| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | The Queen has received Lord John's letter recommending Sir James Hudson as the second representative at the Congress of Paris, but declines to sanction it. In his last letter, Lord John stated his conviction that England could not remain neutral in an Italian war, and ought to support France and Sardinia by arms if Austria attempted to recover its supremacy by force. Lord Cowley wrote on the 29th that Prince Metternich had declared that Austria kept her army ready as it could not allow the military occupation of the Duchies by Sardinia, or their annexation to it. Lord Palmerston sent the Queen a copy of a letter he wrote to the Count de Persigny, strongly urging Emperor Napoleon to consent to this annexation, even assuring him that such a state would always be obliged to lean on France. The Queen feels more strongly than ever the great responsibility of preserving peace for her people. She asks for this letter to be communicated to Lord Palmerston and the Cabinet, and approves Lord Cowley being her first representative at the Congress. |