I am very anxious that neither you nor Mr.
Lindsay should mention those matters any more, as any discussion about them must tend to impair the good relations between the French and English Governments.

Might I ask you to show this note to Mr.Lindsay, your fellow traveller[1099]." The next day, in the Commons, Sir James Ferguson appealed to Roebuck to withdraw his motion altogether as inexpedient, because of the uncertainty of events in America and as sure to be defeated if pressed to a vote.

Palmerston approved this suggestion and urged that if the debate be continued speakers should refrain from all further mention of the personal questions that had been raised, since these were not proper matters for discussion in the House and were embarrassing to the French Emperor.

But Palmerston's skill in management was unavailing in this case and the "muss" (as Mason called it) was continued when Lindsay entered upon a long account of the interview with Napoleon, renewed the accusations of Russell's "revelations" to Seward and advised Roebuck not to withdraw his motion but to postpone it "until Monday." The _Scotia_, he said was due and any moment news from America might change the governmental policy.

Again the fat was in the fire.