E della mente peggio,”
quarrels so easily with every one, and does not probably agree with himself. It gives a despicable opinion of the power of a party that cannot do or will not do without such a man, and personal objections of not a grand and important public principle that prevent two great men from agreeing together at all conscientiously, are but sorry reasons to give for such a failure. The discreet letter of our friend Tom is certainly to be regretted; the discreet friend to whom he wrote it deserves to be kicked for his breach of confidence. The less said the sooner mended on that. Grey will be up, say his say, Macaulay, I hope, will not answer him, and the matter will so far end and be forgotten.
But other explanations will be necessary. I am surprised you don’t know more of what really passed, as I should have thought Lord John, being at Edinburgh, would have told you all. But, perhaps, he does not like to say the whole; and so recollect that I write in full confidence. You may rely on the correctness of what I say, and, of course, use the knowledge as a prudent man to shape your questions and answers. Don’t compromise me, or say what you know, because, even without my name being mentioned, your authority would certainly be guessed. It so happens that I have had occasion to hear much about all this, and it is known that I have heard so much. Macaulay did not wait for Lord Grey’s consent or conniving or declaration, but joined the other at once.
Lord Grey told Ellice at Norwich that he objected to Palmerston as Foreign Secretary, but Ellice was far from being requested to inform Lord John of it. Yet, like a prudent man, he wrote up: “Here at Norwich I find all smooth, except as to the Foreign Department.” When they came to town, Ellice was told the objection of Grey had been got over; but on the Thursday night he learned that it was a mistake, and I know how and from whom; you shall hear it all when here. Yet he thought it might be arranged. Lord Grey goes about reading in his defence a letter he wrote to Lord John, to show that, in due time, he gave notice of his objection; but two persons who have read the letter say it is so full of generalities, that no one guessed to whom it pointed. No one dreamed of Lord Palmerston being the object; but, as he spoke as not having regard to person in the arrangements, it was guessed that the hints were intended against replacing Minto at the Admiralty. You will perceive that the Bear is above all accusation; some may say that Lord John himself may be found fault with, but then no one thought that Grey would carry the matter so far, and it was expected that he would yield, and that led to keeping his objection, or so it was understood, in the back ground, not to give it more importance that it might have. The only one to blame is Grey, he ought either to have spoken out at once clearly himself, or yielded as others have done, who were against asking the Government at all, and yet yielded to the opinion of the majority of their friends, and cheerfully joined them in leading what they considered the most forlorn hope.
All the others I can safely assure you are perfectly friendly. Lord John declares he will never have anything to do politically with Grey, so say the others. Lord Palmerston is entirely satisfied with the Bear’s conduct. If the foolish paragraphs in the newspapers had caused him to feel any distrust or jealousy of Lord Clarendon (which I doubt and hope not), that has been totally and wholly removed, I am happy to say by the writer of this enormous letter. (It is as long as a sermon.) Lord Clarendon behaved above all praise, and Lord Palmerston feels and avows it.
Thiers wrote to me a capital and most friendly letter, of course not for me only, although most private. I took care to communicate it to the proper quarters, and it has had a good effect, and cemented the good understanding that I was so happy in bringing about when Thiers was here (Lady Holland who knew all about it took all the credit herself!!!), and Palmerston’s explanations (do you think it will be a trifle for him to get over?) and his colleagues—why did he resign? Why does he come in with the same crew? Did they rebel? Why do they submit? Sixteen members of the Cabinet bespeak confusion. Are they to know what he is to do, or to obey blindly? Some of the underlings turn restive. Lord Mahon, for instance, I am told, will resign; if Peel were completely free-trader even in corn. Come up, &c., &c.,
Yours affectionately,
A. Panizzi.”
[J]. Proposed on the 17th December, 1845; elected 17th February, 1846; resigned his membership 18th December, 1873.