o-morrow.

The Emperor Napoleon is left no doubt in a position of great power.
That position has been made for him by allowing him to be the only
champion of the cause of the people of Italy.

But that is no reason why we should seek a quarrel with France, and
there is some reason to doubt whether the speeches made in the House
of Lords, while they display our weakness and our alarm, are really
patriotic in their purpose and tendency.

To be well armed, and to be just to all our neighbours, appears to
Lord John Russell to be the most simple, the most safe, and the most
honest policy.

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

OSBORNE, _14th July 1859_.

The Queen acknowledges the receipt of Lord John Russell's
communications of yesterday. She entirely agrees with him "that we
have no reason to seek a quarrel with France," and that "the most
simple and most safe and most honest" line of conduct for us will be
"to be well armed, and to be just to all our neighbours."

She trusts that as the poor Duchess of Parma[61] appears to be
overlooked in the Italian Peace merely because nobody thinks it his
business to befriend her, we shall in the above spirit ask for justice
and consideration for her.

The Queen concurs with Lord John that it will now be useless to
communicate to France the advice given to the Porte.

[Footnote 61: Louise Marie de Bourbon, daughter of the Duc de
Berri, and widow of Charles III., Duke of Parma. She was at
this time Regent for her son Robert, a minor (born 1848), the
present Duke.]

[Pageheading: THE VIEWS OF THE POPE]

[Pageheading: THE POPE ON ENGLISH LIBERALISM]

[Pageheading: THE TEMPORAL POWER]

_Mr Odo Russell to Lord John Russell._
(_Submitted to the Queen._)

ROME, _17th July 1859_.

MY LORD,--Some days since a letter from the "Pontifical Antechamber,"
directed to "Signor Odoni Russell, Agente Officioso di Sua Maesta
Britannica," informed me that His Holiness the Pope desired to see me.

In consequence I proceeded to the Vatican, and was ushered into the
presence of His Holiness by Monsignore Talbot, the "Cameriere" in
waiting, who immediately withdrew, and I remained alone with the Pope.

His Holiness welcomed me with his usual benevolence and good humour.
He seemed very gay, and spoke with more than customary frankness, so
much so indeed that I have felt some hesitation as to the propriety of
submitting what passed between us to your Lords