_December 17th._--There was an article in the 'Times' the day before yesterday commenting in severe terms upon a transaction of our Foreign Office, as set forth in a Blue Book, in relation to Brazil. It was the old subject of the slave trade, and the old method of arrogant overbearing meddling and dictation, a case as odious and unjust as any one of those by which Palmerston's foreign administration has ever been disgraced. I really no longer recognise my old friend Clarendon, in whose good sense and moderation I used to place implicit confidence, and believed that he would inaugurate a system at the Foreign Office very different from that of Palmerston, and which would tend to relieve us from the excessive odium and universal unpopularity which Palmerston had drawn upon us. It appears that I was mistaken. I told Granville yesterday morning what I thought of this case, and asked him if it was correctly stated. He said he regarded it just as I did, and that it was quite true, every word of it. I then expressed my astonishment that Clarendon should have acted in this way, and he replied, 'The fault of Clarendon is that he is always thinking of the effect to be produced by Blue Books, and he looks after popularity, and is influenced by those he acts with. Under Aberdeen he was very moderate, but he saw that the moderation of Aberdeen made him unpopular, while Palmerston's popularity in great measure arose from his very different manner towards other Powers, so when Palmerston became Prime Minister instead of Aberdeen, he fell readily into the Palmerstonian method.' I dare say this is the truth, and besides the contagion of Palmerston himself, he is surrounded by men at the Foreign Office who are prodigious admirers of Palmerston and of his slashing ways, and who no doubt constantly urge Clarendon to adopt a similar style. All this is to me matter of great regret personally, and it is revolting as to good taste, and, as I believe, to our national interests. It is, however, a consolation to see that the most powerful and influential of our journals has the courage, independence, and good sense to protest publicly against such violent and unjustifiable proceedings. CHAPTER XIII. State of England after the War--Prussia and Neufchâtel--Sir Robert Peel's Account of the Russian Coronation--An Historical Puzzle--The Death of Princess Lieven--Mr. Spurgeon's Preaching--Mr. Gladstone in Opposition--Tit for Tat--Difficult Relations with France--Lord John in Opposition--The Liddell _v._ Westerton Case--Death of Lord Ellesmere--Violent Opposition to the Government on the China Question--Languid Defence of the Government--Impending Dissolution--Popularity of Lord Palmerston--Despotism of Ministers--Parliament dissolved--Judgement on Liddell _v._ Westerton--Lord Palmerston's Address--The Elections--Defeat of the Manchester Leaders--Fear of Radical Tendencies--The Country approves the Chinese Policy--Death of Lady Keith.