But we shall know more by the 16th.

I have desired a cabinet to be summoned for that day, but the summons will not go out till Saturday.

So if you wish to stop it, write to Hammond[769]." From this it would appear that Russia had been approached[770] but that Russell's chief concern was the attitude of France, that his proposed private communication to Cowley had been despatched and that he was waiting an answer which might be expected before the sixteenth.

If so his expectations were negatived by that crisis now on in the French Ministry over the Italian question prohibiting consideration of any other matter.

On October 15 Thouvenel was dismissed, but his formal retirement from office did not take place until October 24.