queen victoria-第32节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
。 The Austrian Government was angry and demanded explanations。 Palmerston； who； of course； was privately delighted by the incident； replied regretting what had occurred； but adding that in his opinion the General had 〃evinced a want of propriety in coming to England at the present moment；〃 and he delivered his note to the Ambassador without having previously submitted it to the Queen or to the Prime Minister。 Naturally； when this was discovered； there was a serious storm。 The Prince was especially indignant； the conduct of the draymen he regarded； with disgust and alarm； as 〃a slight foretaste of what an unregulated mass of illiterate people is capable；〃 and Palmerston was requested by Lord John to withdraw his note； and to substitute for it another from which all censure of the General had been omitted。 On this the Foreign Secretary threatened resignation； but the Prime Minister was firm。 For a moment the royal hopes rose high； only to be dashed to the ground again by the cruel compliance of the enemy。 Palmerston； suddenly lamblike； agreed to everything； the note was withdrawn and altered； and peace was patched up once more。
It lasted for a year； and then； in October； 1851； the arrival of Kossuth in England brought on another crisis。 Palmerston's desire to receive the Hungarian patriot at his house in London was vetoed by Lord John； once more there was a sharp struggle； once more Palmerston； after threatening resignation； yielded。 But still the insubordinate man could not keep quiet。 A few weeks later a deputation of Radicals from Finsbury and Islington waited on him at the Foreign Office and presented him with an address； in which the Emperors of Austria and Russia were stigmatised as 〃odious and detestable assassins〃 and 〃merciless tyrants and despots。〃 The Foreign Secretary in his reply； while mildly deprecating these expressions； allowed his real sentiments to appear with a most undiplomatic insouciance There was an immediate scandal； and the Court flowed over with rage and vituperation。 〃I think；〃 said the Baron； 〃the man has been for some time insane。〃 Victoria； in an agitated letter； urged Lord John to assert his authority。 But Lord John perceived that on this matter the Foreign Secretary had the support of public opinion； and he judged it wiser to bide his time。
He had not long to wait。 The culmination of the long series of conflicts； threats； and exacerbations came before the year was out。 On December 2； Louis Napoleon's coup d'etat took place in Paris； and on the following day Palmerston； without consulting anybody； expressed in a conversation with the French Ambassador his approval of Napoleon's act。 Two days later； he was instructed by the Prime Minister； in accordance with a letter from the Queen； that it was the policy of the English Government to maintain an attitude of strict neutrality towards the affairs of France。 Nevertheless； in an official despatch to the British Amambassador in Paris； he repeated the approval of the coup d'etat which he had already given verbally to the French Ambassador in London。 This despatch was submitted neither to the Queen nor to the Prime Minister。 Lord John's patience； as he himself said； 〃was drained to the last drop。〃 He dismissed Lord Palmerston。
Victoria was in ecstasies； and Albert knew that the triumph was his even more than Lord John's。 It was his wish that Lord Granville； a young man whom he believed to be pliant to his influence； should be Palmerston's successor； and Lord Granville was appointed。 Henceforward； it seemed that the Prince would have his way in foreign affairs。 After years of struggle and mortification； success greeted him on every hand。 In his family； he was an adored master； in the country； the Great Exhibition had brought him respect and glory； and now in the secret seats of power he had gained a new supremacy。 He had wrestled with the terrible Lord Palmerston； the embodiment of all that was most hostile to him in the spirit of England； and his redoubtable opponent had been overthrown。 Was England herself at his feet？ It might be so； and yet。。。 it is said that the sons of England have a certain tiresome quality： they never know when they are beaten。 It was odd； but Palmerston was positively still jaunty。 Was it possible？ Could he believe； in his blind arrogance； that even his ignominious dismissal from office was something that could be brushed aside？
III
