Chapter I: Preface

It was the practice of the late Lord Lyons to preserve carefully the whole of his correspondence, whether official, semi-official, or private, and upon his death this accumulation of papers passed into the possession of his nephew, the present Duke of Norfolk.

I have been able to draw to some extent upon my own diary and recollections of the five years (1881-1886) during which I served as a member of Lord Lyons's staff at the Paris Embassy, but that period represents only a very small portion of his official career, and it is from the above mentioned papers that this work has been almost entirely compiled. All the material was placed unreservedly at my disposal, and I desire to make full acknowledgment of this mark of confidence. I desire also to express my gratitude to the numerous persons who have readily given their consent to the publication of important letters in which they possess a proprietary interest: notably to Emily Lady Ampthill, Lord Clarendon, Lord Derby, Lady Granville, Lady Ermyntrude Malet, Lord Rosebery, the Hon. Rollo Russell, Lord Salisbury, and Lord Sanderson.

I am indebted to Mr. J. F. Marshall and Mr. Alan Parsons for their assistance in sifting the enormous mass of documents found at Norfolk House, and to the Hon. Arnold Keppel for a service rendered at a subsequent period. Finally, I have to thank Mrs. Wilfrid Ward for an interesting contribution entitled "Lord Lyons in private life," containing personal details only available to a near relative.

NEWTON.

_October, 1913._

CONTENTS OF VOL. I

CHAPTER I
PAGE
EARLY LIFE

Early Life--Enters Diplomatic Service, 1839--Appointed unpaid
attaché at Athens--Unfavourable prospects--Paid attaché at
Rome, 1853--Condition of the Papal States--Life at Rome--Appointed
Secretary of Legation at Florence--Question of the
'Tavola di Stato'--Sent to Naples to deal with the case of the
_Cagliari_--Success of his mission and appointment as Minister
at Florence--Succeeds to peerage on death of his father--Appointed
Minister at Washington, 1858 1

CHAPTER II

WASHINGTON

1859-1860

Arrival at Washington--Effect produced in America by the Franco-Austrian
War--Feeling in America with regard to England--San
Juan and Mexico--Rising passions between Northern and
Southern States--Disclaimer of matrimonial intentions--Accompanies
Prince of Wales on Canadian tour--Delight of President
Buchanan at receiving a letter from Queen Victoria--Prince
of Wales's visit to the United States 12