hat Gladstone would not go any lengths in supporting
Lords Palmerston and John Russell on the Italian Question, although
he is more cautious than they are. The feeling of the rest of the
Cabinet, as far as I can judge, is perfectly sound about war, and on
our taking an English and not a purely Sardinian attitude; but they
are all inclined to sympathise with the national feeling in Italy, and
averse to the restoration of the Dukes by force or by intrigue.

Lord John was sore and nervous, but talked of his letter to the Queen,
and Lord Palmerston's to Persigny, as "unlucky." Lord Palmerston seems
convinced that he is perfectly in the right, and everybody else in the
wrong, and would, I am sure, take advantage of any step, taken without
sufficient consideration by the Queen, to make a stand for his own
policy....

I have the honour to be, Sir, with great respect, your Royal
Highness's obedient and faithful Servant,

GRANVILLE.

[Footnote 79: Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,
and afterwards, as Earl of Kimberley, a member of successive
Liberal Cabinets.]

[Pageheading: DIVORCE CASES]

_Queen Victoria to the Lord Chancellor_ (_Lord Campbell_).

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th December 1859_.

The Queen wishes to ask the Lord Chancellor whether no steps can be
taken to prevent the present publicity of the proceedings before the
new Divorce Court. These cases, which must necessarily increase when
the new law becomes more and more known, fill now almost daily a large
portion of the newspapers, and are of so scandalous a character that
it makes it almost impossible for a paper to be trusted in the hands
of a young lady or boy. None of the worst French novels from which
careful parents would try to protect their children can be as bad
as what is daily brought and laid upon the breakfast-table of every
educated family in England, and its effect must be most pernicious to
the public morals of the country.[80]

[Footnote 80: Lord Campbell replied that having attempted in
the last session to introduce a measure to give effect to the
Queen's wish, and having been defeated, he was helpless to
prevent the evil.]

_Queen Victoria to the Emperor of the French._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _le 31 Decembre 1859_.

SIRE ET MON CHER FRERE,--Je viens comme de coutume offrir a votre
Majeste nos felicitations bien sinceres a l'occasion de la
nouvelle annee. Puisse-t-elle ne vous apporter que du bo