ally the conduct of the Pasha and the Syrian insurrection.
Clarendon says that, 'whatever his opinions may have been, now
that they are fairly embarked in Palmerston's course, he must as
earnestly desire its success as if he had been its original
advocate.' But both he and Lord Holland have been so vehemently
committed in opposition to it, that, without any imputation of
unpatriotic feelings, it is not in human nature they should not
find a sort of satisfaction in the frustration of those measures
which they so strenuously resisted, and this clearly appears in
all Lord Holland said to me, and in Lady Holland's tone about
Palmerston and his daring disposition.

September 6th, 1840 {p.301}

On arriving in town this morning, I found a note from M. Guizot,
begging I would call on him, as he wanted to have a few minutes'
conversation with me. Accordingly I went, and am just returned.
His object was to put me in possession of the actual state of
affairs, and to read me a letter he had just received from
Thiers, together with one (either to Thiers or to him) from their
Consul-General at Alexandria.

[Page Head: THE POLICY OF FRANCE.]

Thiers' letter expressed considerable alarm. After describing the
failure of Walewski and the other French agents, and enlarging
upon the efforts they had made, and were still making, to
restrain the Pasha, and prevent his making any offensive
movement, he said that this was the Pasha's ultimatum. He
offered, if France would join him and make common cause with him,
to place his fleets and armies at her disposal, and to be
governed in all things by her advice and wishes, a thing utterly
impossible for France to listen to. Upon the impossibility of
this alliance being represented to him, the prudence of keeping
quiet strenuously urged upon him, and the utmost endeavours made
to convince him that a defensive policy was the only wise and
safe course for him, he had engaged not to move forward, or take
any offensive course unless compelled to do so, by violence
offered to him; his army was concentrated at the foot of the
Taurus, and there (but in a menacing attitude) he would consent
to its remaining; but if any European troops were to advance
against him, or be transported to Syria, any attempt made to
foment another insurrection in Syria, or any attack made upon his
fleet, or any violence offered to his commerce, then he would
cross the Taurus, and, taking all consequences, commence
offens