The Cabinet meets--The Government on the verge of Dissolution-- The Second Cabinet--Palmerston lowers his Tone in the Cabinet-- But continues to bully in the Press--Taking of Beyrout-- Deposition of Mehemet Ali--Lord John acquiesces--Total Defeat of Peace Party--Lord John Russell's False Position--His Views-- Lord Granville's Dissatisfaction--Further Attempts at Conciliation--Prevarication of Lord Ponsonby--Newspaper Hostilities--Discussion of the French Note of the 8th October-- Guizot's Opinion of the Note of the 8th October--Louis Philippe's Influence on the Crisis--Summary of Events--Death of Lord Holland--Lord Clarendon's Regret for Lord Holland--M. Guizot's Intentions as to France--Effects of the Queen's Partiality for Melbourne--Resignation to Thiers--Bickerings in the Ministry--Lord John Russell's Dissatisfaction with Lord Palmerston--Lord John resigns--Lord John demands the Recall of Lord Ponsonby--Lord Palmerston defends Lord Ponsonby--M. Guizot's Policy--Conciliatory Propositions fail--Attitude of Austria--Asperity of Lord Palmerston--Operations in Syria-- Success of Lord Palmerston and his Policy--Baron Mounier's Mission to London--Birth of the Princess Royal--Results of the Success of Lord Palmerston's Measures--The Tories divided in Opinion as to the Treaty--Retrospect of the Year--Lord Holland. September 29th, 1840: Wednesday {p.320} [Page Head: A CABINET ON THE EASTERN QUESTION.] The Cabinet met on Monday evening and sat till seven o'clock. The account of the proceedings which has reached me is to the last degree amusing, but at the same time _pitoyable_. It must have been _a payer les places_ to see. They met, and as if all were conscious of something unpleasant in prospect, and all shy, there was for some time a dead silence. At length Melbourne, trying to shuffle off the discussion, but aware that he must say something, began: 'We must consider about the time to which Parliament should be prorogued.' Upon this Lord John took it up and said, 'I presume we must consider whether Parliament should be called together or not, because, as matters are now going on, it seems to me that we may at any moment find ourselves at war, and it is high time to consider the very serious state of affairs. I should like,' he added, turning to Melbourne, 'to know what is your opinion upon the subject.' Nothing, however, could be got from Melbourne, and there was another long pause, which was not broken till somebody asked Palmerston, 'What are your last accounts?' On this Palmerston pulled out of his pocket a whole parcel of letters and reports from Ponsonby, Hodges, and others, and began reading them through, in the middle of which operation someone happened to look up, and perceived Melbourne fast asleep in his armchair. At length Palmerston got through his papers, when there was another pause; and at last Lord John, finding that Melbourne would not take the lead or say a word, went at once into the