important.

September 27th, 1840 {p.317}

[Page Head: CONCILIATORY PROPOSALS.]

Went to Guizot, who began by telling me he had been with
Palmerston yesterday, who had acknowledged _tres loyalement_ that
there was not and could not be any truth in the report (about
Walewski), said his manner to him (as it had always been) was
excellent. Guizot then complained of the facility with which he
gave ear to reports like these and to all that was said against
France; but he left him well enough satisfied with his reception.
He then asked in what state the question was, and I told him that
it was in such a state that I had no hesitation in saying war was
impossible, and that if the 'transaction' was such as we could in
honour accept, we should accept it; that the best thing to be
hoped was, that Palmerston would make up his mind to a
'_transaction_' in the Cabinet, and would himself take the
initiative; but that at all events there were others who were
resolved not to pursue any longer this course of policy, and that
if he was inexorable it must end in his resignation.

Before I went to Guizot I saw Clarendon, who had had a good deal
of talk with Lord John, who spoke to him just in the strain which
the Duke of Bedford had already described to me. Melbourne is to
be in town to-day, and what Lord John expected and hoped was,
that he would be able to persuade Palmerston to give way, and
himself propose to acquiesce in Mehemet Ali's proposals. In that
case, Lord John said, he should not say a word. If Palmerston
would not do so, then it would be for him to take his own course,
and he and Clarendon have both agreed to resign if they should be
overruled; and the latter said he thought he could answer for
Lord Holland doing the same. While returning home I was overtaken
by Palmerston, who was on his way to Lord John's house; and they
are now closeted together, so that at least they will have it all
out before the Cabinet to-morrow. Guizot gave me a copy of
Cochelet's despatch, with an account of what had passed between
Mehemet Ali, himself, Walewski, and the four Consuls-General,
which ended in the transmission of his new proposal to the Porte.

September 28th, 1840 {p.318}

Lord John and Palmerston had a long conversation, amicable enough
in tone, but unsatisfactory in result. However, Lord John did not
appear to be shaken in his determination, but rather inclined to
an opinion that Palmerston would himself be disposed to