at the Radicals used his name
to destroy other statesmen and politicians, and are destroying him now
in his turn; that they hoped to govern through him, and that they
see a better chance now of doing it through a weak and incapable Tory
Government which has entered into a secret bargain for their support.
Still the phenomenon remains most curious.[49]

[Footnote 49: Charles Greville, in his Journal (16th June 1858), noted
the same circumstance, and drew the inference that Palmerston's public
career was drawing to a close.]

Lord Palmerston himself remains, outwardly at least, quite cheerful,
and seems to care very little about his reverses; he speaks on all
subjects, bids for the Liberal support as before, even at the expense
of his better conviction (as he used to do), and keeps as much as
possible before the public; he made an official tour in Ireland, and
is gone to visit the Emperor Napoleon at Paris; his Chinese policy
upon which the general Dissolution had taken place in 1857 has just
been crowned by the most complete success by the advantageous treaty
signed at Pekin by Lord Elgin; and yet even for this the public will
not allow him any credit. Lady Palmerston, on the contrary, is said to
be very unhappy and very much hurt.

ALBERT.

[Pageheading: THE IONIAN ISLANDS]

_Sir E. Bulwer Lytton to Queen Victoria._

COLONIAL OFFICE, _1st November 1858_.

Sir E. B. Lytton, with his humble duty to the Queen, submits to your
Majesty's pleasure the appointment of the Right Honourable W. E.
Gladstone, as special High Commissioner to the Ionian Islands.

Differences of long standing between the Executive and Legislative
branches of the Ionian Constitution, aggravated by recent dissensions
between the Senate and Municipal Magistrature, render it very
expedient to obtain the opinion of a statesman of eminence, formed
upon the spot, as to any improvements in the workings and results
of the Constitution which it might be in the power of the protecting
Sovereign to effect. And Sir Edward thinks it fortunate for the public
service that a person so distinguished and able as Mr Gladstone should
be induced to undertake this mission.

Sir Edward ventures to add that, should Her Majesty be graciously
pleased to approve this appointment, it is extremely desirable that
Mr Gladstone should depart at the earliest possible day, and that Sir
Edward may be enabled to make the requisite announcement to the Lord
High Commiss