The Prince's triumph was short…lived。 A few weeks later； owing to Palmerston's influence； the Government was defeated in the House； and Lord John resigned。 Then； after a short interval； a coalition between the Whigs and the followers of Peel came into power； under the premiership of Lord Aberdeen。 Once more； Palmerston was in the Cabinet。 It was true that he did not return to the Foreign Office； that was something to the good； in the Home Department it might be hoped that his activities would be less dangerous and disagreeable。 But the Foreign Secretary was no longer the complacent Granville； and in Lord Clarendon the Prince knew that he had a Minister to deal with； who； discreet and courteous as he was； had a mind of his own。 These changes； however； were merely the preliminaries of a far more serious development。
Events； on every side； were moving towards a catastrophe。 Suddenly the nation found itself under the awful shadow of imminent war。 For several months； amid the shifting mysteries of diplomacy and the perplexed agitations of politics； the issue grew more doubtful and more dark； while the national temper was strained to the breaking…point。 At the very crisis of the long and ominous negotiations； it was announced that Lord Palmerston had resigned。 Then the pent…up fury of the people burst forth。 They had felt that in the terrible complexity of events they were being guided by weak and embarrassed counsels； but they had been reassured by the knowledge that at the centre of power there was one man with strength； with courage； with determination； in whom they could put their trust。 They now learnt that that man was no longer among their leaders。 Why？ In their rage； anxiety； and nervous exhaustion； they looked round desperately for some hidden and horrible explanation of what had occurred。 They suspected plots； they smelt treachery in the air。 It was easy to guess the object upon which their frenzy would vent itself。 Was there not a foreigner in the highest of high places； a foreigner whose hostility to their own adored champion was unrelenting and unconcealed？ The moment that Palmerston's resignation was known； there was a universal outcry and an extraordinary tempest of anger and hatred burst； with unparalleled violence； upon the head of the Prince。
It was everywhere asserted and believed that the Queen's husband was a traitor to the country； that he was a tool of the Russian Court； that in obedience to Russian influences he had forced Palmerston out of the Government； and that he was directing the foreign policy of England in the interests of England's enemies。 For many weeks these accusations filled the whole of the press； repeated at public meetings； elaborated in private talk； they flew over the country； growing every moment more extreme and more improbable。 While respectable newspapers thundered out their grave invectives； halfpenny broadsides； hawked through the streets of London； re…echoed in doggerel vulgarity the same sentiments and the same suspicions＇*＇。 At last the wildest rumours began to spread。
＇*＇〃The Turkish war both far and near Has played the very deuce then； And little Al； the royal pal； They say has turned a Russian； Old Aberdeen； as may be seen； Looks woeful pale and yellow； And Old John Bull had his belly full Of dirty Russian tallow。〃
Chorus： 〃We'll send him home and make him groan； Oh； Al！ you've played the deuce then； The German lad has acted sad And turned tail with the Russians。〃 * * * * * * 〃Last Monday night； all in a fright； Al out of bed did tumble。 The German lad was raving mad； How he did groan and grumble！ He cried to Vic； 'I've cut my stick： To St。 Petersburg go right slap。' When Vic； 'tis said； jumped out of bed； And wopped him with her night…cap。〃
From Lovely Albert！ a broadside preserved at the British Museum。
In January； 1854； it was whispered that the Prince had been seized； that he had been found guilty of high treason； that he was to be committed to the Tower。 The Queen herself； some declared； had been arrested； and large crowds actually collected round the Tower to watch the incarceration of the royal miscreants。＇*＇
＇*＇〃You Jolly Turks； now go to work； And show the Bear your power。 It is rumoured over Britain's isle That A is in the Tower； The postmen some suspicion had； And opened the two letters； 'Twas a pity sad the German lad Should not have known much better！〃 Lovely Albert！
These fantastic hallucinations； the result of the fevered atmosphere of approaching war； were devoid of any basis in actual fact。 Palmerston's resignition had been in all probability totally disconnected with foreign policy； it had certainly been entirely spontaneous； and had surprised the Court as much as the nation。 Nor had Albert's
