CHAPTER XI.

France and Prussia--The Emperor's Speech--Faint Hopes of Peace--Favourable View of the Policy of Russia--Progress of the Negotiations--Russia accepts the Terms of Peace--The Acceptance explained--Popular Feeling in Favour of the War--Lord Stratford and General Williams--Mr. Disraeli's Prospects--Meeting of Parliament--Baron Parke's Life Peerage--The Debate on the Address--Debate on Life Peerages--Report on the Sufferings of the Army--Strained Relations with France--Lord Clarendon goes to the Congress at Paris--Opening of the Conference--Sabbatarianism--Progress of the Negotiations--Kars--Nicolaieff--The Life Peerage Question--Blunders and Weakness of the Government--A Visit to Paris--Count Orloff's View of the War--Lord Cowley on the Negotiations--Princess Lieven on the War--An Evening at the Tuileries--Opening of the Legislative Chamber--Lord Cowley's Desponding Views--The Austrian Proposals--Bitterness in French Society--Necessity of Peace to France--Conversation with M. Thiers--A Stag Hunt at St. Germains--The Emperor yields to the Russians--Birth of the Prince Imperial _page_ 1