put her
to bed.

Be so good, my dearest Cousin, as to give my love to my dear little
Cousins, and believe me always, your most affectionate Cousin,

CHARLOTTE.

[Pageheading: ITALY AND FRANCE]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

OSBORNE, _24th July 1848._

The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's letter[33] reporting his
conversation with M. de Tallenay. She can only repeat her opinion that
a negotiation with France in order to agree with her upon a common
line of policy to be followed with regard to the Italian question can
lead to no good; it will make us the ally of a Government which is not
even legally constituted, and which can accordingly not guarantee the
fulfilment of any engagement it may enter into, and it will call upon
the very power to judge the Italian dispute which it is the interest
of Europe to keep out of it. M. de Tallenay seems to have admitted
that the French Republic, if called upon to act, will neither allow
Austria to keep the Venetian territory nor Sardinia to acquire it, but
that she will strive to set up a Venetian Republic. It can really not
be an object for us to assist in such a scheme, or even to treat upon
it.

Lord Cowley the Queen means to invite to dinner to-day, and she wishes
Lord Palmerston to let her know the day on which he is to leave for
Frankfort in order that she may prepare her letter for the Archduke
accordingly.

[Footnote 33: Lord Palmerston had reported an interview with
de Tallenay, who sought the co-operation of England with France
in Northern Italy; the Austrian force in Italy to be withdrawn
or reduced, the union of Lombardy and Piedmont to be accepted
as a _fait accompli_, and Venetian territory erected into a
separate republic.]

[Pageheading: NORTHERN ITALY]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

OSBORNE, _25th July 1848._

The Queen sends Lord John Russell the enclosed Despatch from Lord
Normanby, with a draft in answer to it which was sent for her
approval, but which she really cannot approve. The Queen must tell
Lord John what she has repeatedly told Lord Palmerston, but without
apparent effect, that the establishment of an _entente cordiale with
the French Republic_, for the purpose of driving the Austrians out
of _their dominions_ in Italy, would be a _disgrace_ to this country.
That the French would attach the greatest importance to it and gain
the greatest advantage by it there can be no do