 498 
 Van de Weyer, M., 231, 235, 274 ; 
 on Lord Palmerston's unpunctu- 
 ality, 427 
 
 Madame, 159, 195, 231 
 Vane, Lady, 423 
 
 Adelaide : her elopement, 226 
 
 Lord Harry (afterwards Duke ot 
 Cleveland), *36, 321, 326 
 
 Vaucluse, visit to, 38 
 Vegetarian, a, curious story of, 394 
 
INDEX. 
 
 695 
 
 YEN 
 
 Venice, visit to, 132 ; proclaims a re- 
 public, 165 ; position of, after the 
 war in Lombardy, 499 sq. ; given 
 up by Austria to France, 624 
 Veronese's, Paul, ' Tent of Darius,' 394 
 Versailles fetes (1837), 60 
 Vesuvius, Mount, 22, 136 
 Viceroy of Egypt in England, 558, 654 
 Vicksburg, surrender of, 578 
 Vidal, Baron, charge against, 544 
 Vienna, insurrections at (1848), 163, 
 170, 174 
 
 Conference, anecdote about, 354 ; 
 broken off, 360 
 
 Villafranca, the Peace of, 503 
 Villiers, Hon. H. C., the tirst to agitate 
 for Free Trade, 280 n. 
 
 Lady Adela, 119 
 
 Clementina, 455 ; her death, 456 
 
 Sarah (Princess Esterhazy), 101 
 
 Mr., 74, 87, 103 
 
 Mrs. Augustus, 409 
 
 Violent hurricane in the Black Sea, 
 
 341 
 Vitzthum, Count, Saxon Minister, 
 
 486, 542 
 
 Vladimir Davidoff, 556 
 Volunteer movement, the, 514, 523 sq. 
 Voutier, Colonel (of the ' Liberating 
 
 Greek Army '), 19 
 Vyner, Mr., 64") 
 
 WALES, Prince of, 455, 633 ; visit 
 to Canada, 530 ; his marriage, 
 571 sqq. 
 
 Princess of, 560, 591 sq.; her entry 
 iuto London, 671 ; birth of her first 
 child, 584 
 
 Walewska, Madame, 332, 354 sq., 359, 
 410, 427, 455, 484, 540, 642 ; pre- 
 sentation by English ladies to her, 
 361 
 
 Walewski, Count, 36, 221, 232, 240, 
 243, 282 sqq., 297, 353, 387, 418, 
 420 sq., 423 sqq., 427, 430, 411. I.V. 
 sq. ; a son of Napoleon L, ::<> ; <>u ;i 
 mission to Mehemet Ali, 91 ; account 
 and description of, 221 n. ; letter 
 from, 268 ; at the Duke of Welling- 
 ton's funeral, 278 ; Minister of F>r- 
 eign Affairs, 361 ; his death, r. 11 
 
 Waldegrave, Lady, 195 
 
 Walker, Sir Baldwin, 305 
 
 Walpole, Lord, 135 
 
 Mr., 207, 556; Home Secivl.-iry. 
 (1852), 237 ; (1858), 417; resigna- 
 
 WIL 
 
 tion, 462, 465 ; Home Secretary 
 (1866), 622 
 
 Warburton, Mr., 84 
 
 Ward, Baron 329 
 
 Ward Hunt, Mr., Chancellor of tho 
 Exchequer (1868), 637 
 
 Ward, Lord, 185 
 
 Warsaw, conference of sovereigns at, 
 528 
 
 War taxation in Sardinia, 487 
 
 ' Waterfalls ' (the black satin cravats 
 of George I V.'s Court), 19 
 
 Waterford, Lord, death of, 473 
 
 Welby, Mr., part owner of the ' Gaz- 
 ington ' hounds (Oriel College), 14 
 
 Wellington, Duke of, 27, 31, 44, >, 
 55, 75, 78 sqq., 82, 107, 110. 122, 
 178, 239, 247, 308 ; his portrait 
 painted by Count d'Orsay, 15; 
 anecdote concerning him, 51 ; "speech 
 of, against O'Connell, 74 ; on the 
 Birmingham riots, 78 ; on the Corn 
 Laws, 123 ; treatment of the Char- 
 tists (1848), 165; his deafness, 
 235, 239 ; his death, 264 ; his fune- 
 ral, 279 
 
