r present political circumstances
dangerous to the true interests of the nation, had only to choose
between two evils, without possessing sufficient confidence in her own
judgment to decide which in its political consequences would turn out
the least. But if in such a contingency the Queen chooses rather not
to insist upon what is due to her, she thinks it indispensable at the
same time to express to her Cabinet that she does so on their account,
leaving it to them to reconcile the injuries done to her with that
sound policy and conduct which the maintenance of peace and the
welfare of the country require. These remarks seem to be especially
called for after the report of the official interview between Lord
Palmerston and the deputation from Finsbury,[24] and the Queen
requests Lord John Russell to bring them under the notice of the
Cabinet.

[Footnote 24: After Kossuth's departure, addresses of thanks
to Lord Palmerston, for his courteous attentions to Kossuth,
were voted by ultra-Radical meetings in Finsbury and
Islington, and he allowed a deputation to present the
addresses to him at the Foreign Office, the Emperors of
Austria and Russia being stigmatised therein as "odious and
detestable assassins" and "merciless tyrants and despots."
Palmerston, who expressed himself as "extremely flattered and
highly gratified" by the references to himself, did not in
terms reprehend the language used of the two Sovereigns, and
added, in a phrase immortalised by Leech's cartoon, that
"a good deal of judicious bottle-holding was obliged to be
brought into play."]

[Pageheading: PALMERSTON'S FOREIGN POLICY]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

PEMBROKE LODGE, _21st November 1851._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He had the
honour of receiving last night your Majesty's communication respecting
Lord Palmerston.

Lord John Russell presumes that it is the substance of this
communication which your Majesty wishes to be laid before the Cabinet.

But before doing so he cannot refrain from mentioning some
circumstances which appear to him to weigh materially in the
consideration of Lord Palmerston's conduct.

In many instances Lord Palmerston has yielded to the remonstrances of
Lord John Russell, supported as they have been by your Majesty.

He did so on the question of furnishing guns to the Sicilians.

He did so in respect to the let