VOL. 9J(1) Summary of Contents. Mainly political correspondence and memorand. Politics...

VOL. 9J(1) Summary of Contents. Mainly political correspondence and memorand. Politics and government: Lord Palmerston and the Queen: increasing tension; copy extracts of letters from the Queen and Prince Albert 1850-1852 (fs. 13-28); J.R. assures the Queen of the need to maintain the dignity of her position towards foreign countries and reports a cabinet warning to Palmerston (fs. 39-40). New reform bill: cabinet views; question of small boroughs; Lord Lansdowne cannot agree to their disfranchisement and offers his resignation; the Queen's qualified approval of the bill; Lord Palmerston considers that changes without a fixed principle are dangerous to the party (fs. 50-1). J.R. refuses to see Manchester deputation on ground that other boroughs would request similar interviews. Interment acts: question of purchase of cemeteries at Woking. Royal Mint: question of B. Pistrucci's employment "the greatest artist (gem engraver and medallist) in Europe" (H. Labouchere fs. 145-8). Arctic exploration: question of Admiralty support for Lieut Pim's expedition. Correspondence: J.R.; the Queen and Prince Albert; Lords Palmerston, Lansdowne; Sir C. Wood; Sir F. Baring; H. Labouchere; T. Milner Gibson; Sir R. Murchison and others. Foreign affairs: France: Louis Napoleon's coup d'etat; Lord Normanby defends his despatches; he complains of Lord Palmerston's actions and lack of support; his memorandum on the quarrel (fs. 193-202). Fears of French aggression against England; naval preparations. Correspondence: J.R.; Lords Normanby, Palmerston, Lansdowne; Sir F. Baring. Foreign affairs: Cuba: question of a naval "visit" (fs. 84-5). Correspondence: Sir F. Baring. Colonial affairs: Cape of Good Hope: Fox Maule's proposals for military postings; question of Sir H. Smith's recall on ground of his failure to conduct the Kaffir war with "energy and judgment" (fs. 141-2). Defence: Sir John Burgoyne's memorandum and summary of world wide security (fs. 100-18). Defence: Navy: senior appointments and postings. Question of conversion of iron steamers to troopships. Correspondence: Sir F. Baring. Defence: Army: question of a reserve force; comparison with National Guard of Paris; estimates of cost. Correspondence: Lord Palmerston. Scotland: question of representation of Clackmannon and Kinross. Scottish views on new reform bill; question of "fictitious votes" (fs. 157-60). Correspondence: W. P. Adam; Lord Minto. Ecclesiastical: R. C. church benefices, Ireland; legal interpretation of acts; question of forfeiture of estates to the Crown (fs. 9-10). Oath of Supremacy: Lord Clancarty's objections. Episcopal incomes: Bishop of Durham's defence. Education: heads of a measure for Scotland. Ragged schools and pauper scholars. The Manchester scheme. Correspondence: James Moncrieff; Miss Amelia Murray; Bishop of St. Asaph. Personal: J.R. becomes president of Richmond Savings Bank. Correspondence: Edward Penryhn. Personal: Holland family papers: report on contents of deed boxes. Correspondence: R. Ducane. VOL. 9J(2) Summary of Contents. Political correspondence and memoranda. Politics and government: correspondence of J.R. and Lord Palmerston about the French affair and leading up to Palmerston's dismissal (fs. 29-4; 65-8; 80-1; 90-1; 112-13; 128-9); "...... misunderstanding perpetually renewed" (J.R., f. 30). J.R's offer to Palmerston of lord lieutenancy of Ireland is declined. Lord Clarendon considers that Palmerston's misdeeds should have been overlooked - "..... the danger of having him in opposition" (fs. 96-103). Views of Lords Lansdowne and Minto. Question of his successor at Foreign Office; Clarendon refuses; Granville accepts; confusion over delivery of the seals (of office) to the Queen. (fs. 128-31; 172-3). J.R. regrets loss of Lady Palmerston's friendship (fs. 176-7). Remaking the cabinet: Sir G. Grey doubtful about W. E. Gladstone's "High Church principles" (fs. 136-41) and Lord Clarendon considers he (Gladstone) has a "hair splitting mind" (fs. 198-201); J.R's attempt to bring the (Peelite) Duke of Newcastle into his government (fs. 204-7). House of Commons: question of ventilation and Dr. Reid's disagreement with Sir Charles Barry. Correspondence: Lord Seymour. Duchy of Cornwall: purchase of investment stock. Correspondence: J. R. Gardiner. Liverpool: question of custom's house staffing. Correspondence: Sir T. Fremantle. Foreign affairs: France: suspicion of Louis Napoleon's designs; statement of French naval ships (named); Lord Hardinge's defence proposals (fs. 9-14) Lord Palmerston's dismissal arising from his actions in regard to Louis Napoleon's coup d'état and Lord Normanby (fs. 29-46). Baron Brunnow (Russian envoy) gives views of senior diplomats and assures J.R. that they have played no part in the matter. Foreign affairs: Austria: Lord Palmerston's recollections of Prince Schwarzenberg and the Lady Ellenborough affair (fs. 82-3). Foreign affairs: Cuba: watching brief for the navy. Correspondence: Sir F. Baring. Colonial affairs: Cape of Good Hope: Kaffir war and troop recruitment. Correspondence: Lord Grey; Sir C. Wood. Ireland: land tenure legislation: Lord Donegall's losses. Personal: J.R. accepts Samuel Colt's offer of a revolver "as a curiosity" (fs. 69-70).

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