e drawn up and sent to the French Government. This note
is, however, to be first submitted for the approbation, and, if
necessary, alteration of the Cabinet, so that care will be taken
to make it what it ought to be. It would now appear that the
French Government would be well enough satisfied if the original
terms offered to Mehemet Ali were still held out to him, and if
it is made clear that he will in no case be molested in the
hereditary possession of Egypt; but Palmerston began talking of
leaving him Egypt _for his life_, which was, however, instantly
put down by the majority. A more decided disposition appeared in
the majority of the Cabinet to adopt the conciliatory policy;
whereas they exhibited at the previous meetings rather a doubtful
manner, without, however, on any occasion saying much either way.
Palmerston displayed the same overweening confidence, and the
same desire to conceal whatever militated against his opinion.
Besides talking of the success they had already obtained (which
after all amounts to very little), he said he had seen somebody,
who had seen somebody else, who knew that Louis Philippe was
absolutely determined against war under any circumstances. It
turned out that there was a despatch from Sir Charles Smith
(between whom and Napier there is some jealousy or
misunderstanding), in which he says that the position they occupy
is of no use whatever, but is purely defensive, and if Ibrahim
does not attack the Turks, and expose himself to a defeat, they
can do nothing against him. This, however, Palmerston held cheap,
because it did not square with his wishes. On the whole the
result was satisfactory; and if anybody but Palmerston was at the
Foreign Office, everything must be settled at once; but he is so
little to be trusted that there is always danger while he is
there.

[7] [This was the celebrated Note of which Thiers gave me a
printed copy when I dined with him on the 8th October
at Auteuil. I came back to Paris, sat up all night with
a friend to translate it, and despatched it to England
next morning. My translation appeared in the 'Times' on
the same day the Note was given to Lord Palmerston--
which was another grievance. It was a very lengthy
document, recapitulating the whole conduct of France in
this affair, but ending in a very tame conclusion.
Unfortunately Lord Palmerston did not displ