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_attainment_ of their _Constitutional_ development, _consistency_ would require that we should _now_, when that great struggle is at its end and _despotism_ is to be _re-imposed_ by Austrian arms upon Germany, throw _our weight_ into the scale of _Constitutional_ Prussia and Germany.... The Queen is afraid, however, that all our Ministers abroad,--at Berlin, Dresden, Munich, Stuttgart, Hanover, etc. (with the exception of Lord Cowley at Frankfort)--are warm partisans of the _despotic_ league against Prussia and a German Constitution and _for_ the maintenance of the old Diet under Austrian and Russian influence. Ought not Lord Palmerston to make his agents understand that their sentiments are at variance with those of the English Government? and that they are doing _serious mischief_ if they express them at Courts which have _already_ every inclination to follow their desperate course? Lord Palmerston is of course aware that the old Diet once reconstituted and recognised, one of the main laws of it is that "_no organic change can be made_ without _unanimity_ of voices," which was the cause of the nullity of that body from 1820 to 1848, and will now enable Austria, should Prussia and her confederates recognise the Diet, to condemn Germany to a further life of stagnation or new revolution. [Footnote 47: Minister at Berlin.] [Footnote 48: Lord Palmerston may have had this letter of the Queen's in mind when he wrote on the 22nd of November to Lord Cowley: "Her (_i.e._ Prussia's) partisans try to make out that the contest between her and Austria is a struggle between constitutional and arbitrary Government, but it is no such thing." Ashley's _Life of Lord Palmerston_, vol. 1. chap. vi.] [Pageheading: CONSTITUTIONALISM IN GERMANY] _Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._ FOREIGN OFFICE, _18th November 1850._ Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty. With respect to the maintenance of Constitutional Government in Germany, Viscount Palmerston entirely subscribes to your Majesty's opinion, that a regard for consistency, as well as a sense of right and justice, ought to lead your Majesty's Government to give to the Constitutional principle in Germany the same moral support which they endeavoured to afford it in Italy, Spain, Portugal, and elsewhere; but though he is conscious that he may be deceived and may think better of the Austrian Government in this resp
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