CHAPTER VIII

THE ISOLATION OF FRANCE

Language of M. Thiers and Louis Philippe on learning of the conclusion of the treaty--Warlike declamations of the French press--Attitude of different parties in England--Thiers' instructions to Guizot--The conference at the Château d'Eu--Louis Philippe seeks to alarm Queen Victoria--Louis Napoleon at Boulogne--Guizot at Windsor Castle--Leopold's proposals--Ibrahim suppresses the insurrection in Syria--Palmerston's despatch of August 31--The Sultan's _ultimatum_--Movements of the British fleet--Threatening language of M. de Pontois--The French armaments--Warlike language of Louis Philippe and M. Thiers--Mehemet Ali invokes the protection of France--Interview at Auteuil between Thiers and Bulwer--Intrigues against Palmerston in London--A Cabinet crisis impending--Why Lord John Russell "disappointed" Greville--Meeting of the Cabinet of October 1--Bombardment of Beyrout--Warlike excitement in Paris--Henry Reeve--Lord John Russell calls a Cabinet for October 10--Two despatches from Thiers--A Cabinet crisis averted--French government reported to have designs upon the Balearic Islands--Melbourne writes to King Leopold--Louis Philippe and M. Thiers--Resignation of M. Thiers--Thiers' proceedings reviewed--M. Guizot's plans--Palmerston's communications with Guizot--Successful progress of the operations in Syria--Proposals to Mehemet Ali--Napier's convention and his disavowal--Mehemet Ali submits--The _firman_ of February 13, 1841--M. Guizot manœuvres to bring back France into the Concert of Europe--Nicholas' proposal--Palmerston's reply--Policy of M. Guizot--Bourqueney and Palmerston--The Convention of the Straits drafted and initialed--Mehemet Ali refuses to accept the _firman_ of heredity--Ponsonby's advice to the Porte--Procrastinations of the Porte--Mehemet Ali accepts the amended _firman_--Convention of the Straits signed--Unsatisfactory character of the criticisms passed upon Palmerston 279-330