70 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



some legal form with regard to the Suez Canal. The 

 Councils- General are summoned to meet next month ; 

 Lord Palmerston's attacks have stirred public feeling ; 

 the French press of all shades of opinion, with true 

 patriotic feeling, has strongly condemned them. We 

 ought to take advantage of this state of things. I 

 send you the draft of a circular, which might also be 

 sent to the Chambers of Commerce, whom we will 

 ask to pass resolutions in favour of our enterprise." 



To M. Thouvenel, Constantinople. 



" LONDON, August 2, 1857. 



" After Lord Palmer ston's declarations I am more 

 certain of success than ever. When the time comes 

 the financial co-operation of France may be counted 

 upon without a doubt. 



" No one here has ventured to stand by the First 

 Lord of the Treasury ; he has been condemned by the 

 leading men in the country, even by those who, in 

 the critical position now occupied by England, think 

 it their duty to keep him in office. I had been told 

 of this by letter while in Paris, but I thought it best 

 to come over here and satisfy myself that such really 

 was the case. I may add that my own observa- 

 tions, to say nothing of the exceptional warmth of my 

 greeting, fully confirm this view. 



" I agree with you that the Constantinople press 

 should be very prudent, and I have already urged my 

 friends to treat the position of the Porte, powerless 



