The Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply observed that there was a distinction between the position of the present Ministry and that of Lord John Russell in 1841, as in that and in the other precedents quoted in 1841 by Sir Robert Peel, the Ministry had been condemned by a vote of the House of Commons.
He said it was not const.i.tutional and most impolitic for any Ministers to pledge themselves to recommend their Sovereign to dissolve Parliament at any stated and specific time, as circ.u.mstances might occur which would render the fulfilment of the pledge injurious or impracticable; that it was the intention of the Ministers to recommend your Majesty to dissolve the present Parliament the moment that such measures were carried which were necessary for your Majesty"s service, and for the security _and good government_ of your Majesty"s realm; and that it was their wish and intention that the new Parliament should meet to decide upon the question of confidence in the Administration, and on the measures, which they could then bring forward in the course of the present year.
This announcement was very favourably received.
The discomfiture of the Opposition is complete, and no further mention of stopping or limiting supplies will be heard of.
All which is most humbly submitted to your Majesty by your Majesty"s most dutiful Subject and Servant,
B. DISRAELI.
[Pageheading: INTERVIEW WITH LORD DERBY]
[Pageheading: PROTECTION]
_Memorandum by the Prince Albert._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _22nd March 1852._
We came to Town from Osborne the day before yesterday, and saw Lord Derby yesterday afternoon, who is in very good spirits about the prospect of affairs. He told the Queen that he thought he might state that the Government had gained a good deal of ground during the last week, and that there was now a general disposition to let the necessary measures pa.s.s Parliament, and to have the dissolution the end of June or beginning of July. He hoped the Queen did not think he had gone too far in pledging the Crown to a Dissolution about that time; but it was impossible to avoid saying as much as that a new Parliament would meet in the autumn again, and have settled the commercial policy before Christmas.
To the Queen"s questions, whether there would not be great excitement in the country produced by the General Election, and whether Parliament ought not to meet immediately after it, he replied that he was not the least afraid of much excitement, and that there was great advantage in not meeting Parliament immediately again, as the Government would require a few months to prepare its measures, and to take a sound view of the new position of affairs. He antic.i.p.ated that there would be returned a large proportion of Conservatives, some Free Traders, some Protectionists; but not a majority for the re-imposition of a duty on corn, _certainly_ not a majority large enough to justify him in proposing such a Measure. Now he was sure he could not with honour or credit abandon that Measure unless the country had given its decision against it; but then he would have most carefully to consider how to revise the general state of taxation, so as to give that relief to the agricultural interest which it had a right to demand.
He had received the most encouraging and flattering letters from the agriculturists of different parts of the country, all reposing the most explicit confidence in him, and asking him not to sacrifice the Government for the sake of an immediate return to Protection. They felt what Lord Derby must say he felt himself, that, after the fall of this Government, there would necessarily come one of a more democratic tendency than any the country had yet had to submit to. He thought most politicians saw this, and would rally round a Conservative standard; he knew that even many of the leading Whigs were very much dissatisfied with the company they find themselves thrown into and alarmed at the progress of Democracy.
ALBERT.
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _23rd March 1852._
... Here matters have improved rather for the Government, and it seems now that they will be able to get through the Session, to dissolve Parliament at the end of June or beginning of July, and to meet again in November. And then Protection will be done away with. If only they had not done so much harm, and played with it for six long years! What you say of the advantage of having had Governments from all parties we have often felt and do feel; it renders changes much less disagreeable. In the present case our acquaintance is confined almost entirely to Lord Derby, but then _he is_ the Government. They do _nothing_ without him. He has all the Departments to look after, and on being asked by somebody if he was not much tired, he said: "I am quite well with my babies!..."
VICTORIA R.
_Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria._
HOUSE OF COMMONS, _29th March 1852._ (_Monday night._)
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his humble duty to your Majesty, informs your Majesty of what has occurred in the House of Commons to-night.
Mr Secretary Walpole introduced the Militia Bill in a statement equally perspicuous and persuasive.
Opposed by Mr Hume and Mr Gibson, the Government Measure was cordially supported by Lord Palmerston.
Lord John Russell, while he expressed an opinion favourable to increased defence, intimated a preference for regular troops.
Mr Cobden made one of his cleverest speeches, of the cosmopolitan school, and was supported with vigour by Mr Bright. A division is threatened by the ultra-Movement party, but the Chancellor of the Exchequer hopes to ward it off, and is somewhat sanguine of ultimate success in carrying the Measure.
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _30th March 1852._
MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many thanks for your dear letter of the 26th, which I received on Sat.u.r.day. Here we shall have some trouble with our Militia Bill, which all of a sudden seems to have caused dissatisfaction and alarm. Lord Derby is quite prepared to drop Protection, as he knows that the Elections will bring a Free Trade, though a Conservative majority. Mr Disraeli (_alias_ Dizzy) writes very curious reports to me of the House of Commons proceedings--much in the style of his books....
[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND ITALY]
_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _10th April 1852._
The Queen hopes that both Lord Derby and Lord Malmesbury will give their earnest attention to the change in the politics of Italy, which is evidently on the point of taking place, according to the enclosed despatch from Mr Hudson.[28] What Count Azeglio[29] says in his Memorandum with respect to Austria is perfectly just. But France, as the champion of Italian liberty and independence, would become most formidable to the rest of Europe, and Louis Napoleon, in a.s.suming for her this position, would be only following the example of his uncle, which we know to be his constant aim.[30]
[Footnote 28: British Envoy at Turin.]
[Footnote 29: Premier of Sardinia.]
[Footnote 30: Lord Derby in reply, after reviewing the whole matter, counselled non-interference, the keeping of a vigilant watch on French and Austrian actions, encouragement of Sardinia in her const.i.tutional action, and the making use of any opportunity to secure both the independence of Piedmont and the reform of the Papal Administration.]
[FRANCE AND ITALY]
_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._
WINDSOR CASTLE, _13th April 1852._
The Queen has received Lord Derby"s letter of the 11th inst., in which he states very clearly the difficulties which stand in the way of an active interference of this country in the affairs of Italy. The Queen did not mean to recommend in her letter of the 10th on this subject any active interference, as she is of opinion that our present want of due influence in Italy is chiefly owing to our former ill-judged over-activity. The Queen agrees therefore entirely with Lord Derby in thinking that "all that can be done now is carefully to watch the proceedings of France and Austria in this matter, so as to profit by every good opportunity to protect the independence of Piedmont, and, if possible, produce some improvement in the internal Government of Rome," and she would accordingly like to see her respective Foreign Ministers instructed in this sense.
The Queen continues, however, to look with apprehension to the possible turn which the affairs of Italy may take, proceeding from the political views of the President. It is not improbable that he may act now that he is omnipotent upon the views contained in his celebrated letter to Edgar Ney in 1849, which were at the time disapproved by the a.s.sembly.[31] He will feel the necessity of doing something to compensate the French for what they have lost by him at home, to turn their attention from home affairs to those abroad, and to the acquisition of power and influence in Europe; and certainly, were he to head Italian liberty and independence, his power of doing mischief would be immense. After all, such an attempt would not be more inconsistent for him than it was for General Cavaignac, as President of the _Republique Democratique_, to get rid of the Roman Republic, and to reinstate the Pope by force of arms.