n favour of the North....

"The fact is the ground of the motion, which was action on
the part of France, has failed us--and taken shape which
tells injuriously instead of being the great support....

"If a positive engagement were made by Mr. Disraeli to
support the motion it would alter the question entirely. In
the absence of this I fear the vote would be humiliating and
would convey an impression wholly delusive, for the members
are 10 to 1 in favour of the South and yet on this point the
vote might be 5 to 1 against Southern interests[1096]."

On July 6, Palmerston was back in the House and Roebuck secured an
agreement for a resumption of the debate on "Monday next[1097]."
Meantime many powerful organs of the French press had taken up the
matter and were full of sharp criticism of Napoleon's supposed policy
and actions as stated by Roebuck. The effect in England was to create a
feeling that Napoleon might have difficulty in carrying out a
pro-Southern policy[1098]. Palmerston, wishing to avoid further
discussion on Napoleon's share in providing fuel for the debate, wrote
in a very conciliatory and pleasant way to Roebuck, on July 9:

"Perhaps you will allow me thus privately to urge upon you,
and through you upon Mr. Lindsay, the expediency of dropping
altogether, whether your debate goes on or not, all further
mention or discussion of what passed between you and Mr.
Lindsay on the one hand, and the Emperor of the French on the
other. In truth the whole proceeding on this subject the
other day seems to me to have been very irregular. The
British Parliament receives messages and communications from
their own sovereign, but not from the sovereigns of other
countries...."

"No good can come of touching again upon this matter, nor
from fixing upon the Emperor a mistake which amid the
multiplicity of things he has to think of he may be excused
for making. I am very anxious that neither you nor Mr.
Lindsay should mention those matters any more, as any
discussion about them must tend to impair the good relations
between the French and English Governments. Might I ask you
to show this note to Mr. Lindsay, your fellow
traveller[1099]."

The next day, in the Commons, Sir James Ferguson appealed to Roebuck to
withdraw his motion altogether as inexpedient, because of the
uncertain