I have been more in the way of hearing about the Eastern Question during the last week than at any previous time, though my informants and associates have been all of the anti-Palmerston interest--Holland House, and Clarendon, Dedel (who objects to the form more than the _fond_), and Madame de Lieven, who is all with Guizot, because he is devoted to her, and she feels the greatest interest where she gets the most information. Clarendon showed me the other day a long letter which he wrote to Palmerston in March last, in which he discussed the whole question, stating the objections to which he thought Palmerston's policy liable, and suggesting what _he_ would have done instead. It was a well- written and well-reasoned document enough. Those who are opposed to Palmerston's policy, and even some who do not object to the policy itself so much as to the manner in which it has been worked out, feel confident that the means will fall very short of accomplishing the end, and that peace will be preserved by their very impotence at a great expense of the diplomatic reputation of the parties concerned; and they are confirmed in this notion by the failure of some of the anticipations in which Palmerston so confidently indulged, especially the conduct of the Pasha and the Syrian insurrection. Clarendon says that, 'whatever his opinions may have been, now that they are fairly embarked in Palmerston's course, he must as earnestly desire its success as if he had been its original advocate.' But both he and Lord Holland have been so vehemently committed in opposition to it, that, without any imputation of unpatriotic feelings, it is not in human nature they should not find a sort of satisfaction in the frustration of those measures which they so strenuously resisted, and this clearly appears in all Lord Holland said to me, and in Lady Holland's tone about Palmerston and his daring disposition. September 6th, 1840 {p.301} On arriving in town this morning, I found a note from M. Guizot, begging I would call on him, as he wanted to have a few minutes' conversation with me. Accordingly I went, and am just returned. His object was to put me in possession of the actual state of affairs, and to read me a letter he had just received from Thiers, together with one (either to Thiers or to him) from their Consul-General at Alexandria. [Page Head: THE POLICY OF FRANCE.]