e belief in
such an abnegation on the part of England, there is no ground
whatever. As I understand Lord Clarendon's ideas, they are fairly
represented by his very important diplomatic communications since
he has taken office. They proceed upon such grounds as these: That
England should keep entire in her own hands the means of
estimating her own obligations upon the various states of facts as
they arise; that she should not foreclose and narrow her own
liberty of choice by declarations made to other Powers, in their
real or supposed interests, of which they would claim to be at
least joint interpreters; that it is dangerous for her to assume
alone an advanced, and therefore an isolated position, in regard
to European controversies; that, come what may, it is better for
her to promise too little than too much; that she should not
encourage the weak by giving expectations of aid to resist the
strong, but should rather seek to deter the strong by firm but
moderate language, from aggressions on the weak; that she should
seek to develop and mature the action of a common, or public, or
European opinion, as the best standing bulwark against wrong, but
should beware of seeming to lay down the law of that opinion by
her own authority, and thus running the risk of setting against
her, and against right and justice, that general sentiment which
ought to be, and generally would be, arrayed in their favour. I am
persuaded that at this juncture opinions of this colour being true
and sound, are also the only opinions which the country is
disposed to approve. But I do not believe that on that account it
is one whit less disposed than it has been at any time, to cast in
its lot upon any fitting occasion with the cause it believes to be
right.... I therefore hope and feel assured her Majesty will
believe that Lord Clarendon really requires no intimation from me
to ensure his steadily maintaining the tone which becomes the
foreign minister of the Queen.

(M101) Heavy banks of cloud hung with occasional breaks of brighter sky
over Europe; and all the plot, intrigue, conspiracy, and subterranean
scheming, that had been incessant ever since the Crimean war disturbed the
old European system, and Cavour first began the recasting of the map, was
but the repulsive and dangerous symptom of a dire conflict in the depths
o