 (Second) Duke of, 419 ; good story 
 about him, 536 
 
 Wenlock, Lord, story about, 40 
 WensleydaleLife Pet-rage que.stion,376 
 Westminster, Lady, 380, 573 
 
 Legion in Spain, the, 54 
 Westmorland, Lord, 232, 234, 247, 
 
 248, 255, 295 sq. ; his death, 507 
 Wetherell, Sir Charles, 81 
 Whigs, the Old, their position in 1827, 
 
 28 
 
 Whish, General, 181 
 Whist, a difficulty at, not provided for 
 
 by lloyle, 45 
 Whitcside, Mr., 379, 436 
 Whitworth, Mr., patriotism of, 520 
 Wilberforce, Samuel (Bishop of Win- 
 chester), at Oriel, 14. See also 
 
 Oxford, Bishop of 
 Wild cattle at Chillingham, the, 14; 
 
 dangerous adventure with, 42 sq. 
 Wild geese in the Papal States: a 
 
 shooting excursion under difficul- 
 
 t ics, 20 
 
 Wild swans on the Avon. ',: 
 Wilkes Booth, assassin of President 
 
 Lincoln, 606 
 
 William IV., 58 ; his death, Gl 
 Williams, General. :;7u. ;;7.' 
 Willonghby d'Kroshy, Ladv : lu>r 
 
 death. ;<>:; 
 
69(i 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 WIL 
 
 Wilson, Sir Alexander (the defender 
 .f Delhi), 439 
 
 Sir Archdale (who took Delhi), 
 439 
 
 Wilton, the author's visits at, as a 
 boy, 13 ; his canvass of the district, 
 99 
 
 Winchester, Lord, 271 
 
 Winchilsea, Lord, 128, 362 
 
 Windischgrtttz, Count, 174, 623 
 
 Winter Palace (St. Petersburg) burnt 
 down, 64 
 
 WiM-man, Cardinal, 400 
 
 Wodehouse, Lord, 222, 467, 519, 545 
 
 Wolff, Mr. (now Sir Henry), 418, 
 567, 619, 643 
 
 Wombwell, Sir George, 645 
 
 ' Wood of the Dead Woman,' 134 
 
 Wood, Sir Charles (afterwards Vis- 
 count Halifax), 87, 205, 295, 364, 
 390,400,475 ; violent speech against 
 Louis Napoleon, 294, 303 ; Secre- 
 tary for India (1859), 493 
 
 Woronzow, Count, 73, 75 
 
 Worsley, Lord, 103 
 
 Wrottesley, Lord, 172, 496 
 
 Wrottesley, Mrs., 344 
 Wyndham, General, 413 
 Wynn, Sir Watkin, anecdote of, 45 ; 
 his house in Wales burnt down, 423 
 Wyse, Mr., 193 
 
 YACHT, Lord Willoughby 
 d'Eresby's, 578 
 Yew-tree, the largest in England, at 
 
 Harlington, 496 
 Yorke, Lady Mary, 369 
 
 CABALA, General, 612 
 
 f-i Zamoiska, Madame, 553 
 
 Zichy, Count, 67 
 
 Zouaves, the, in the Crimea, 344; in 
 
 the war in Lombardy, 489 ; Papal, 
 
 634 
 Zumalacarregui, the Carlist chief: 
 
 the Duke of Wellington's opinion 
 
 of him, 52 
 Zurich, treaty between France and 
 
 Austria signed at, 507, 564 
 
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