_February 20th_.--Went to Farnborough. The Longmans just installed in their new house. To Ampthill at Easter. On April 1st to Paris, with Christine and the Dempsters. I had the gout all the time. _April 3rd_.--Races at Vincennes. Embassy ball on the 5th. Persignys and Morny there. Breakfast at Vaux with Marochettis on the 6th. Met Sigismond Krasinski's son Ladislas at his mother's. _From Lord Clarendon_ _G. C., April 6th_.--As five years of freedom had augmented my inveterate dislike of office, you may suppose that I made a gallant resistance--quite _a la Danoise_; but at last I could not help taking an oar with old friends in a boat which they believed to be sinking, and in which they fancied I might be of some use. If the Government had been as clear of some of the worst shoals a fortnight ago as it is now, nothing would have induced me to say 'Yes.' I hope that Stansfeld's exit and Palmerston's speech, and, more important still, the feeling throughout the country upon the Mazzini affair, will mend our relations with France by showing Frenchmen of all classes and colours that the alliance is here estimated at its real value; indeed, nothing will go well in Europe if England and France are supposed to be pulling different ways; and if they had been acting together, instead of being _en froid_ six months ago, the Dano-German difficulty would never have attained its present developement. Some soreness was natural at our not agreeing to the congress; but too much has been made of the tone of J. R.'s answer, and offence ought not to be taken where none was intended, but quite the reverse, as I can certify from the conversations I had at the time with the writer.... It was this letter which suggested to Reeve to propose to Lord Clarendon the advisability of coming over to Paris himself 'to see the Emperor and endeavour to settle joint action on the Danish question.' He wrote also to the same effect to Lord Granville. _From Lord Granville_ London, April 9th. My dear Reeve,--Many thanks for your note, and for the suggestion it contains. I [had] already had some talk with Clarendon and Russell on the subject. The first thought that it was too late now, and urged some minor objections, but in my opinion he is wrong, and I hope the matter will be arranged. Yours sincerely, GRANVILLE. _From Lord Clarendon_ _London, April 9th._--Your letter is very important. It has been settled at the Cabinet that I shall go over on Tuesday. It is particularly troublesome and inconvenient to me; but I shan't mind that, if any good is to be done and that the friendly motive of my going is appreciated. _From M. Fould_ Dimanche [April 10th]. Mon cher Monsieuer,--Je me suis empresse de transmettre a l'empereur la nouvelle que vous voulez bien me donner et qui me fait grand plaisir. Mille compliments bien desires, ACHILLE FOULD. The visit led to no result, as the French refused to act. The Journal continues:--