he 22nd of February.
Louis Philippe, when it was unfortunately too late, consented
to a change of Ministry, but the formation of a new Government
proved impossible. The Revolution could have been quelled, had
it not been for the King's reluctance to shed blood in defence
of the Throne to which he had been elected; even to the
agitators themselves the completeness of the Revolution was a
surprise.]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

DOWNING STREET, _23rd February 1848._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
will have the honour of waiting upon your Majesty at three o'clock
to-morrow.

Lord Normanby's letters from Paris give a little information.[6]

There has been some fighting in the streets, and some apprehension
for the night. But it does not appear probable that any serious danger
will be incurred, with the troops in such force in Paris.

Hereafter there may be a serious struggle between the Government of
the King, and the Republicans. But in that case such men as M. Odilon
Barrot will shrink from the contest.

[Footnote 6: A letter from Lord Normanby on the 13th of
March to Lord Palmerston (published in Ashley's _Life of
Palmerston_, vol. i. chap. iii.) gives an account of the
situation on the eve of the 22nd of February. On the 25th of
February he wrote:--

"The National Guards, mixed with the people, were in full
march upon the Tuileries, and the latter threatening the life
of the King, when Emile Girardin, the editor of the _Presse_
newspaper, who was in advance as an officer of the National
Guard, hastily drew up an Act of Abdication, and placed it
before the King as the only means of safety. The King at
first refused, saying that he would rather die; but the Duc de
Montpensier urged him, not only for his own sake, but to save
his country from confusion. The King at last signed it,
and threw it impatiently at the Duc de Montpensier, who,
I believe, has been in favour of conciliatory counsel
throughout. The Royal Family then retired through the garden,
the King saying to every one as he passed, 'J'abdique,
j'abdique.'"]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _26th February 1848._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--I am very unwell in consequence of the _awful_
events at Paris. How will this end? Poor Louise is in a state of
despair which is piti