ny
said that the extreme flippancy and insolence of his manner was
more remarkable than ever, from their being evidently assumed with
difficulty. I have always thought Palmerston very much overrated as a
speaker; his great power arose from his not only knowing his subject
better than any one else, but being the only man who knew anything
about it, and using that exclusive knowledge unscrupulously for the
purposes of misrepresentation.

Thiers was at Lady Granville's last night, and was enchanted with the
spectacle of the Opening. He said that he had been endeavouring for
thirty years to support the cause of Constitutional Monarchy, as the
best Government in the world, and there he saw it in perfection, not
only in its intrinsic attributes, but in the universal respect and
adhesion with which it was received. He said, though he did not
understand a word of English, he could have cried at the Queen's voice
in reading the Speech. He is very "impressionable," and I am convinced
at the time he was quite sincere in his appreciation.

I am vexed at not having been able to say anything publicly about all
this, as I believe I could have dispelled many misrepresentations; but
it cannot be helped. I have endeavoured throughout not to be selfish,
and I may as well keep up that feeling to the last. Ever, etc.

NORMANBY.

I told John Russell last night I regretted that he had vouched for the
intentions of Louis Napoleon. He said he had not done that, but owned
that he had said more than he ought. "The fact is, I did not know what
to say next. I stopped as one sometimes does, so I said that; I had
better have said something else!" Candid and characteristic!

[Footnote 6: Submitted to the Queen by Colonel Phipps.]

[Footnote 7: It appears from a Memorandum made about this time
by Prince Albert that when Lord Palmerston's retirement
became known, the Radical constituency of Marylebone wished to
present him with an Address of sympathy, and to invite him to
stand at the next Election, promising him to bring him in.
Sir Benjamin Hall (one of the Members) told them that they
had better wait till the explanation in Parliament had taken
place, for at present they knew nothing about the merits
of the case. This the Committee which had been organised
consented to do. After the Debate on the 4th of February, Sir
Benjamin called upon the Chairman of the Committee to ask him
whether they