lution and a foreign
invasion is not necessarily the exponent of the real wishes of a
people, and Lord Cowley reports Mr Layard "hot from Italy to confirm
him in the opinion he has always held, that the annexation of Tuscany
to Sardinia is not practicable." This, however, Lord Palmerston urges,
and if it be agreed to by the Emperor and attempted by Sardinia,
Lord John would probably wish England to fight for it as the cause of
justice.

Has Lord John ever contemplated the probability of Austria not being
abandoned a second time by Germany, when attacked by France? The
Emperor is sure to have calculated upon this, and has not played his
game badly, if he can get the Alliance of England to sanction and
foster his attack upon the Rhine, which would inevitably follow.
The Queen believes this to be a cherished object of France, and the
success certain if we become her dupes. The Queen can hardly for a
moment bring herself to think of the consequences.

She would wish this letter also to be shown to the Cabinet.

[Pageheading: MEETING OF THE CABINET]

_Earl Granville to the Prince Albert._

LONDON, _8th December 1859_.

SIR,--Lord John stated in what appeared to me a very fair way what
had taken place between himself and Lord Palmerston in their
communications with Her Majesty, and read Her Majesty's letters. At
the end of his statement the Chancellor asked what was the question to
be decided by the Cabinet. Lord John answered that he wished to know
whether he was to inform Her Majesty that the Cabinet were of opinion
that they were still respectfully of opinion that Sir James Hudson was
the fittest person to be named Second Plenipotentiary, or whether he
should acquiesce in Her Majesty's commands, reserving his own opinion
as to the fitness of Sir James. The Chancellor answered: "Undoubtedly
the second course will be the best." I then stated my reasons, or
rather repeated them, for objecting to Sir James Hudson. Mr Gladstone
made a hesitating remark. Sir G. Lewis and the Duke of Argyll, Sir
Charles Wood, and Sir George Grey--the latter very strongly--supported
the second course proposed by Lord John. Lord Palmerston spoke with
some temper and dogmatically as to who were right and who were wrong,
but advised Lord John to take the second course. The appointment of
Lord Wodehouse[79] was proposed. Some of us do not think it a very
good one, but there are no sufficient grounds for our opposing it.
I am not sure t