Victoria._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _24th October 1851._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
is sorry to say he can interfere no further with respect to Lord
Palmerston's reception of Kossuth.

With respect to the manner of the reception, however, he will write to
Lord Palmerston to desire him to take care that nothing is said which
goes beyond the strict expression of thanks for the efforts made
by the British Government to procure first the safety, and next the
liberty, of Kossuth.

As for the reception, it is to be considered that Kossuth is
considered the representative of English institutions against
despotism.

If this were so the public feeling would be laudable.

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

PEMBROKE LODGE, _31st October 1851._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; he has the
honour to submit to your Majesty a correspondence[19] which has taken
place between Lord Palmerston and himself.

After Lord Palmerston's answer, Lord John Russell can have but little
hope that Lord Palmerston will not see M. Kossuth. Lord John Russell
cannot separate the private from the public man in this instance; the
reception of Kossuth, if it takes place, will be a reception by
your Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. Whether that
reception is to take place in Downing Street or Carlton Terrace does
not appear to him material.

Lord John Russell would, as a last resource, humbly advise your
Majesty to command Lord Palmerston not to receive M. Kossuth.

It appears to him that your Majesty owes this mark of respect to
your Majesty's ally, and generally to all States at peace with this
country.

Lord John Russell has no other copy of this letter to Lord Palmerston.

[Footnote 19: Lord Palmerston wished to receive Kossuth at the
Foreign Office. In the correspondence here referred to, which
will be found in Russell's _Life_, the Premier "positively
requested" Lord Palmerston to decline to receive Kossuth. The
rejoinder, written while the messenger waited, was: "There are
limits to all things. I do not choose to be dictated to as to
who I may or may not receive in my own house.... I shall use
my own discretion.... You will, of course, use yours as to the
composition of your Government."]

[Pageheading: KOSSUTH AND PALMERSTON]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _31st October 1851._