And now he has this serious and difficult complication to deal with, and still I find him always fair and amiable in his way of looking at all these things, and bearing the almost unbearable annoyance and plagues of his arduous position with a degree of firmness and courage worthy of kinder treatment from the European Powers than he has received....
_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._ SOUTH STREET, _9th October 1840._ Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty.

Lord John Russell has directed a Cabinet to be summoned for to-morrow at three o'clock, at which he intends to propose that "Instructions should be sent to Lord Granville to ascertain from the French Government what terms France would consider satisfactory for the immediate arrangement of the affairs of the East." That if such terms shall appear satisfactory, Mr Henry Bulwer[44] or some person of similar rank should be sent to Constantinople to urge their acceptance on the Sultan, and that our Allies should be invited to co-operate in that negotiation.
That the French Government should be informed that the only mode in which the pacification can be carried into effect is by Mehemet Ali's accepting the terms of the treaty and then receiving from the Sultan the terms which shall have been previously agreed upon by his Allies.
Lord Melbourne feels certain that Lord Palmerston will not accede to these proposals, and indeed Lord Melbourne himself much doubts whether, after all that has passed, it would be right to submit the whole matter, as it were, to the decision and arbitration of France.
Lord John Russell seems very much determined to press this question to a decision to-morrow, and Lord Melbourne much fears that such a decision may lead to serious consequences.
Lord Melbourne is much grieved to have to send your Majesty intelligence which he knows will greatly disquiet your Majesty, but there is no remedy for it.
Lord Melbourne's lumbago is somewhat better to-day but not much.

His being compelled to attend at the House of Lords yesterday prevented him from recovering.

He has remained in bed to-day, and hopes to be better to-morrow.
[Footnote 44: Henry Bulwer (1801-1872), afterwards Lord Dalling, then First Secretary of the Embassy in Paris, became Minister to Spain, 1843-1848; to the United States, 1849-1852; to Tuscany, 1852-1855; and Ambassador to Turkey, 1858-1865.] [Pageheading: PACIFIC INSTRUCTIONS] _Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._ SOUTH STREET, _9th October 1840._ Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty.

He has just received your Majesty's box.