has been shed since you wrote....

What you say about arbitrary and military Government in France is very
true, and I daresay will do for a time; but I do not know _how_ Louis
Napoleon is to proceed, or how he will get over the anger and enmity
of those he imprisoned. Still, I see that the Legitimists have all
given in their adhesion. Every one in France and elsewhere _must wish_
order, and many therefore rally round the President.

A most extraordinary report was mentioned to me yesterday, which,
however, I never could believe, and which is besides _physically
impossible_, from the illness of the one and the absence of the other,
viz. that Joinville and Aumale had gone or were going to Lille to put
themselves at the head of the troops,[32] which would be a terrible
and a very unwise thing. It would be very awkward for _you_ too.

I must now conclude, hoping soon to hear from you. You should urge the
poor Orleans family to be very prudent in what they say about passing
events, as I believe Louis Napoleon is very _sore_ on the subject, and
matters might get still worse. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 32: Mr Borthwick, of the _Morning Post_, had so
stated to Lord Palmerston on the authority of General de
Rumigny; seven years later Palmerston wrote the Memorandum on
the subject printed in his _Life_.]

[Pageheading: PALMERSTON AND NORMANBY]

[Pageheading: LORD PALMERSTON'S INSTRUCTIONS]

[Pageheading: LORD PALMERSTON'S APPROVAL]

_The Marchioness of Normanby to Colonel Phipps._[33]

PARIS, _9th December 1851._

MY DEAREST CHARLES,--I had written a long letter to the Queen, and
upon second thoughts I have burnt it, because events have now become
so serious between Normanby and Palmerston that I do not think that I
should be the person to inform Her Majesty of it, in case anything was
to be said upon the subject in Parliament. And yet as the affront has
been given in Palmerston's private letters, I feel sure she does not
know it. You have all probably seen Normanby's public despatches, in
which, though as an Englishman he deprecates and deplores the means
employed and the pledges broken--in short, the unconstitutional
illegality of the whole _coup d'etat_--yet he always says, seeing now
no other refuge from Rouge ascendency, he hopes it may succeed. One
would have supposed, from the whole tenor of his policy, from his
Radical tendencies, and all that he has been doing l