_London, August 15th._--I returned to town from Petworth last Monday week, and on Tuesday a fit of gout came on, which has laid me up ever since, leaving me no energy to do anything, and least of all to execute the purpose I entertained of sketching the past session of Parliament, and the curious events which it evolved; the decline and fall of Palmerston and his Government, the advent of Derby, and the vicissitudes of his career, deserve a narrative which might, if well handled by some well-informed writer, be made very interesting: but I am conscious of my own unfitness and dare not attempt it. It is in truth time for me to leave off keeping a journal, for by degrees I have lost the habit of communicating with all the people from whom I have been in the habit of obtaining political information, and I know nothing worth recording. CHAPTER XVII. Lord John Russell and Lord Stanley--Lord Palmerston's Leadership--Dissensions in the Liberal Party--The Queen and her Ministers--Lord Stanley at the India Office--The Queen's Letter to the Prince of Wales--Reform Speeches and Projects--Lord Palmerston's Confidence--Prosecution of Count Montalembert in France--Lord Clarendon's Visit to Compiègne--The Emperor's Designs on Italy--The Emperor and the pope--Approach of War--Lord Palmerston's prudent Language--Lord Palmerston's Italian Sympathies--The Electric Telegraph--Opposition in France to the War--The Emperor's Prevarication--Opening of Parliament--Debates on Foreign Affairs--Lord Cowley's Mission to Vienna--General Opposition to the War--A Reform Bill--Mr. Walpole and Mr. Henley resign--Duplicity of the Emperor--Mr. Disraeli's Reform Bill--The Emperor denies his Warlike Preparations--The Whigs oppose the Reform Bill--Anxiety to defeat the Government--Lord Cowley returns from Vienna--War impending--Dishonest Conduct of both Parties--Lord Cowley's Account of Cavour's Policy--His Mission to Vienna--A Congress proposed--Indifference to Reform--Debates on the Reform Bill--Defeat of the Reform Bill--An Emissary from Cavour. [Sidenote: LORD JOHN RUSSELL AND LORD STANLEY.]