Prospects of the Government and of the Opposition--Mr. Disraeli's commanding Position--Preparation of a Reform Bill--A Congress--Death of Macaulay--The Affairs of Italy--Policy of the Emperor Napoleon--The Commercial Treaty with France--M. de Cavour resumes Office--Opening of Parliament--Negotiation of the Commercial Treaty--The Emperor a Free Trader--Perplexity of Italian Affairs--Moderation of Lord Derby--Opposition to the Commercial Treaty--The Reform Bill of 1860--Tory Opposition to Reform--Mr. Gladstone's great Budget Speech--Opposition to the Treaty and the Budget--Triumph of Mr. Gladstone--The Italian Correspondence--Democratic Opinions of Mr. Gladstone--Introduction of the Reform Bill--The Annexation of Savoy and Nice--Annexation of Tuscany to Piedmont--The Dénouement of the Plot--Complete Apathy of the Country as to Reform--Lord Derby declines to interfere--Lord John's adverse Declaration to France--Consequences of Lord John's Speech against France--Our Position in Europe--Anecdote of the Crimean War--Designs of the Emperor Napoleon in 1858--Lord Palmerston's Distrust of Napoleon III.--Lord John's Indifference to his own Reform Bill--Mr. Gladstone's Ascendency--Designs of the Emperor and Cavour--Unpopularity of the Reform Bill--Correspondence of Lord Grey and Lord John Russell--Reaction against Mr. Gladstone's Measures--Opposition to the Repeal of the Paper Duties--Coolness with France--Garibaldi's Expedition--Lord Palmerston attacks the Neapolitan Minister--The Paper Duties Bill rejected by the Lords--The Reform Bill withdrawn--Lord Palmerston adjusts the Difference between the two Houses--Mr. Gladstone supported by the Radicals--Mr. Senior's Conversations in Paris--A Letter from the Speaker--Mr. Cobden's Faith in the Emperor Napoleon--Conclusion of these Journals _page_ 275 INDEX _page_ 317 A JOURNAL OF THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA FROM 1852 TO 1860. CHAPTER XI.