On the 17th of June he again wrote a despatch to Lord Napier with instructions to read it to Prince Gortchakoff, and leave a copy with him. That despatch was perhaps one of the most insolent communications ever addressed to a friendly Power; no government could admit the interference of another country in dictating the measures which it should take for the maintenance of law and order among its own people, which is the exclusive right and duty of every independent Power, nor is it intelligible that any such advice should be offered unless the candid friend should be prepared to enforce it at the cannon’s mouth. The despatch in question was the one which formulated the famous “six points.” This is what it said: “In present circumstances it appears to Her Majesty’s Government that nothing less than the following outline of measures should be adopted as the bases of pacification: “1. Complete and general amnesty. “2. National representation, with powers similar to those which are fixed by the Charter of the 15th (27th) of November, 1815. “3. Poles to be named to public offices in such a manner as to form a distinct national administration, having the confidence of the country. “4. Full and entire liberty of conscience; repeal of the restrictions imposed on Catholic worship. “5. The Polish language recognized in the kingdom as the official language, and used as such in the administration of the law and in education. “6. The establishment of a regular and legal system of recruiting. “These six points might serve as the indications of measures to be adopted, after calm and full deliberation. “What Her Majesty’s Government propose, therefore, consists in these three propositions: “1st. The adoption of the six points enumerated as bases of negotiation. “2nd. A provisional suspension of arms to be proclaimed by the Emperor of Russia. “3rd. A conference of the eight Powers who signed the Treaty of Vienna.” Prince Gortchakoff’s answer was crushing, the more so as it was couched in the most courteous language of diplomacy, and was based upon an unanswerable chain of logical arguments. Lord Russell was very quietly shown that he was dealing with matters which he did not understand and with which he had no concern. Similar communications were addressed to Baron Budberg, the Russian Ambassador at Paris, for the benefit of M. Drouyn de Lhuys, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had the mortification of finding himself compelled to share in a humiliation which was odious to him.