Chapter VII

LORD PALMERSTON’S LAST CONTEST WITH THE QUEEN.

The Sleswig-Holstein Question--The Danish Succession--Palmerston’s Partisanship--The “Danification” of the Duchies--The Letters-Patent of Christian VIII.--The Revolution of ’48--The Sleswig-Holstein Treaty of Berlin--Salic Law in the Duchies--Palmerston’s Intrigue with the Russian Ambassador--The Protocol of 1850--The Queen’s Objections to it--Prince Albert’s Advice to the Prince of Noër--The Treaty of London--Lord Malmesbury’s Fatal Blunder--His Mistake as to the Mandate of the Diet--Letters-Patent of Frederick VII.--His Death--Accession of Christian IX.--Revolt of the Duchies--Proclamation of the Duke of Augustenburg as Sovereign--Mr. Gladstone’s Popular Budget--Death of Sir George Cornewall Lewis--The Queen’s Letter to Lady Theresa Lewis--The Dispute with Brazil--The Prison Ministers Bill--A South Kensington Job--Hoodwinking the Commons--A “Scene” in the House of Commons--A Ministerial Defeat--Sir George Grey and the City Police--The Civil War in America--Escape of the _Alabama_--Illegal Seizure of the _Alexandra_--Blockade Running--Proclamation Abolishing Slavery--Progress of the War--Net Results of the Campaigns 164