_September 26th._--I have been at Hatchford all last week. I saw Clarendon on Thursday before I went there, and heard that two ships of each fleet were gone up the Dardanelles,[1] and that the rest would probably soon follow, as the French were now urging that measure. He was then going to Aberdeen to propose calling the Cabinet together, the state of affairs becoming more critical every hour, and apparently no chance of averting war. The prospect was not the brighter from the probability of a good deal of difference of opinion when they do meet. He showed me a letter from Palmerston, in which he spoke very coolly of such a contingency as war with Russia and Austria, and with his usual confidence and flippancy of the great blows that might be inflicted on both Powers, particularly alluding to the possible expulsion of the Austrians from Italy, an object of which he has probably never lost sight. Meanwhile the violence and scurrility of the press here exceeds all belief. Day after day the Radical and Tory papers, animated by very different sentiments and motives, pour forth the most virulent abuse of the Emperor of Russia, of Austria, and of this Government, especially of Aberdeen. [Footnote 1: The British vessels were steamers, the 'Retribution' and another. There was at that time only one line-of-battle ship in each fleet having steam power; all the other vessels of the line were sailing ships.] CHAPTER IV. The Conference at Olmütz--The Turks declare War--Lord Palmerston's Views--Lord Palmerston lauded by the Radicals and the Tories--Failure of the Pacific Policy--Lord Aberdeen desires to resign--Lord John to be Prime Minister--Obstacles to Lord John's Pretensions--Danger of breaking up the Government--Lord John's Wilfulness and Unpopularity--Alliance of the Northern Powers defeated by Manteuffel--Conflict of the two Policies--Meeting of Parliament discussed--French Refugees in Belgium--General Baraguay d'Hilliers sent to Constantinople--Mr. Reeve returns from the East--Lord John's Reform Bill--The Emperor of Russia writes to the Queen--Sir James Graham's Views on Reform, &c.--Opponents of the Reform Scheme--Abortive Attempts at Negotiation--The Four Powers agree to a Protocol--Lord Palmerston threatens to secede--Lord Palmerston resigns on the Reform Scheme--Lord Palmerston opposed to Reform--Effects of Lord Palmerston's Resignation--Conciliatory Overtures--Lord Lansdowne's Position--Lord Aberdeen's Account--Lady Palmerston makes up the Dispute--Lord Palmerston withdraws his Resignation--Baraguay d'Hilliers refuses to enter the Black Sea--War resolved on--Review of the Transaction.