trumental to
the settlement of the question. There was a strange article, too,
in the 'Morning Chronicle' the other day, which talked of the
probability of Ibrahim's being driven out of Northern Syria, and
his entrenching himself within the Pashalik of Acre, which would
then prevent the accomplishment of the Treaty of July. All this
looks as if Palmerston was beginning to think he was driving
matters too far, and that it was necessary to lower his tone and
modify his policy, unless he was prepared to retire from office.
At all events, Lord John was pacified for the moment by this
indication of more moderate intentions, and began to hope better
things for the future. To-morrow the Cabinet is to meet again.

While all these wranglings are going on here, and nothing is
done, but a great deal contemplated, Bourqueney presses for
_something_ on our part and keeps repeating that every minute is
precious. On the other hand, the Emperor of Russia is highly
satisfied with the state of things as it is, and he intimated to
Bloomfield that he should be extremely indisposed to consent to
any scheme for a fresh arrangement in which France should
participate, while our vague notion is, that the coalition should
fall to the ground as soon as its object is attained, and that we
should bring in France as a party to some final settlement of the
East, and dotation of the sons of Mehemet Ali. In the meantime
the Chambers met yesterday, and all depends upon their
proceedings.

November 7th, 1840 {p.347}

Lord Palmerston has written a long and able letter, setting forth
all the reasons why no special mission should be sent to
Constantinople, and why Ponsonby should not be recalled; a
skilful defence of Ponsonby showing how right he had been about
Syria; what unprecedented influence he had obtained, having got
both the Turkish fleet and army placed under the command of
Englishmen, and how he had infused such spirit into the Turkish
councils that they had made exertions of which nobody thought
they were capable, and manifested a vigour it was not imagined
they possessed. This letter must have been a very good one, for
it entirely brought over Lord John to his opinion, and even
convinced Clarendon himself; and the former had already written
to Palmerston to say that he gave up his demand for Ponsonby's
recall. There is, however, still too much reason to believe, that
Palmerston is bent upon quarrelling with France,[12] and that he
is no