| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | With regard to the Spanish Marriages, Queen Victoria has perused the draft of Lord Palmerston's [Foreign Secretary] letter to Mr. Bulwer [British Ambassador to Spain], and it has raised some apprehensions in the Queen's mind. The draft lays down a line of policy which the Queen fears may turn out to be dangerous, namely, that England undertakes to interfere in the internal affairs of Spain and to promote the development of the present Constitutional Government of Spain in a more Democratic direction, for the avowed purpose of counteracting the influence of France. England would thus become responsible for a particular direction of Spain's internal Government, without sufficient means of control. England can only keep up a particular party in Spain to support her views; and France, knowing this to be against her, must take up the opposite party. This would lead England and France into quarrels, and Spain into eternal convulsions. The natural consequence would be that Don Enrique would appear as the desirable candidate for the Queen of Spain's hand; and Palmerston deviates from the line hitherto followed by England by supporting him. This would make Don Enrique appear as 'an English Candidate'. The Queen does not think Palmerston acknowledges the obstacles, which are viewed as almost insurmountable in the Court of Madrid. She wishes Russell to give the matter his consideration. |