CHAPTER IX

THE CORDIAL UNDERSTANDING

Aberdeen and Palmerston contrasted--Why Guizot would not conclude the right of search treaty with Palmerston--The Chamber refuses to ratify the slave trade treaty of November 20, 1841--Conspiracies in Paris against Espartero--The question of Isabella's marriage--Designs imputed to Louis Philippe by Bulwer--Insurrections in Spain--The Spanish government demands the expulsion of Christina from France--The Salvandy affair--Pageot's mission--Count Toreno and Lord Cowley--Louis Philippe connives at the Spanish plots--Insurrection at Barcelona--Conduct of M. de Lesseps--Military revolution in Spain--Fall of Espartero--Aberdeen alarmed--Queen Victoria at the Château d'Eu--"The cordial understanding"--The Duc de Bordeaux in Belgrave Square--Admiral Dupetit-Thouars in the Pacific--France proclaims a protectorate over Tahiti--Mr. Pritchard--Queen Pomare deposed and Tahiti annexed--Dupetit-Thouars disavowed--The Prince de Joinville's pamphlet--The Tsar Nicholas in London--France quarrels with Morocco--Imprisonment and expulsion of Mr. Pritchard--Excitement in London--Guizot and Aberdeen--Bombardment of Tangier--Violence of the press in both countries--The Comte de Jarnac--The Pritchard affair settled--France concludes peace with the Emperor of Morocco--Louis Philippe at Windsor Castle--Condition of Spain--The descendants of Philip V.--Bulwer and Bresson at Madrid--Montpensier to marry the Infanta--Queen Victoria's second visit to Eu--The compact with Louis Philippe--State of affairs at Madrid--The _Memorandum of February 27, 1846_--Christina and Narvaez--The Queen-Mother entrusts to Bulwer her proposal to the Duke of Saxe-Coburg--Aberdeen reprimands Bulwer and informs M. Guizot of the negotiation--The Whigs once more in office 331-380