Much more serious for the Queen was the rapid development of the Sleswig-Holstein Question, as to which her opinions were known in Society to be in undisguised conflict with those of her Ministers. The death of Frederick VII. and the succession of the father of the Princess of Wales to the Danish Crown rendered this question urgent. CHAPTER VII. LORD PALMERSTON’S LAST CONTEST WITH THE QUEEN. The Sleswig-Holstein Question--The Danish Succession--Palmerston’s Partisanship--The “Danification” of the Duchies--The Letters-Patent of Christian VIII.--The Revolution of ’48--The Sleswig-Holstein Treaty of Berlin--Salic Law in the Duchies--Palmerston’s Intrigue with the Russian Ambassador--The Protocol of 1850--The Queen’s Objections to it--Prince Albert’s Advice to the Prince of Noër--The Treaty of London--Lord Malmesbury’s Fatal Blunder--His Mistake as to the Mandate of the Diet--Letters-Patent of Frederick VII.--His Death--Accession of Christian IX.--Revolt of the Duchies--Proclamation of the Duke of Augustenburg as Sovereign--Mr. Gladstone’s Popular Budget--Death of Sir George Cornewall Lewis--The Queen’s Letter to Lady Theresa Lewis--The Dispute with Brazil--The Prison Ministers Bill--A South Kensington Job--Hoodwinking the Commons--A “Scene” in the House of Commons--A Ministerial Defeat--Sir George Grey and the City Police--The Civil War in America--Escape of the _Alabama_--Illegal Seizure of the _Alexandra_--Blockade Running--Proclamation Abolishing Slavery--Progress of the War--Net Results of the Campaigns.