| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | The contents of the enclosures of Lord John's letter deeply grieved the Queen, as the honour of her Government has always been nearest to her heart. She feels deeply the humiliation of having to make an apology to the Government of Naples, which stands so very low in public estimation, and dreads the effect the disclosure about the gems [?] will have in the world, considering how many accusations against Britain's good faith have been made lately by many different Governments, who will now all feel their suspicions and accusations to be justified and proved. Presumably Lord John's proposal to move Lord Palmerston to Ireland results from his [Lord John's] conviction that it will no longer be to the public advantage to leave the direction of foreign affairs in such critical times in Lord Palmerston's hands. Queen Victoria must see Lord John on the matter: her sole wish is that the matter may be managed so as to reflect the least possible discredit on the Government and on Palmerston himself. |