been gathering to a climax for many years。
The unpopularity of Albert in high society had not diminished with time。 Aristocratic persons continued to regard him with disfavour； and he on his side； withdrew further and further into a contemptuous reserve。 For a moment； indeed； it appeared as if the dislike of the upper classes was about to be suddenly converted into cordiality； for they learnt with amazement that the Prince； during a country visit； had ridden to hounds and acquitted himself remarkably well。 They had always taken it for granted that his horsemanship was of some second…rate foreign quality； and here he was jumping five…barred gates and tearing after the fox as if he had been born and bred in Leicestershire。 They could hardly believe it； was it possible that they had made a mistake； and that Albert was a good fellow after all？ Had he wished to be thought so he would certainly have seized this opportunity； purchased several hunters； and used them constantly。 But he had no such desire； hunting bored him； and made Victoria nervous。 He continued； as before； to ride； as he himself put it； for exercise or convenience； not for amusement； and it was agreed that though the Prince； no doubt； could keep in his saddle well enough； he was no sportsman。
This was a serious matter。 It was not merely that Albert was laughed at by fine ladies and sneered at by fine gentlemen； it was not merely that Victoria； who before her marriage had cut some figure in society； had； under her husband's influence； almost completely given it up。 Since Charles the Second the sovereigns of England had； with a single exception； always been unfashionable； and the fact that the exception was George the Fourth seemed to give an added significance to the rule。 What was grave was not the lack of fashion； but the lack of other and more important qualities。 The hostility of the upper classes was symptomatic of an antagonism more profound than one of manners or even of tastes。 The Prince； in a word； was un…English。 What that word precisely meant it was difficult to say； but the fact was patent to every eye。 Lord Palmerston； also； was not fashionable； the great Whig aristocrats looked askance at him； and only tolerated him as an unpleasant necessity thrust upon them by fate。 But Lord Palmerston was English through and through； there was something in him that expressed； with extraordinary vigour； the fundamental qualities of the English race。 And he was the very antithesis of the Prince。 By a curious chance it so happened that this typical Englishman was brought into closer contact than any other of his countrymen with the alien from over the sea。 It thus fell out that differences which； in more fortunate circumstances； might have been smoothed away and obliterated； became accentuated to the highest pitch。 All the mysterious forces in Albert's soul leapt out to do battle with his adversary； and； in the long and violent conflict that followed； it almost seemed as if he was struggling with England herself。
Palmerston's whole life had been spent in the government of the country。 At twenty…two he had been a Minister； at twenty…five he had been offered the Chancellorship of the Exchequer； which； with that prudence which formed so unexpected a part of his character； he had declined to accept。 His first spell of office had lasted uninterruptedly for twenty…one years。 When Lord Grey came into power he received the Foreign Secretaryship； a post which he continued to occupy； with two intervals； for another twenty…one years。 Throughout this period his reputation with the public had steadily grown； and when； in 1846； he became Foreign Secretary for the third time； his position in the country was almost； if not quite； on an equality with that of the Prime Minister； Lord John Russell。 He was a tall； big man of sixty…two； with a jaunty air； a large face； dyed whiskers； and a long sardonic upper lip。 His private life was far from respectable； but he had greatly strengthened his position in society by marrying； late in life； Lady Cowper； the sister of Lord Melbourne； and one of the most influential of the Whig hostesses。 Powerful； experienced； and supremely self…confident； he naturally paid very little attention to Albert。 Why should he？ The Prince was interested in foreign affairs？ Very well； then； let the Prince pay attention to himto him； who had been a Cabinet Minister when Albert was in the cradle； who was the chosen leader of a great nation； and who had never failed in anything he had undertaken in the whole course of his life。 Not that he wanted the Prince's attentionfar from it： so far as he could see； Albert was merely a young foreigner； who suffered from having no vices； and whose only claim to distinction was that he had happened to marry the Queen of England。 This estimate； as he found out to his cost； was a mistaken one。 Albert was by no means insignificant； and； behind Albert； there was another figure by no means insignificant eitherthere was Stockmar。
