London, July 1, 1864
At present the great excitement here is about the Danish war. The conference which was to prove the grand panacea of the troubles was very skilfully played off by the Germans, and has ended in putting the Danes in a worse situation than before. England has practically been aiding the game of their enemies, whilst proposing, I doubt not sincerely enough, to desire to sustain them. The question now is whether there is to be any such thing as Denmark left. Whilst this question is pending, the dispute among the English seems to be which ministry, the Whig or the Tory, will be in at the death. Next Monday, the great trial is to begin the Commons. Mr. D’Israeli is to move, that the policy of the ins has lowered the country in the eyes of the world, without pledging himself that the outs, if they should come in, would do anything at all different to raise it. In other words, what ought to have been a great question involving a broad examination of the interests of all Europe, is to be dwarfed into a tussle for the loaves and fishes of office. There will be some good speaking on both sides, but the present expectation is that the Ministry will scrape through by a small majority and Denmark will be left to its fate. Should it so turn out, there will not be likely to be anything more done this year of that sort, and the Ministry will tide over to 1865.
So far as this result affects the interests of America, I do not think anything more could be desired. Although I have little idea that the other party, however much it may sympathise with the rebels, will adopt any substantially different course towards us, if it should come in, there would be a change more or less marked in the personal relations already formed, and with it might follow a little more of friction in the movement on the two sides. I incline to think it best to let well enough alone. For myself I have jogged on with the present set more than three years, and if to that I should be able to add the fourth, perhaps at the end of that period they and I might be quitting together. At the age of Lord Palmerston, it would not surprise me if he should not outlive the Parliament. In that case, the chances would be that Lord Derby would come in without any serious conflict at the elections.
