Lord Palmerston's Return--The Czar's Designs--Uncertain Prospects--A Dinner of Lawyers--Preparations for War--The Reform Scheme modified--Russian Preparations for War--Entry of the Black Sea--Intrigues of France with Russia--Attacks on Prince Albert--Virulence of the Press--Attitude of Russia--Reluctance on both sides to engage in War--Prince Albert's Participation in Affairs of State--Opening of Parliament--Vindication of Prince Albert--Offer of Marriage of Prince Napoleon to Princess Mary of Cambridge--Publication of the Queen's Speech--The Hesitation of Austria--Justification of the War--The Blue Books--Popularity of the War--Last Efforts for Peace--The Emperor Napoleon's Letter--Lord John's Reform Bill--Difficulties arising--The Greeks--Objections to the Reform Bill--Postponement of the Reform Bill. LORD PALMERSTON RESUMES OFFICE. _Bowood, December 26th._--I came here to-day through town, where I saw _en passant_ Granville and Clarendon; received a letter this morning from Graham, telling me everything was arranged and Palmerston would stay, which of course I knew long before. Clarendon thought Newcastle had managed it exceedingly well, inasmuch as by this mixture of conciliation and firmness he had got Palmerston to write and withdraw his resignation, without any conditions; indeed, Clarendon considers that Palmerston has virtually acceded to all the provisions of Lord John's Bill to which he had objected. Whether his actions correspond with this idea we shall see hereafter. The letter he has written they say is 'artful and cunning,' but Aberdeen does not appear dissatisfied with it; and as it is a considerable concession in him to write any letter at all, they are right not to quarrel about the expressions. On the whole, I am now of opinion that Palmerston will be damaged by this proceeding. Nothing could justify his resignation at such a crisis but a case of urgent necessity, and if he really was urged to it by such a necessity, he clearly could not be justified in recalling his resignation five or six days afterwards, finding himself exactly in the same situation as he was in before it. It seems to me that he is certainly on the horns of this dilemma, that he was either wrong in resigning or wrong in returning. I told Lord Lansdowne so, but he did not say much in reply; and I find the language of this place is all favourable to Lord Palmerston, which I presume to be from their sympathising in his objections to Reform; and they throw most of the blame on Aberdeen for writing to him the letter he did, in which no doubt he erred. However, they are all very glad it is made up, and justly think that the less that is said about it hereafter the better. I think now that some steps had been taken towards a reconciliation even before the Thursday when Lady Palmerston spoke to me, and the Queen knew on Thursday that the reconciliation was highly probable; for she wrote