«My dear Sir,
«It is necessary that I should write to you with the utmost frankness on the subject of the dispute between the spanish government and the french ambassador. You are of course aware that it is attributed exclusively to your influence. This is not only the conviction of M. de Salvandy himself and the french government, but I have seen letters from Madrid, from persons entirely unconnected with either, written under the same persuasion. I need not say that I attach no credit to this report, and that I believe you have endeavoured, by conciliatory means, to adjust the difference. At the same time, as you have acted in the belief that the spanish government were right in their pretensions, it is clear that your advice, whatever it was, and you do not describe it particularly, could not be expected to produce much effect.
«It is impossible for any one to be more desirous of supporting the spanish government tham I am, whenever they are right, and especially against France. But in this case, we think them decidedly wrong; and I regret very much that your usually sound judgment should have been led to a different conclusion. The ground of justification taken by the government in adducing the 59th article of the Constitution, is a mere quibble. It is so wretchedly sophistical that it is quite sufficient to raise serious doubts of their sincerity. You may rely on it, if this is persevered in, that we must bid adieu to all our hopes of recognition by the Northern Powers. They will see in it, and not unnaturally, nothing but a successful attempt of the revolutionary part to degrade Monarchy, supported by English jealousy of French influence.
I am not at all surprised that Spaniards should view with suspicion any proceeding whatever on the part of France, and that they should imagine there was some intention to slight the Regent and his authority. In the present instance, I really believe the suspicion to be entirely unfounded, and that the mission was undertaken in the most friendly spirit, and was hastened at our request. The natural, simple, and obvious course was undoubtedly to let the ambassador present his letters to the Queen, to whom they were addressed, and although I attribute the difficulty only to a mistaken suspicion on the part of the spanish government, others will see in it the studied abasement of Royalty, or a determination to quarrel with France at all risks.
«I do not understand that M. de Salvandy has made any pretensions, as a family Ambassador, or has attempted to revive any old privileges of access to the Queen, except under such regulations as the government may deem necessary or expedient. Anything else, of course, ought to be strenuously resisted. With the end of the family compact, the French ambassador must be like any other.
I need not tell you that this affair has been the cause of great vexation. If M. de Salvandy should not have yet left Madrid, I shall not despair of your being able to bring it to some adjustment. But there will be violent speeches in the Cortes, both governments will become more deeply pledged, and every day will add to the difficulty. It is by no mean improbable that very serious consequences will at no distant time ensue. At present, we think the spanish government clearly wrong; but this affair will be resented by France, and the course of events will most probably make them the agressors. Thus our own position will become more difficult and complicated. However right Spain may be in the end, the origin of the quarrel will be tainted….
In recomending to you really and strenuous endeavours the attempt to bring the Spanish government to a more tractable state with respect to this unfortunate dispute, I must leave to you the manner of going to work. You will best know the course which is likely to succeed, and I am sure that you cannot render a greater service to Spain and to the public interest.
XVII
Correspondance entre M. Guizot, ministre des affaires étrangères, et M. Casimir Périer, chargé d'affaires à Saint-Pétersbourg.
1º M. Guizot à M. Casimir Périer.