e in order to be received by
the Queen of Spain. It would not be consulting the permanent interests
of this country to entrust that mission again to Sir H. Bulwer, after
all that has passed. When the Queen considers the position we had in
Spain, and what it ought to have been after the constitution of
the French Republic when we had no rival to fight and ought to have
enjoyed the entire confidence and friendship of Spain, and compares
this to the state into which our relations with that country have been
brought, she cannot help being struck how much matters must have been
mismanaged.

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _16th June 1848._

The Queen sends the enclosed draft,[27] and asks whether this note is
what Lord John directed Lord Palmerston to send to Lisbon as a caution
to Sir H. Seymour not to mix himself up with party intrigues to upset
a particular Ministry?[28] ...

[Footnote 27: The draft ran:--"As it is evident that the Queen
and the Government of Portugal will listen to no advice except
such that agrees with their own wishes, I have to instruct you
to abstain in future from giving any longer any advice to them
on political matters, taking care to explain both to the
Queen and the Government your reasons for doing so. You will,
however, at the same time positively declare to the Portuguese
Government that if by the course of policy they are pursuing
they should run into any difficulty, they must clearly
understand that they will not have to expect any assistance
from England."]

[Footnote 28: Lord John Russell replied that he would write
immediately to Lord Palmerston respecting Portuguese affairs.
He added that he did not approve of the proposed draft.]

_Viscount Palmerston to Lord John Russell._

CARLTON GARDENS, _17th June 1848._

MY DEAR JOHN RUSSELL,--The draft to Seymour was written in consequence
of what you said to me, and what the Queen wrote to you; but my own
opinion certainly is that it would be best to leave the things with
him as they are. It must, however, be remembered that the Portuguese
Government have not in reality fulfilled the engagements taken by the
Queen in the Protocol of last year....

PALMERSTON.

[Pageheading: PALMERSTON'S FOREIGN POLICY]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _17th June 1848._

The Queen returns Lord Palmerston's letter. Th