1840] CONCILIATORY PROPOSALS. 317 letter to read, and desired him to forward it to Woburn. He afterwards dined with me, and when he came to dinner, he said he had read my letter, and that it was very important. September 27th.-Went to Guizot, who began by telling me he had been with Palmerston yesterday, who had acknowledged très loyalement that there was not and could not be any truth in the report (about Walewski), said his manner to him (as it had always been) was excellent. Guizot then complained of the facility with which he gave ear to reports like these and to all that was said against France; but he left him well enough satisfied with his reception. He then asked in what state the question was, and I told him that it was in such a state that I had no hesitation in saying war was impossible, and that if the transaction' was such as we could in honour accept, we should accept it; that the best thing to be hoped was, that Palmerston would make up his mind to a transaction' in the Cabinet, and would himself take the initiative; but that at all events there were others who were resolved not to pursue any longer this course of policy, and that if he was inexorable it must end in his resignation. Before I went to Guizot I saw Clarendon, who had had a good deal of talk with Lord John, who spoke to him just in the strain which the Duke of Bedford had already described to me. Melbourne is to be in town to-day, and what Lord John expected and hoped was, that he would be able to persuade Palmerston to give way, and himself propose to acquiesce in Mehemet Ali's proposals. In that case, Lord John said, he should not say a word. If Palmerston would not do so, then it would be for him to take his own course, and he and Clarendon have both agreed to resign if they should be overruled; and the latter said he thought he could answer for Lord Holland doing the same. While returning home I was overtaken by Palmerston, who was on his way to Lord John's house; and they are now closeted together, so that at least they will have it all out before the Cabinet to-morrow. Guizot gave me a copy of Cochelet's despatch, with an account of what had passed between Mehemet Ali, himself, Walewski, and the four ConsulsGeneral, which ended in the transmission of his new proposal to the Porte. September 28th.-Lord John and Palmerston had a long conversation, amicable enough in tone, but unsatisfactory in result. However, Lord John did not appear to be shaken in his determination, but rather inclined to an opinion that Palmerston would himself be disposed to give way. Any such expectation ought to have been dissipated by a letter which Lord John received meanwhile from Palmerston, in which he talked with his usual confidence and levity of the certainty of success,' the hopeless condition of the Pasha,' and the facility with which the Treaty would be carried into effect.1 In the morning, after I had been with Guizot (and after Palmerston's interview with Lord John), he went to Palmerston and communicated fully the offer of France, saying he would not enter into the details of the question, but he could not help reminding him of the failure of so many of his confident expectations. Palmerston said that there would be no sort of difficulty in enforcing the Treaty, and that then France might join if she pleased. Guizot replied that this was out of the question, that France was now ready to join in a transaction fair and honourable to both parties, but she would not stand by, see the question settled without her, and then come in to bolster up an arrangement made by others, and with which she had had no concern. In the evening he went to Holland House, where he told Melbourne what he had communicated to Palmerston; found him in a satisfactory disposition, but Melbourne said that there was a danger greatly to be feared, and that was, that our ambassador at Constantinople, who was very violent against Mehemet Ali, and not afraid of war, might and probably would urge the immediate rejection of the Pacha's proposal and every sort of violent measure.2 Guizot, naturally enough, expressed (to me) his astonishment that the 1 Everything turned out according to his anticipations. 2 As he did. 1840] LORD PALMERSTON'S RESOLUTION. 