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balling to the French Ambassador in London. Reference
Te Balls to the conversation in an official despatch from
aris, The despatch came in due course before the Queen
“0d the Prime Minister. It was conceived that Lord Pal-Meraton’y
 expression of opinion on the President’s action,
before consultation with his colleagues, was a violation of
Prudence and decorum which showed him to be unfit for his
Post. Tord John Russell in a summary manner dismissed
him from office; and in the debate which afterwards took
Place upon the matter in the House of Commons, was
Benerally held at the time to have amply justified the
lismiggs], Hasty observers made up their minds that Lord
Palmerston’s career was ab an end.
Lord Palmerston himself took a very different view. He
®ckoned confidently that the nation would not forget his
Power in foreign affairs. He knew that ib did him more
€00d than harm to figure as the victim of the Grermanism of
the Court, He saw that the press of the country was
almost boisterously on his side. Finally, he perceived like
®veryhody else that the Ministry could not get through the
Yossion, and would probably not stand long after the meeting
of Parlinment.! His opportunity came within a few days.
He hag hig tit-for-tat with John Russell—so he wrote—and
med him out by carrying an amendment in the Militia Bill,
Which the Minister took as a vote of want of confidence.
Lord John Russell immediately resigned (February 23), and
the first administration of the Earl of Derby took the place
of the lagt administration of pure Whigs.
In Cobden’s eyes the policy of the Militia Bill, and the
BCcession to power of the Protectionists, were equally
Startling and equally ill-omened. One event certainly showed
% revival of the military spirit, and the other for some time
was seriously believed to threaten a reaction against Free
| Soe Mr. Ashley's Life of Lord Palmerston, ii, 218.

1852,

Ar, 48,