Notwithstanding these threats, notwithstanding these repeated menaces, and notwithstanding every effort made by Her Majesty’s Government to prevent it, federal execution took place, as it was intended to take place.  One day after the most menacing epistle which I have ever read—­the day after the copy of the treaty of 1852 had been solemnly placed before the Diet by Sir Alexander Malet—­on December 27, federal execution took place.  At any rate, I do not think that is evidence of the just influence of England in the councils of Germany.

What was the course of Her Majesty’s Government at this critical conjuncture?  Why, Sir, they went again to France.  After all that had happened their only expedient was to go and supplicate France.  I will read the letter. [Mr. Layard:  Hear, hear!] The honourable gentleman seems to triumph in the recollection of mistakes and disappointments.  I will give him the date, but I should think it must really be seared upon his conscience.  December 27 is the date of federal execution:  and Her Majesty’s Government must have been in a state of complete panic, because on the 28th they made application to France, which is answered in a few hours by Lord Cowley:  ’I said Her Majesty’s Government were most sincerely anxious to——­’ (laughter).  I wish really to be candid, not to misrepresent anything, and to put the case before the House without garbling any of the dispatches.—­’I said that Her Majesty’s Government were most sincerely anxious to act with the Imperial Government in this question.’  No doubt they were.  I am vindicating your conduct.  I believe in your sincerity throughout.  It is only your intense incapacity that I denounce.  The passage in the dispatch is Shakespearian; it is one of those dramatic descriptions which only a masterly pen could accomplish.  Lord Cowley went on: 

Her Majesty’s Government felt that if the two Powers could agree, war might be avoided; otherwise the danger of war was imminent.  M. Drouyn de Lhuys said he partook this opinion; but as his Excellency made no further observation, I remarked it would be a grievous thing if the difference of opinion which had arisen upon the merits of a general Congress were to produce an estrangement which would leave each Government to pursue its own course.  I hoped that this would not be the case.  Her Majesty’s Government would do all in their power to avoid it.  I presumed I might give them the assurance that the Imperial Government were not decided to reject the notion of a Conference. (No. 4, 444.)

Well, Sir, this received a curt and unsatisfactory reply.  Nothing could be obtained from the plaintive appeal of Lord Cowley.  Well, what did Her Majesty’s Government do?  Having received information that the threat of federal execution had been fulfilled, having appealed to France, and been treated in the manner I have described, what did the Government do?  Why, the Secretary of State, within twenty-four hours afterwards, penned the fiercest dispatch he had ever yet written.  It is dated December 31, 1863, and it is addressed to Sir Andrew Buchanan: