VOL. 13G Summary of Contents. Political correspondence and memoranda. (There are...

VOL. 13G Summary of Contents. Political correspondence and memoranda. (There are many notes, in this and subsequent volumes, of letters received from the Queen and the Prince Consort; the originals were returned to the Queen at J.R's request to his executors see Vol. 14D f.238. Copy extracts are found in this and later volumes as listed). Politics and government: correspondence leading up to change of government (June 12). J.R's political philosophy: "..... to stand between extremes ..... is the position which a Whig must always occupy" and his relations with Palmerston (fs. 181-2). Reform: the Conservative bill and J.R's adverse amendment (Mar. 20) "..... as the reform bill is my child, I shall not consent to see it hacked at the request of a sham mother" (fs. 116-17); question of John Bright's alternative bill; J.R. cannot risk an alignment with Bright although he admires his "frankness and fair dealing" (fs. 78-9). J.R. considers reviving his 1854 plan and Argyll agrees but thinks J.R's expression "the great body of the working class (to be enfranchised)" is "exactly what people dread most" (fs. 155-8). Political crisis: Lord Derby's decision to dissolve parliament (April 19); the debate on the address (June 7-10) and the resignation of the Derby administration (June 12). J.R. and Palmerston agree to form a new government on a "broad basis or bottom as it used to be called" (J.R. to Dean of Bristol, fs. 238-9); question of "headship". Palmerston seeks Granville's mediation; J.R. agrees to serve under Palmerston "in any office I might chuse" but not under Granville in third place, (fs. 266-9). Granville summoned by the Queen but refuses the "unexpected" task (fs. 272-3). Palmerston accepts and appoints J.R. foreign secretary. Correspondence: J.R.; the Queen; Sir J. Graham; Sir G. C. Lewis; Dukes of Argyll and Bedford; Lords Clarendon, Wensleydale, Palmerston, Granville; Sir C. Wood; Sir F. Baring; Hon. S. Herbert; Dean of Bristol and others. Foreign affairs: Italy, Austria and France: correspondence reflecting British anxiety and interest in the Italian question and leading up to the French invasion of northern Italy in support of Piedmont against Austria. J.R's strong Italian sympathies (fs. 235-7); diplomatic and political activity and comment; Foreign Office despatches to Lord Cowley (fs. 40-67); J.R's situation report to City electors (fs. 194-5); Nassau Senior's report from Paris (fs. 196-7). Question of papal territories; J.R. considers foreign troop occupation of Roman states the major question "..... but the name of the Pope frightens them all out of their spiritual wits" (fs. 139-A-B). Sir G. C. Lewis's views: his sympathies are with the Italians but "Naples and Rome are worse governed than Lombardy" and he prefers Austrian to French rule (fs. 94-9). The Queen and Italy (copy extracts from her letters to J.R. as foreign secretary, June-Dec. 1859, fs. 24-35). Correspondence: J.R.; the Queen; Lords Clarendon, Minto, Palmerston; Sir G. C. Lewis and others. Ecclesiastical: church notes legislation: question of payment for church repairs and services; Archbishop of Canterbury objects to J.R's proposal that expense should be met from voluntary contributions (fs. 177-8). Personal: J.R's Life of C. J. Fox: his gift of a first volume to John Forster.

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Personal and family papers