VOL. 11C Summary of Contents. Political correspondence and memoranda, mainly concerned...

PRO 30/22/11C

1854 Jan. 1-Apr. 30

VOL. 11C Summary of Contents. Political correspondence and memoranda, mainly concerned with the reform bill and events leading to the out break of the Crimean war. Politics and government: reform bill (Feb. 13): questions of municipal franchise; county,Scotland and university representation; disfranchised seats; revenue officers' voting rights etc. Lord Lansdowne objects to word "new" in title (fs. 29-32). Preparation of the bill: legal definitions. The £6 franchise: fears and objections. Question of bill's position in Queen's speech: Lord Aberdeen's views on subject order "..... priority has no connection with ..... importance" (fs. 109-10). J.R. fears that foreign affairs will kill the bill. Second reading: crucial question of postponement; divided views; Lord Aberdeen agrees to postponement but considers it will be "indefinite" (fs. 206-7). J.R's distress; his alternative proposals and desire to leave the government (fs. 274-5); he withdraws the bill (April 11); praise from colleagues "..... we have preserved your honour, character and influence" (Aberdeen, fs. 366-7); he is persuaded not to resign "..... a great political error" (S. Herbert, fs. 350-3). Correspondence: J.R; Lords Aberdeen, Palmerston, Lansdowne, Panmure, Fortescue, Shaftesbury, Oranmore, Minto, Clarendon, Normanby, Rutherfurd; Sir J. Graham; Sir C. Wood; W. Coulson; Bishop of Durham; J.R. Mowbray; John Bright; Dukes of Argyll and Bedford; Sir F. Baring; G. Vernon; Sir D. Le Marchant; Hon. S. Herbert. Poor law removal legislation: question of postponement. Proposed separation of war and colonial departments. Civil service: intimations of change. Correspondence: J.R.; M. T. Baines; Lords Palmerston and Aberdeen; W. E. Gladstone. Foreign affairs: Russia and Turkey - the Crimean war: speculation on possible first moves in a war; Duke of Newcastle considers 5000 English troops will be needed. Constantinople: British ambassador, Lord Stratford's quarrel with Admiral Dundas deplored by cabinet. Doubts on sincerity of French support; Sir J. Graham considers Turkish armies "..... a broken Reed, at best" (fs. 67-8). Negotiations with Austria; her ambivalent attitude; her troops on the Serbian frontier; Duke of Cambridge's visit to Vienna. Speculation on attitudes of Prussia, Persia and Greece; questions of Swedish participation and raising a Polish Legion "..... we should have to pay it" (Clarendon, fs. 325-6). Sir C. Trevelyan's proposal to bring Muslim troops from India. Declaration of war against Russia; J.R's draft announcement from the cabinet to the Queen (fs. 297-99) and Aberdeen's amendments (fs. 301-2); publication of secret correspondence and Minto's comments (fs. 321-2). J.R's war strategy (fs. 420-1); Lord Aberdeen's philosophy and doubts "..... what are the main objects we have in view" (fs. 422-6). Correspondence: J.R.; Lords Minto, Clarendon, Aberdeen, Lansdowne; Sir J. Graham; Dukes of Newcastle and Bedford; A. H. Layard and others. Foreign affairs: Italy: Baron Brenier's mission to Naples; Lord Minto's meetings with Italian politicians. Lord Aberdeen's view of the Italian situation (fs. 142-3). Foreign affairs: U.S.A.: renewed Anglo-American tension. Education: in Scotland "..... so general and so traditional" (Argyll, fs. 23-8). Oxford university reform. Correspondence: W. E. Gladstone. Personal: J.R's authorship: Moore's journals: comment and correspondence from T. Longman; G. H. Money; Mrs B. Moore; Richard Bentley; J. W. Croker and others. Personal: Life of C. J. Fox: G. C. Lewis's scholarship; his correspondence with and assistance to "..... pray translate the passage from Demosthenes" (f. 201).

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