319 Prime Minister should hold such language, and that, if he had an ambassador who was likely to act in such a manner so much at variance with his political views, he did not recall him or supersede him by a special mission. This, however, was very characteristic of Melbourne; and I told Clarendon, urging him to insist that some positive understanding should be come to, upon the conduct to be adopted by Ponsonby. There can be no doubt that Palmerston and Ponsonby between them will do all they can to embroil matters, and to make a transaction impossible, and Palmerston writes just what he pleases without any of his colleagues having the least idea what he says. The result of the whole then is, that the Cabinet meet at three to-day, and that Lord John will have to stand forth in opposition to Palmerston's policy, and to propose the adoption of measures leading to an amicable arrangement. A few hours will show how the rest are disposed to take it. CHAPTER IX. The Cabinet meets-The Government on the verge of Dissolution-The Second Cabinet-Palmerston lowers his Tone in the Cabinet-But continues to bully in the Press-Taking of Beyrout-Deposition of Mehemet Ali-Lord John acquiesces-Total Defeat of Peace Party-Lord John Russell's False Position-His Views-Lord Granville's Dissatisfaction -Further Attempts at Conciliation-Prevarication of Lord Ponsonby -Newspaper Hostilities-Discussion of the French Note of the 8th October-Guizot's Opinion of the Note of the 8th October-Louis Philippe's Influence on the Crisis-Summary of Events-Death of Lord Holland -Lord Clarendon's Regret for Lord Holland-M. Guizot's Intentions. as to France-Effects of the Queen's Partiality for Melbourne-Resignation to Thiers-Bickerings in the Ministry-Lord John Russell's Dissatisfaction with Lord Palmerston-Lord John resigns-Lord John demands the Recall of Lord Ponsonby-Lord Palmerston defends Lord Ponsonby-M. Guizot's Policy-Conciliatory Propositions fail-Attitude of Austria-Asperity of Lord Palmerston-Operations in Syria-Success of Lord Palmerston and his Policy-Baron Mounier's Mission to London-Birth of the Princess Royal-Results of the Success of Lord Palmerston's Measures-The Tories divided in Opinion as to the Treaty -Retrospect of the Year-Lord Holland. September 29th: Wednesday.-The Cabinet met on Monday evening and sat till seven o'clock. The account of the proceedings which has reached me is to the last degree amusing, but at the same time pitoyable. It must have been à payer les places to see. They met, and as if all were conscious of something unpleasant in prospect, and all shy, there was for some time a dead silence. At length Melbourne, trying to shuffle off the discussion, but aware that he must say something, began: We must consider about the time. to which Parliament should be prorogued.' Upon this Lord John took it up and said, 'I presume we must consider whether Parliament should be called together or not, because, as matters are now going on, it seems to me that we may at 1840] A CABINET ON THE EASTERN QUESTION. 321 any moment find ourselves at war, and it is high time to consider the very serious state of affairs. serious state of affairs. I should like,' he added, turning to Melbourne, to know what is your opinion upon the subject.' Nothing, however, could be got from Melbourne, and there was another long pause, which was not broken till somebody asked Palmerston, What are your last accounts?' On this Palmerston pulled out of his pocket a whole parcel of letters and reports from Ponsonby, Hodges, and others, and began reading them through, in the middle of which operation someone happened to look up, and perceived Melbourne fast asleep in his armchair. At length Palmerston got through his papers, when there was another pause; and at last Lord John, finding that Melbourne would not take the lead or say a word, went at once into the whole subject. He stated both sides of the case with great precision, and in an admirable, though very artful speech, a statement which, if elaborated into a Parliamentary speech and completed as it would be in the House of Commons, was calculated to produce the greatest effect. He delivered this, speaking for about a quarter of an hour, and then threw himself back in his chair, waiting for what anybody else would say. After some little talk, Palmerston delivered his sentiments the other way, made a violent philippic against France, talked of her weakness and want of preparation, of the union of all the Powers of Europe against her, said that Prussia had 200,000 men on the Rhine, and (as Lord Holland said) exhibited all the violence of '93. Lord John was then asked, since such were his opinions, what course he would advise? He said he had formed his opinion as to what it would be advisable to do, and he produced a slip of paper on which he had written two or three things. The first was, that we should immediately make a communication to the French Government, expressing our thanks for the efforts France had made to induce the Pasha to make concessions for the purpose of bringing about a settlement; and next, to call together the Ministers of the other Powers, and express to them our opinion that it would be desirable to re-open negotiations for a settlement of the dispute in consequence of VOL. I. Y |