Indeed, dearest Uncle, I have worked hard this last week to bring about something conciliatory, and I hope and trust I have succeeded.

Lord Melbourne, who left Claremont on the same day as we did, was confined to the house till yesterday, when he arrived here, by a lumbago and bilious attack; but I had a constant correspondence with him on this unfortunate and alarming question, and he is, I can assure you, fully aware of the danger, and as anxious as we are to set matters right; and so is Lord John, and Palmerston, I hope, is getting more reasonable.

They have settled in consequence of Thiers' two despatches that Palmerston should write to Lord Ponsonby to urge the Porte _not_ to dispossess Mehemet Ali finally of Egypt, and I believe the other foreign Ministers at Constantinople will receive similar instructions; this despatch Palmerston will send to Granville (to-night, I believe) to be communicated to Thiers, and _I_ have made Palmerston _promise_ to put into the despatch to Granville "that it would be a source of great satisfaction to England, if this would be the cause of bringing back France to that alliance (with the other Four Powers) from which we had seen her depart with so much regret." I hope this will have a good effect.

Now, in _my_ humble opinion (but this I say of myself and without anybody's knowledge), if France, upon this, were to make some sort of advance, and were to _cease arming_, I think all would do; for you see, if France goes on arming, we shall hardly be justified in not doing the same, and that would be very bad.

Couldn't you suggest this to the King and Thiers, as of yourself?
My anxiety is great for the return of amity and concord, I can assure you.