It is with feelings more painful than he can express, that Earl Grey has transcribed from your Majesty's letter these passages, which so strongly indicate a great diminution of your Majesty's confidence in your Majesty's present Ministers, and which convey so severe a censure of the course which they are pursuing.

Earl Grey is not conscious of having at any time, either personally or by letter, said anything which could afford just ground for suspecting either his colleagues or himself of any indifference to the views of France, or to the important duty of guarding against any hostile designs which she might cherish.

That it has been his opinion, and that of your Majesty's other servants, that a friendly understanding between Great Britain and France is at this time of essential importance to the peace of Europe, is most true; and Earl Grey did not understand, nor does he now conceive, that these views have not met with your Majesty's concurrence. But he trusts that they have not been so exclusively entertained by your Majesty's servants, whatever may be their belief in the pacific disposition of the present Government of France, as to make them abate the vigilance which the situation of that country must always demand. It has, on the contrary, always been their object, in cultivating friendly relations with France, so to regulate their conduct, as to secure to your Majesty's Government the full power of acting with effect in any circumstances that might occur, and of defending the position which they had taken, against any dangers by which it might be threatened. For this purpose it has been their undeviating policy to preserve the Union which has so

happily subsisted between this country and the other great Powers of the Continent, without forgetting what was due to the character and influence of England in those proceedings in which they have been mutually engaged.

With respect to Poland, it is undoubtedly true that Earl Grey has expressed to your Majesty, and your Majesty's Ministers have felt that Russia, by her late measures in effecting the total destruction of the national existence of that kingdom, has violated, both in their letter and their spirit, the stipulations of the Treaty of Vienna. Foreseeing and apprehending such a result, your Majesty's Secretary of State had, during the continuance of the Polish war, conveyed to the Court of St. Petersburg your Majesty's just expectations that the treaty of Vienna would be adhered to. To these representations no satisfactory answer was given at the time, and they have since been entirely disregarded. But though His Majesty's Ministers have felt that this might have afforded just ground for complaint and remonstrance, as was stated in the conversations referred to by your Majesty, by Earl Grey, he is not aware of having indicated any disposition to advise a more earnest or more direct interference in the affairs of Poland than had hitherto been proposed to your Majesty.' He did, indeed, state that what was now passing in that country was likely to excite a strong feeling both here and in France; but he must have been greatly misunderstood by your Majesty, if he was supposed to have expressed any opinion leading to a direct interference in connection with France, which, on the contrary, if his recollection does not fail him, he

stated to your Majesty, if it had not been unadvisable from other considerations, was rendered impossible by the union of Austria and Prussia with the Court of St. Petersburg in the measures taken by that Govern

ment.

In the same manner, with respect to the alleged design of the Government of France to possess itself of Minorca, Earl Grey must have expressed himself in a manner most contrary to his real feelings and opinions, if your Majesty understood him to treat such designs with indifference. He did, indeed, express his disbelief of the story that such designs had been openly stated by one of the French Ministers. It is not likely that any man of common sense, entertaining such a design, would promulgate it in a way that would insure its defeat. But Earl Grey stated, at the same time, that if such an attempt were made, it must immediately be resisted by the most determined exertion of all the power of Great Britain.

A policy of a liberal character, and suited to the circumstances of the times, is undoubtedly that which, in the present state of this country and of Europe, it would be Earl Grey's wish to recommend to your Majesty. But in the pursuit of such a policy he trusts that your Majesty's Ministers cannot be suspected of neglecting those essential securities, by which the independence of nations, in their relations with each other, must be maintained; and it is painful to him to find himself under the necessity of disclaiming any disposition to encourage principles and projects destructive of all established authority,' and incompatible with the peace of the world.

6

Having already stated that your Majesty's Ministers are not so far blinded by their confidence in the pacific and honourable intentions of the present Minister of France, as not to be on their guard against any change of councils in that country, it cannot be necessary for Earl Grey to say more than that, in the intercourse between your Majesty's Government and other Powers, the chief security, next to that of resting firmly on his own resources, to which any Minister will look, is that which is to be found in the interests of the Powers with which he has to treat.

The interests of the present French Government Earl Grey believes to be decidedly on the side of peace. On these, therefore, he places great reliance; but he does not lose sight of the desire, which may be supposed to exist at all times in that country, to diminish the influence and power of this. The existence of such motives cannot be disregarded, and must be provided against. Nor is France the only Power against whose ambitious designs precautions ought to be taken. The advance of the power of Russia, though the interests which it threatens may be more remote, is, with a view to the security of your Majesty's Indian empire, not less an object of vigilance and attention.

Earl Grey had not seen, nor, having been engaged till a late hour after he received your Majesty's letter in the House of Lords, has he yet been able to refer to the letters from your Majesty to Lord Palmerston, to which your Majesty calls his attention; nor has he had an opportunity of consulting with his colleagues on the subject of your Majesty's letters.

But, for the relief of his own mind, Earl Grey found

it impossible to delay expressing for himself the impression which your Majesty's communication has made upon him, and offering such explanation as appeared to him to be necessary, to set himself right, if possible, in your Majesty's opinion. And here he would abstain from trespassing farther on your Majesty's time at present, had it not been for the concluding passage in your Majesty's letter, which is so painful that he cannot help adverting to it.

Your Majesty is pleased to order that no instruction should be sent to your Majesty's Ministers abroad, which has not obtained your Majesty's previous concurrence. Earl Grey might have hoped that such an injunction could not have appeared to your Majesty to be required. Your Majesty's Ministers, he trusted, would have had credit with your Majesty for too just a sense of their duty, to allow of any communication with your Ministers abroad, which might commit your Majesty to a line of policy which had not previously received your Majesty's sanction. He trusted, at the same time, that the concurrence in views and sentiments between your Majesty and your servants might have allowed them in any case of urgency, without waiting for a previous communication with your Majesty, to convey to your Majesty's Ministers abroad such directions as they might justly presume to be in accordance with your Majesty's opinions.

Earl Grey is, therefore, most painfully compelled to consider this restriction as showing that your Majesty no longer reposes in your Majesty's Ministers the confidence by which alone they can be enabled to act, either usefully for your Majesty's service, or honourably