Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _9th October 1840._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. Lord John
Russell has directed a Cabinet to be summoned for to-morrow at three
o'clock, at which he intends to propose that "Instructions should be
sent to Lord Granville to ascertain from the French Government what
terms France would consider satisfactory for the immediate arrangement
of the affairs of the East."

That if such terms shall appear satisfactory, Mr Henry Bulwer[44] or
some person of similar rank should be sent to Constantinople to urge
their acceptance on the Sultan, and that our Allies should be invited
to co-operate in that negotiation.

That the French Government should be informed that the only mode in
which the pacification can be carried into effect is by Mehemet Ali's
accepting the terms of the treaty and then receiving from the Sultan
the terms which shall have been previously agreed upon by his Allies.

Lord Melbourne feels certain that Lord Palmerston will not accede
to these proposals, and indeed Lord Melbourne himself much doubts
whether, after all that has passed, it would be right to submit the
whole matter, as it were, to the decision and arbitration of France.
Lord John Russell seems very much determined to press this question
to a decision to-morrow, and Lord Melbourne much fears that such a
decision may lead to serious consequences.

Lord Melbourne is much grieved to have to send your Majesty
intelligence which he knows will greatly disquiet your Majesty, but
there is no remedy for it.

Lord Melbourne's lumbago is somewhat better to-day but not much. His
being compelled to attend at the House of Lords yesterday prevented
him from recovering. He has remained in bed to-day, and hopes to be
better to-morrow.

[Footnote 44: Henry Bulwer (1801-1872), afterwards Lord
Dalling, then First Secretary of the Embassy in Paris, became
Minister to Spain, 1843-1848; to the United States, 1849-1852;
to Tuscany, 1852-1855; and Ambassador to Turkey, 1858-1865.]

[Pageheading: PACIFIC INSTRUCTIONS]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _9th October 1840._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He has just
received your Majesty's box. He will do all he can to put everything
together, and it does not appear to him that there is any necessity
on any side for a decisive step at present. A letter is arrived to-day
from Bulwer,