queen victoria-第31节
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gland。〃 He； therefore； with extreme politeness； gave it to be understood that he would not commit himself in any way。 But Lord John； in reality； needed no pressure。 Attacked by his Sovereign； ignored by his Foreign Secretary； he led a miserable life。 With the advent of the dreadful Schleswig…Holstein questionthe most complex in the whole diplomatic history of Europehis position； crushed between the upper and the nether mill…stones； grew positively unbearable。 He became anxious above all things to get Palmerston out of the Foreign Office。 But thensupposing Palmerston refused to go？
In a memorandum made by the Prince； at about this time； of an interview between himself； the Queen； and the Prime Minister； we catch a curious glimpse of the states of mind of those three high personagesthe anxiety and irritation of Lord John； the vehement acrimony of Victoria； and the reasonable animosity of Albertdrawn together； as it were； under the shadow of an unseen Presence； the cause of that celestial angerthe gay； portentous Palmerston。 At one point in the conversation Lord John observed that he believed the Foreign Secretary would consent to a change of offices； Lord Palmerston； he said； realised that he had lost the Queen's confidencethough only on public； and not on personal； grounds。 But on that； the Prince noted； 〃the Queen interrupted Lord John by remarking that she distrusted him on PERSONAL grounds also； but I remarked that Lord Palmerston had so far at least seen rightly； that he had become disagreeable to the Queen； not on account of his person； but of his political doingsto which the Queen assented。〃 Then the Prince suggested that there was a danger of the Cabinet breaking up； and of Lord Palmerston returning to office as Prime Minister。 But on that point Lord John was reassuring： he 〃thought Lord Palmerston too old to do much in the future （having passed his sixty…fifth year）。〃 Eventually it was decided that nothing could be done for the present； but that the UTMOST SECRECY must be observed； and so the conclave ended。
At last； in 1850； deliverance seemed to be at hand。 There were signs that the public were growing weary of the alarums and excursions of Palmerston's diplomacy； and when his support of Don Pacifico； a British subject； in a quarrel with the Greek Government； seemed to be upon the point of involving the country in a war not only with Greece but also with France； and possibly with Russia into the bargain； a heavy cloud of distrust and displeasure appeared to be gathering and about to burst over his head。 A motion directed against him in the House of Lords was passed by a substantial majority。 The question was next to be discussed in the House of Commons； where another adverse vote was not improbable； and would seal the doom of the Minister。 Palmerston received the attack with complete nonchalance； and then； at the last possible moment； he struck。 In a speech of over four hours； in which exposition； invective； argument； declamation； plain talk and resounding eloquence were mingled together with consummate art and extraordinary felicity； he annihilated his enemies。 The hostile motion was defeated； and Palmerston was once more the hero of the hour。 Simultaneously； Atropos herself conspired to favour him。 Sir Robert Peel was thrown from his horse and killed。 By this tragic chance； Palmerston saw the one rival great enough to cope with him removed from his path。 He judgedand judged rightlythat he was the most popular man in England； and when Lord John revived the project of his exchanging the Foreign Office for some other position in the Cabinet； he absolutely refused to stir。
Great was the disappointment of Albert； great was the indignation of Victoria。 〃The House of Commons；〃 she wrote； 〃is becoming very unmanageable and troublesome。〃 The Prince； perceiving that Palmerston was more firmly fixed in the saddle than ever； decided that something drastic must be done。 Five months before； the prescient Baron had drawn up； in case of emergency； a memorandum； which had been carefully docketed； and placed in a pigeon…hole ready to hand。 The emergency had now arisen； and the memorandum must be used。 The Queen copied out the words of Stockmar； and sent them to the Prime Minister； requesting him to show her letter to Palmerston。 〃She thinks it right；〃 she wrote； 〃in order TO PREVENT ANY MISTAKE for the FUTURE； shortly to explain WHAT IT IS SHE EXPECTS FROM HER FOREIGN SECRETARY。 She requires： （1） That he will distinctly state what he proposes in a given case； in order that the Queen may know as distinctly to WHAT she has given her Royal sanction； （2） Having ONCE GIVEN her sanction to a measure； that it be not arbitrarily altered or modified by the Minister； such an act she must consider as failing in sincerity towards the Crown； and justly to be visited by the exercise of her Constitutional right of dismissing that Minister。〃 Lord John Russell did as he was bid； and forwarded the Queen's letter to Lord Palmerston。 This transaction； which was of grave constitutional significance； was entirely unknown to the outside world。
