[322] Greville Memoirs, Third Part, Vol. II., p. 3.
[323] This dispute was settled by a Conference which met at Paris on 5th March, 1857, France, Austria, England, and Russia being represented, Prussia and Switzerland being occasionally admitted with a consultative voice. Frederick William IV. resigned all his rights to Neufchâtel for a pecuniary indemnity, which he generously refused afterwards to take, and the royalist prisoners were set free. The severance of this province was as great an advantage to Prussia, as the separation of Hanover was to England.
[324] France and Sardinia would have made an Austrian occupation of the Principalities ground for demanding, by way of compensation, the retirement of Austria from Northern Italy.
[325] Memoirs of an Ex-Minister, Vol. II., pp. 78, 79.
[326] Memoirs of an Ex-Minister, Vol. II., p. 78.
[327] Martin’s Life of the Prince Consort, Chap. LXXIX.
[328] Sleeman’s Tour in Oudh, Vol. II., p. 353.
[329] Oudh Blue Book, p. 46.
[330] Oudh Blue Book, p. 235.
[331] If we go behind the facts and pretexts of the official case we can easily discern better though unstated reasons for the annexation of Oudh. After the annexation of Scinde and the conquest of the Punjab, Oudh was left protruding into British territory, so as to cut it into two parts. Oudh was in our way, and it was therefore taken.