TOPICS OF THE DAY.
PALMERSTON IN PARIS.
Oun " on dit " as to the movements of Lord Palmerston in Paris is borne out by events. The noble Ex-Secretary has secured the kind offices of Lord Brougham as his chaperon, and has been introduced into good and great society ; where he has been dili- gently. "doing the amiable." If his motives for this opportune trip after an absence of sixteen years are only to be guessed, the probable effects of it are obvious enough. Some said that when the Whigs last came into office, King. Louis Philippe expressly objected to Lord Palmerston as Foreign Secretary. That the astute old King should commit such an impertinence, is un- likely. According to another guess, a reluctance was felt in a mansion whose hospitality Louis Philippe had shared, to select as the special channel of communication with France the King's "favourite aversion." No doubt, it would have been very awk- ward; and it would therefore be much more convenient to the agreeable Viscount if he could remove all those little dislikes. So he has been making a round of calls in Paris, just as a candidate for the English Parliament calls on the voters. If such a thing were done by a French statesman in London, what would not the Paris papers exclaim against the truckling to "la perfide Albion"? We British have no such inflammable suspicions. We have no very lively feelings at all about Lord Palmerston's present plans ; and, in the possible event of his return to office, should he possess the good-will of the Parisians, and should he feel some necessity for retaining that good-will, we in England should be all the better pleased—should think him all the cleverer for it, and all the safer as a Minister.
But the most interesting part of the matter is, the effect of personal intercourse in softening even national animosities. The Mayors of Boulogne and Folkestone dined together a few years ago, and straight abandoned those prospects of mutual invasion that had excited the municipal minds to martial ardour. Lord Palmerston was accounted in Paris as the evil genius of Europe. The evil genius visits Paris. The eye seeks his foot, and lo 1 it is not cloven. He walks, he bows, he smiles ! He is invited to dinner, and he comes ! He eats, and can of course digest; he listens, and therefore can ruminate. He utters liberal sentiments. In short, he is human, and not inhumane. If you tickle him, he will laugh ; though, of course, the Parisians did not ascertain that fact experimentally. It may be inferred. The Devil is not so black as he is painted. King Louis Philippe is quite charmed with Lord Palmerston : the events of 1840, it is now believed in Paris, were but an official necessity, like the big talking in the Chambers two or three years ago.
What a pity this same plan is not more universally applied. Let Queen Victoria begin by inviting President Polk to dinner, and asking General Cass or Mr. Allen to look in to tea : there is no saying what remarkable enlightenment of views on the Oregon question might follow, and not illegitimately follow, such inter- change of amenities.
Previous page
