but, as I understand Mr. Backhouse, eighteen months must elapse before Turkey can be evacuated to the Danube.  I had much conversation with him as to other points.  On looking into the Act of the Congress I find the Powers adhering to it may be considered as binding themselves not to disturb the territorial arrangements that Act establishes; but they are not bound to maintain them.  Thus if France appropriated to herself Spain, she would violate the treaty, but no Power signing the treaty would be obliged, by virtue of that Act, to make war upon France for doing so.

That the general treaty contains no guarantee is evident from the specific guarantee of the cessions made by Saxony to Prussia, which would have been unnecessary if the spirit of the treaty had been that of existent guarantee.

October 13.

Cabinet room.  Found Lord Rosslyn there.  Read the treaty.

The King was very well yesterday.  The Recorder’s Report was so long that half was deferred.

The last dispatches from Persia, which arrived on Friday, were opened at the Foreign Office, and read by everybody.  Aberdeen sent them to the Duke, who has probably taken them to Walmer in his carriage.  The Chairs sent for them, and could not get them.  I must put a stop to this.  I have written to Lord Heytesbury to beg he will in future forward letters to their address.

Wrote a ‘proposed draft’ to Lord Heytesbury, directing him, if he should have reason to think the Russians intend to exact further concession from Persia, to intimate that such an attempt will be considered by his Majesty as unfriendly to himself as an Asiatic Power.  I doubt my getting the Duke to agree to the sending of this despatch; but I shall try.

October 14.

Carried my proposed letter to Lord Heytesbury to Aberdeen, who agrees to send it with a trifling alteration, at least one not very important.  Read to him my proposed letter to Lord Heytesbury on the Peace of Adrianople.  He seemed to approve of great part of it.  He has done nothing at his yet, and seems to think there is no hurry!

We shall stand very ill in Parliament if we have nothing to show.  I think mine is a good cadre of a letter, but that specific instructions should be given to Lord Heytesbury as to what he shall endeavour to obtain in a separate despatch.

Read my drafts to Lord Rosslyn after dinner.  He seemed to think the view I took was the right, and that much of what I had written was very good, but that it might be shortened.  So I think.

October 15.

Henry copied the draft to Lord Heytesbury, for the Duke, to whom I sent it with a letter.

Showed the Chairs the draft to Lord Heytesbury on Persia.  They were much pleased with it.  So was old Jones.  Sent it to the Duke.  In little doubt his approving it.

Received from the Duke the Persian despatches which I gave to the Chairs.  The Duke had not read them.