If Palmerston had been a sensitive man； he would probably have resigned on the receipt of the Queen's missive。 But he was far from sensitive； he loved power； and his power was greater than ever； an unerring instinct told him that this was not the time to go。 Nevertheless； he was seriously perturbed。 He understood at last that he was struggling with a formidable adversary； whose skill and strength； unless they were mollified； might do irreparable injury to his career。 He therefore wrote to Lord John； briefly acquiescing in the Queen's requirements〃I have taken a copy of this memorandum of the Queen and will not fail to attend to the directions which it contains〃and at the same time； he asked for an interview with the Prince。 Albert at once summoned him to the Palace； and was astonished to observe； as he noted in a memorandum； that when Palmerston entered the room 〃he was very much agitated； shook； and had tears in his eyes； so as quite to move me； who never under any circumstances had known him otherwise than with a bland smile on his face。〃 The old statesman was profuse in protestations and excuses； the young one was coldly polite。 At last； after a long and inconclusive conversation； the Prince； drawing himself up； said that； in order to give Lord Palmerston 〃an example of what the Queen wanted；〃 he would 〃ask him a question point…blank。〃 Lord Palmerston waited in respectful silence； while the Prince proceeded as follows： 〃You are aware that the Queen has objected to the Protocol about Schleswig； and of the grounds on which she has done so。 Her opinion has been overruled； the Protocol stating the desire of the Great Powers to see the integrity of the Danish monarchy preserved has been signed； and upon this the King of Denmark has invaded Schleswig； where the war is raging。 If Holstein is attacked also； which is likely； the Germans will not be restrained from flying to her assistance； Russia has menaced to interfere with arms； if the Schleswigers are successful。 What will you do； if this emergency arises （provoking most likely an European war）； and which will arise very probably when we shall be at Balmoral and Lord John in another part of Scotland？ The Queen expects from your foresight that you have contemplated this possibility； and requires a categorical answer as to what you would do in the event supposed。〃 Strangely enough； to this pointblank question； the Foreign Secretary appeared to be unable to reply。 The whole matter； he said； was extremely complicated； and the contingencies mentioned by His Royal Highness were very unlikely to arise。 The Prince persisted； but it was useless； for a full hour he struggled to extract a categorical answer； until at length Palmerston bowed himself out of the room。 Albert threw up his hands in shocked amazement： what could one do with such a man？
What indeed？ For； in spite of all his apologies and all his promises； within a few weeks the incorrigible reprobate was at his tricks again。 The Austrian General Haynau； notorious as a rigorous suppressor of rebellion in Hungary and Italy； and in particular as a flogger of women； came to England and took it into his head to pay a visit to Messrs。 Barclay and Perkins's brewery。 The features of 〃General Hyena；〃 as he was everywhere calledhis grim thin face； his enormous pepper…and…salt moustacheshad gained a horrid celebrity； and it so happened that among the clerks at the brewery there was a refugee from Vienna； who had given his fellow…workers a first…hand account of the General's characteristics。 The Austrian Ambassador； scenting danger； begged his friend not to appear in public； or； if he must do so； to cut off his moustaches first。 But the General would take no advice。 He went to the brewery； was immediately recognised； surrounded by a crowd of angry draymen； pushed about； shouted at； punched in the ribs； and pulled by the moustaches until； bolting down an alley with the mob at his heels brandishing brooms and roaring 〃Hyena！〃 he managed to take refuge in a public house； whence he was removed under the protection of several policemen。 The Austrian Government was angry and demanded explanations。 Palmerston； who； of course； was priva
