Palmerston. Had he known what the Queen's
opinion was, he might have been more firm, feeling himself supported
by the Crown, but he had imagined from her letters that there was more
animosity against Russia and leaning to war in her mind.

[Footnote 29: In this despatch to Baron Meyendorff, the
Austrian Foreign Minister, the Count had disclosed the fact
that the Russian interpretation of the Vienna Note differed
from that of the other Powers.]

Yet, under all the adverse circumstances Lord Aberdeen saw still
reason for hope that a peaceable settlement could be obtained. The
French were ready to do anything we pleased, go to war, remain at
peace, etc., etc.; in fact, Louis Napoleon had experienced the great
advantage for his position of the Alliance with England.... Lord
Stratford was thoroughly frightened, and had made a proposal himself,
which accordingly he would support _con amore_. The Emperor of Russia
had failed in his attempt to form a Northern League against the
Western Powers.... The Emperor complained bitterly of the conduct
of the Powers, who had disgraced him before the world by making him
accept a Note, and sanctioning its alteration by Turkey; "now they
should do what they pleased and settle matters with Turkey first, and
bring him only what was settled and fixed, he was wearied of the whole
business, and anxious to get rid of it for ever."

What Lord Aberdeen now proposed was to follow the Emperor's advice and
agree with Turkey upon a Note, leaving out all that she had objected
to in the Vienna Note as Lord Stratford recommended, and taking as
much as possible Redschid Pasha's own words to found the proposal of
it upon the declaration made by the Emperor at Olmuetz to the Powers,
that he sought for _no new_ right, privilege, or advantage, but solely
for the confirmation of the legal _status quo_, but accompanying this
with a declaration, that if Turkey created needless difficulties and
tried to evade a peaceful settlement the Powers would withdraw their
support and leave her to fight her own battle. We went over the
Documents which are not yet settled, even between Lord Aberdeen
and Lord Clarendon, and will require the greatest caution in their
wording. It is evident that the Turks have every inducement not to
let this opportunity slip in going to war with Russia, as they will
probably never find so advantageous a one again, as the whole of
Christendom has declared them in the right, an