CHAPTER XI

PALMERSTON AND THE REVOLUTION OF '48

Annexation of Cracow--Political unrest in Europe--Charles Albert and Pius IX.--Enthusiasm in Italy--Attitude of French government--Revival of French and British rivalry--Guizot sends a secret agent to Vienna--Metternich realizes the danger in Italy--The Roman plot and occupation of Ferrara--Palmerston's despatch of September 11, 1847--Minto's mission--Prince Consort's _Memorandum_--The situation in Switzerland--Sympathies of the absolute Courts with the _Sonderbund_--Palmerston's attitude--Probable reason of Morier's recall--Palmerston's despatch of October 29, 1847--The French proposal--Palmerston's counter-proposal--Palmerston master of the situation--Battle of Lucerne and dissolution of the _Sonderbund_--Crafty designs imputed to Palmerston--Policy of the Swiss Radicals--Stratford Canning at Berne--The absolute Courts and France present the _identic note_--Haughty reply of the Swiss Diet--Alarm of the absolute Courts--Coloredo and Radowitz in Paris--Revolution in Paris, Berlin and Vienna--Charles Albert in Lombardy--_Une revolution de mépris_--Why the rupture of "the cordial understanding" displeased the French middle-classes--Effect of M. Guizot's _rapprochement_ with Austria--Palmerston and Thiers--Palmerston's policy substantially the same as Aberdeen's--Why "the cordial understanding" failed to justify expectations 406-444

INDEX 445-452

ENGLAND AND THE ORLEANS MONARCHY