had been Prime Minister of Sardinia from 1849 till
1852, when Cavour, who had been in his ministry, succeeded
him.]

[Pageheading: ENGLAND INVOLVED]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

BALMORAL, _6th September 1859_.

The Queen returns Lord Palmerston's letter, together with the other
papers sent to her, to Lord John. She is glad to find that he thinks
that no answer ought to be given to Count Persigny, but she thinks
it important that it should be _stated to him that no answer can
be given_. Unfortunately, here has been again the Prime Minister
declaring that he _quite agrees_ with the French Ambassador, but that
the proposal should come officially from France to be placed before
the Cabinet. The inference must be that the Cabinet and the Queen
will, as a matter of course, agree also, when it is so submitted. Now
what is it that Lord Palmerston has approved? A plan for an alliance
of England with France for the purpose of _overruling_ Austria, if the
Duchies in which she is the heir, and to which the Archdukes were to
return in accordance with the stipulations of Villafranca, were given
to Sardinia and Austria should object. It is hoped indeed that this
will not immediately lead to war with her, but France is to expect
that she will not be left to fight single-handed for an object
declared to be more English than French! Thus we are dragged step by
step into the position of a party in the Italian strife. The Queen
thinks it incumbent upon her not to leave Lord John Russell in
ignorance of the fact that _she_ could not approve such a policy
reversing our whole position since the commencement of the War.

The Queen must leave it to Lord John to consider how far it would be
fair to his colleagues in the Cabinet to leave them unacquainted with
the various private steps lately taken, which must seriously affect
their free consideration of the important question upon which they
have hitherto pledged themselves to a distinct principle.

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

BALMORAL, _6th September 1859_.

The Queen returns to Lord Palmerston his correspondence with M. de
Persigny. Lord John Russell will have sent him her letter to him on
this subject. She has nothing to add, but to repeat her conviction
of the great danger and inconvenience arising out of such private
communications, and the apprehension she must naturally feel that
the attempt to convince the Emperor Napoleon that it