ot and in the
confidence of the Court represent as almost insurmountable.

The Queen desires Lord John Russell to weigh all this most maturely,
and to let her know the result.

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

CHESHAM PLACE, _19th August 1846._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
the honour to state that he has maturely considered, together with
Lord Palmerston, Lord Lansdowne, and Lord Clarendon, your Majesty's
observations on the draft sent by Lord Palmerston for your Majesty's
approbation.

Lord John Russell entirely concurs in your Majesty's wish that England
and France should not appear at Madrid as countenancing conflicting
parties. Lord John Russell did not attach this meaning to Lord
Palmerston's proposed despatch, but he has now re-written the draft in
such a manner as he trusts will obtain your Majesty's approval.

Lord John Russell will pay the utmost attention to this difficult and
delicate subject.

[Pageheading: THE SPANISH MARRIAGES]

[Pageheading: DON ENRIQUE]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

FOREIGN OFFICE, _19th August 1846._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and has
endeavoured to modify and rearrange his proposed instruction to Mr
Bulwer in deference to your Majesty's wishes and feelings as expressed
to Lord John Russell; and with this view also Viscount Palmerston has
divided the instruction into two separate despatches--the one treating
of the proposed marriage of the Queen, the other of the possible
marriage of the Infanta. But with regard to these new drafts, as well
as with regard to the former one, Viscount Palmerston would beg
to submit that they are not notes to be presented to any Foreign
Government, nor despatches to be in any way made public; but that they
are confidential instructions given to one of your Majesty's Ministers
abroad, upon matters upon which your Majesty's Government have been
urgently pressed, to enable that Minister to give advice; and Viscount
Palmerston would beg also to submit that in a case of this kind it
would not be enough to communicate drily the opinion of the British
Government, without stating and explaining some of the reasons upon
which those opinions are founded.

It is quite evident from Mr Bulwer's communication, and especially
from the postscript to his despatch of the 4th of this month, that
Queen Christina, the Duke of Rianzares, and Senor Isturi