nd, and produce much discord in the
Church, which it would be advisable to avoid.[5]

With respect to the Garter, which the Duke of Norfolk has declined,
she approves of its being offered to the Duke of Portland.[6] She
thinks that the one now vacant by the death of poor Lord Ellesmere[7]
might most properly be bestowed on Lord Granville--he is Lord
President and Leader of the House of Lords, and acquitted himself
admirably in his difficult mission as Ambassador to the Emperor of
Russia's Coronation.

Should Lord Palmerston agree in this view he might at once mention it
to Lord Granville.

[Footnote 5: The Deanery was offered to and accepted by Mr
Alford.]

[Footnote 6: William John Cavendish Bentinck-Scott, fifth Duke
(1800-1879). He did not accept the honour, which was conferred
on the Marquis of Westminster.]

[Footnote 7: Lord Francis Egerton had inherited a vast
property from the third and last Duke of Bridgewater (the
projector of English inland navigation), and was created
Earl of Ellesmere in 1846. The Garter was accepted by Lord
Granville.]

[Pageheading: DEBATE ON CHINESE AFFAIRS]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

PICCADILLY, _28th February 1857_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
has seen Mr Hayter[8] this morning, and finds from him that the
disposition of the House of Commons is improving, and that many of the
supporters of the Government who had at first thought of voting
with Mr Cobden[9] are changing their minds. It has been suggested to
Viscount Palmerston that it would be useful to have a meeting of the
Party in Downing Street on Monday, and that many wavering members only
want to have something said to them which they could quote as a reason
for changing their intended course; and Viscount Palmerston has given
directions for summoning such a meeting.

Lord Derby has had meetings of his followers, and has told them that
unless they will support him in a body he will cease to be their
leader, as he will not be the head of a divided Party. Viscount
Palmerston can scarcely bring himself to believe that the House of
Commons will be so fickle as suddenly and without reason to turn round
upon the Government, and after having given them last Session and
this Session large majorities on important questions, put them in a
minority on what Mr Disraeli last night in a few words said on the
motion for adjournme