This is true enough. I repeated that all that had been done in Italy
last winter had also done harm, as it was done by _Lord Palmerston_,
who was distrusted everywhere abroad, which Lord John regretted. I
said that I thought that he often endangered the honour of England by
taking a very prejudiced and one-sided view of a question;... that his
writings were always as bitter as gall and did great harm, which
Lord John entirely assented to, and that I often felt quite ill from
anxiety; that I wished Lord Clarendon (who, I had heard, was tired
of Ireland) could come over and be Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, and Lord Palmerston go to Ireland as Lord-Lieutenant. Lord
John said nothing would be better, for that he was sure that Lord
Palmerston would make an admirable Lord-Lieutenant, but that another
thing to be considered was the danger of making Lord Palmerston an
enemy by displacing him, that Lord Minto (who was formerly a great
friend and admirer of Lord Palmerston's) had told Lady John when she
spoke to him on the subject of placing Lord Palmerston in another
office, that _he_ (Lord Palmerston) would certainly turn against the
Government if displaced. I said that might be, but that sometimes
there were great interests at stake which exceeded the danger of
offending one man, and that this was here the case; Lord John said
it was very true, but that at moments like these one of course was
anxious not to do anything which could cause internal trouble.
I admitted this, but repeated my anxiety, which Lord John quite
understood, though he thought I a little overrated it, and said I was
afraid that some day I should have to tell Lord John that I could
not put up with Lord Palmerston any longer, which might be very
disagreeable and awkward.

It ended by Lord John's promising to bear the subject in mind, and I
must say that he took it all just as I could wish.

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: AFFAIRS IN THE PUNJAB]

[Pageheading: HOSTILITY OF THE SIKHS]

_Minute by the Governor-General of India._

_30th September 1848._

... The course of events, as they have developed themselves, and long
and anxious considerations of this important subject, have finally and
immovably confirmed in my mind the conviction which the earlier events
of the insurrection at Mooltan long since had founded, that there will
be no peace for India, nor any stability of Government in the Punjab,
nor any release from anxiety and costly