But Palmerston； busy with his plans； his ambitions； and the management of a great department； brushed all such considerations on one side； it was his favourite method of action。 He lived by instinctby a quick eye and a strong hand； a dexterous management of every crisis as it arose； a half…unconscious sense of the vital elements in a situation。 He was very bold； and nothing gave him more exhilaration than to steer the ship of state in a high wind； on a rough sea； with every stitch of canvas on her that she could carry。 But there is a point beyond which boldness becomes rashnessa point perceptible only to intuition and not to reason； and beyond that point Palmerston never went。 When he saw that the cast demanded it； he could go slowvery slow indeed in fact； his whole career； so full of vigorous adventure； was nevertheless a masterly example of the proverb； 〃tout vient a point a qui sait attendre。〃 But when he decided to go quick； nobody went quicker。 One day； returning from Osborne； he found that he had missed the train to London； he ordered a special； but the station master told him that to put a special train upon the line at that time of day would be dangerous and he could not allow it。 Palmerston insisted declaring that he had important business in London； which could not wait。 The station…master supported by all the officials； continued to demur the company； he said； could not possibly take the responsibility。 〃On MY responsibility； then！〃 said Palmerston； in his off…hand； peremptory way whereupon the station…master ordered up the train and the Foreign Secretary reached London in time for his work； without an accident。 The story； is typical of the happy valiance with which he conducted both his own affairs and those of the nation。 〃England；〃 he used to say； 〃is strong enough to brave consequences。〃 Apparently； under Palmerston's guidance； she was。 While the officials protested and shook in their shoes； he would wave them away with his airy 〃MY responsibility！〃 and carry the country swiftly along the line of his choice； to a triumphant destinationwithout an accident。 His immense popularity was the result partly of his diplomatic successes； partly of his extraordinary personal affability； but chiefly of the genuine intensity with which he responded to the feelings and supported the interests of his countrymen。 The public knew that it had in Lord Palmerston not only a high…mettled master； but also a devoted servantthat he was； in every sense of the word； a public man。 When he was Prime Minister； he noticed that iron hurdles had been put up on the grass in the Green Park； he immediately wrote to the Minister responsible； ordering； in the severest language； their instant removal； declaring that they were 〃an intolerable nuisance；〃 and that the purpose of the grass was 〃to be walked upon freely and without restraint by the people； old and young； for whose enjoyment the parks are maintained。〃 It was in this spirit that； as Foreign Secretary； he watched over the interests of Englishmen abroad。 Nothing could be more agreeable for Englishmen； but foreign governments were less pleased。 They found Lord Palmerston interfering； exasperating； and alarming。 In Paris they spoke with bated breath of 〃ce terrible milord Palmerston；〃 and in Germany they made a little song about him
〃Hat der Teufel einen Sohn； So ist er sicher Palmerston。〃
But their complaints； their threats； and their agitations were all in vain。 Palmerston； with his upper lip sardonically curving； braved consequences； and held on his course。
The first diplomatic crisis which arose after his return to office； though the Prince and the Queen were closely concerned with it； passed off without serious disagreement between the Court and the Minister。 For some years past a curious problem had been perplexing the chanceries of Europe。 Spain； ever since the time of Napoleon a prey to civil convulsions； had settled down for a short interval to a state of comparative quiet under the rule of Christina； the Queen Mother； and her daughter Isabella； the young Queen。 In 1846； the question of Isabella's marriage； which had for long been the subject of diplomatic speculations； suddenly became acute。 Various candidates for her hand were proposedamong others； two cousins of her own； another Spanish prince； and Prince Leopold of Saxe…Coburg； a first cousin of Victoria's and Albert's； for different reasons； however； none of these young men seemed altogether satisfactory。 Isabella was not yet sixteen； and it might have been supposed that her marriage could be put off for a few years more； but this was considered to be out of the question。 〃Vous ne savez pas；〃 said a high authority； 〃ce que c'est que ces princesses espagnoles； elles ont le diable au corps； et on a toujours dit que si nous ne nous hations pas； l'heritier viendrait avant le mari。〃 It might also have been supposed that the young Queen's marriage was a matter to be settled by herself； her mother； and the Spanish Government； but this again was far from being the case。 It had become； by one of those periodical reversions to the ways of the eighteenth century； which； it is rumoured； are still not unknown in diplomacy； a question of dominating importance in the foreign policies both of France and England。