ight of these observations, and
he ended the conversation by saying, that if this question of Savoy
should go further, he had pledged himself to consult the Great
Powers, and that he need hardly add that if their opinion should be
unfavourable to his wishes, it would have great weight with him.
"It is not likely," said His Majesty, "that I should act against the
advice of Europe."

I end, my Lord, as I commenced, in regretting this occurrence. I
could have wished that the Emperor had not spoken to me a second time
yesterday, and that I had had a little time for reflection. I feel
that I spoke to His Majesty under considerable emotion, caused by the
tone and manner which he had adopted; but I am certain that not a word
escaped me which was not respectful to himself. To have passed the
matter over, would, in my judgment, have been a fault, but on the
whole I should have preferred conveying impressions to His Majesty
through M. Thouvenel. I earnestly trust, however, that Her Majesty's
Government will view my conduct in a favourable light.

It is but justice to my Russian colleague to state that nothing could
have been in better taste than his remarks in answer to the Emperor's
observations to him. I have told General Kisseleff this morning that
having had an opportunity to do so, I had expressed to the Emperor
the opinion that it would have been better had His Majesty avoided
irritating topics concerning England in the presence of another
foreign representative. It is not my intention to open my lips on the
subject to any one else.

COWLEY.

[Footnote 12: The annexation of Savoy had been debated in the
House of Commons, and Mr Bright had expressed his readiness
that Savoy should rather perish than that England should
interfere in a matter in which she had no concern. He was
sharply censured by Lord John Manners.]

[Footnote 13: Perim had been permanently taken possession of
by Great Britain, in 1857.]

[Footnote 14: See _ante_, p. 310, note 2.]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

CHESHAM PLACE, _9th March 1860_.

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to submit a despatch which he received in a private letter
from Lord Cowley.

The strange scene related in it will remind your Majesty of some
scenes already famous in the history of Napoleon I. and Napoleon III.

Lord John Russell requests your Majesty's permission to write a se