ppe--M. Guizot's Statement of the Policy of France--
Growing Alarm of Ministers--Alarm of Prince Metternich--Lord
John Russell disposed to resist Palmerston--History of the
Eastern Negotiation--A Blunder of M. Guizot--Important
Conversation with Guizot--Conflict between Lord John Russell
and Lord Palmerston--Energetic Resolution of Lord John--Lord
Palmerston holds out--Conciliatory Proposals of France--
Interview of Lord Palmerston and Lord John.

March 13th, 1840 {p.277}

[Page Head: JEROME BONAPARTE.]

I met Jerome Bonaparte yesterday at dinner at Lady Blessington's,
Count de Montfort, as he is called. He is a polite, urbane
gentleman, not giving himself any airs, and said nothing royal
except that he was going to Stuttgard, 'pour passer quelques
jours avec mon beau-frere le Roi de Wuertemberg.' But these
brothers of Napoleon were nothing remarkable in their palmy days,
and one's sympathies are not much excited for them now. They rose
and fell with him, and, besides their brief enjoyment of a
wonderful prosperity, they have retired upon far better
conditions than they were born to. They are free and rich, and
are treated with no inconsiderable respect.

March 14th, 1840 {p.277}

Went to the House of Lords, and saw the Chancellor, who told me
he had forwarded the paper I sent him to Dr. Lushington, who
concurred in my suggestions, and he had ordered the Privy Council
Bill to be altered accordingly. Fell in with the Duke of
Wellington, who took my arm, told his cabriolet to follow, and
walked the whole way back to Apsley House, quite firm and strong.
He looks very old and worn, and speaks very slowly, but quite
distinctly; talked about the China question and other things, and
seemed clear enough. He was pleased with his reception at Court,
and told me particularly how civil Prince Albert had been to him,
and indeed to everybody else; said he never saw better manners,
or anybody more generally attentive. The Duchess of Kent talked
to him, and in a strain of satisfaction, so that there is
something like sunshine in the Palace just now.

March 18th, 1840 {p.278}

The first symptom of a failure in the Duke of Wellington's memory
came under my notice the day before yesterday. I had been
employed by Gurwood to negotiate with Dr. Lushington about some
papers written by the Duke when in Spain, which had fallen into
the Doctor's hands, and I spoke twice to the Duke on the subject,
the last time on