| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | The Queen is glad that Lord Palmerston is ready to agree to a Conference of the Great Powers who were parties to the Conferences respecting Belgium, but is afraid this readiness is expressed while drafts to Paris, Berlin and Frankfurt are already gone, declining the admission of any other Power to the Conferences. Lord John Russell's memorandum shows moderation and the same desire for an equitable arrangement which would be the character of England's foreign policy if he was directing it: but the Queen has previously seen these sentiments expressed, but no change of course by Palmerston. Palmerston still upholds the line that Lombardy belongs to Sardinia; but this basis must be abandoned before any good can be done, and it was Lord Normanby [British Ambassador to France] who put it into England's agreement with France. If Lord Ponsonby's appointment [as British Ambassador to Vienna] would give umbrage to France and Italy as being too Austrian, Lord Normanby's appointment would more justly appear too French and Italian. If a fair mediator is to be sent to the Conference, a third impartial person ought to be selected.
With regard to Greece, Queen Victoria fears that the draft had already gone when she sent it to Lord John, and a copy of it will now be in the hands of France; but she will immediately write to Lord Palmerston about it.
The dreadful news from Vienna is the worst yet.
The state of Belgium is more and more flourishing and satisfactory; the Queen received delightful accounts of the country from the Queen of the Belgians, who is currently visiting her parents at Claremont and spent a few days with the Queen.
The Prince and Princess of Parma are expected at Windsor Castle today, and will stay for two nights. They can have no Foreign Minister with them as Count Revel can no longer present them, since his master has seized the Duke of Parma's territory. |