| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | The Queen draws Lord John's attention to the enclosed [not on file] letter and memorandum from Mr Abercromby [British Minister at Turin], which show that the King of Sardinia was willing to accept the Adige as the boundary between his kingdom and Austria, and to conclude a peace on these terms if negotiated by England; and that it was only after notice came from Count Revel from London that the King continued the war. This was due undoubtedly to Lord Palmerston's communications with Count Revel. Knowing the readiness of the King of Sardinia to be content with the Adige, and the impossibility of Austria relinquishing it, Queen Victoria considers it doubly wrong that the draft to Lord Normanby [British Ambassador to France] should leave it to be understood that Austria would be content with M. Bastide's terms, and Sardinia very likely not to agree to it. The Queen fears that Lord Palmerston has a scheme to establish a Kingdom of Upper Italy, and that it is for that scheme that all consideration of ancient alliances with Austria, of the peace of Europe, and of regard for treaties, etc., are to be sacrificed. Queen Victoria agrees with Lord Ponsonby [British Ambassador at Vienna] that the new Kingdom would form no barrier against France, but it would greatly weaken Germany and enable France to have it changed at any moment into one or two republics under the rule of Genoa and Venice, the newly acquired countries having no hereditary attachment to Charles Albert [King of Sardinia], but traditional republican feeling. Lord John Russell must consider the effects on England and on the peace of Europe. |