the Russian
government was prepared to withdraw from the position they had
rashly taken; but suddenly her Majesty's government, to use a
technical phrase, threw over the plenipotentiary, and, instead of
threatening war, if the Treaty of Paris were violated, agreed to
arrangements by which the violation of that treaty should be
sanctioned by England, and, in the form of a congress, showed
themselves guaranteeing their own humiliation. That Mr. Odo Russell
made no mistake is quite obvious, because he has since been selected
to be her Majesty's ambassador at the most important court of
Europe. Gentlemen, what will be the consequence of this
extraordinary weakness on the part of the British government it is
difficult to foresee. Already we hear that Sebastopol is to be
refortified, nor can any man doubt that the entire command of the
Black Sea will soon be in the possession of Russia. The time may
not be distant when we may hear of the Russian power in the Persian
Gulf, and what effect that may have upon the dominions of England
and upon those possessions on the productions of which you every
year more and more depend, are questions upon which it will be well
for you on proper occasions to meditate.

I come now to that question which most deeply interests you at this
moment, and that is our relations with the United States. I
approved the government referring this question to arbitration. It
was only following the policy of Lord Stanley. My noble friend
disapproved the negotiations being carried on at Washington. I
confess that I would willingly have persuaded myself that this was
not a mistake, but reflection has convinced me that my noble friend
was right. I remember the successful negotiation of the
Clayton-Bulwer treaty by Sir Henry Bulwer. I flattered myself that
treaties at Washington might be successfully negotiated; but I agree
with my noble friend that his general view was far more sound than
my own. But no one, when that commission was sent forth, for a
moment could anticipate the course of its conduct under the strict
injunctions of the government. We believed that commission was sent
to ascertain what points should be submitted to arbitration, to be
decided by the principles of the law of nations. We had not the
slightest idea that that commission was sent with power and
instructions to alter the law of nations itself. When that result
was announced, we expressed our entire disapprobation; and y