| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | The Queen has received Lord John's letter reporting that he would propose to the Cabinet today to advise that England accede to the Congress proposed by France. When she saw him last, both he and Lord Palmerston were against going to Congress: this change of opinion shows how finely balanced the arguments are on both sides, and she hopes they will be well considered and discussed. She feels that much must depend on what the other powers intend to do, and outlines the possible effects of England staying aloof. This is why the Queen was anxious from the beginning that England should make as few declarations as possible until the peace was signed at Zurich, and abstain from prejudging the issue. The chief danger in England's going into conference lies in the probability of the country being intended to do that by France, which itself dreads to advocate this, and to make England the persecutors of Austria. The confederation scheme will prove so impracticable, and Sardinia could put an end to it at once by refusing to join it, that it would be unwise for England to make the destruction of the scheme a special object, thus making itself responsible for the scheme's failure. England clearly cannot sanction or assist in a forcible reinstitution of the deposed Dukes; but if all the other powers should recognise that they have a right, in principle, to be reinstated, England alone denying them this right would put the country in an awkward position. It seems probable that the Dukes of Tuscany and Parma may be abandoned, although their government was mild and not complained about before the war; while great efforts will be made to replace the Pope in the Romagna, which was the chief grievance, and the upholding of which was the main accusation against Austria. England cannot be party to this. It will be very necessary to consider what England has declared in order to maintain complete consistency in its conduct. |