No. 3.-Lord J. Russell to Earl Cowley.

Foreign Office, July 5, 1859. My Lord, I have to state to your Excellency, with reference to the report contained in your despatch of the 4th instant, of a conversation which you had had with Count Walewski, that Her Majesty's Government have learned with extreme concern that the question of annexing Savoy to France has been in agitation.

The Emperor's declaration at Milan that the "enemies of the Emperor represented him as making war to aggrandize the territories of France, gave great satisfaction in this country. in Germany it was confidently said that this declaration would not

be adhered to.

But

My Lord,-In the course of the interview which I had with

Count Walewski this afternoon, his Excellency said that I might give your Lordship the assurance that the Emperor had abandoned all idea of annexing Savoy to France.

I said that Her Majesty's Government would receive this intelligence with unmixed satisfaction, and that I rejoiced that the Emperor had relinquished a project, the success of which would have been of no real value to France, and would have seriously have affected His Majesty's position in the eyes of Europe. I have, &c.

your Excellency's despatch of yesterday, stating that Count Walewski had informed you that you might give me the assurance that the Emperor had abandoned the idea of annexing Savoy to France; and I have to instruct your Excellency to state to Count Walewski that Her Majesty's Government highly appreciate the spirit which has prompted His Imperial Majesty thus distinctly to disclaim a project which, while it would have contributed no real benefit to France, would have very materially affected the Emperor's reputation in Europe. For the Powers of Europe not only attach considerable importance to the maintenance of Savoy in its present relation towards Sardinia, but they would also have looked upon any attempt to sever that connection for the augmentation of French territory as a manifest contradiction of the disinterested policy which the Emperor has declared induced him to engage in the present war.

(Signed)

I am, &c.

J. RUSSELL.

No. 13. Mr. Grey to Lord J. Russell.-(Received January 10.)

Paris, January 9, 1860.

My Lord,-Dr. Kern, the Swiss Minister at this Court, has informed me confidentially that in consequence of the rumour of the approaching cession of Savoy by Sardinia to France having lately been renewed to such an extent, and having reached him from so many quarters, he had thought it advisable to seek an interview with M. Baroche, and to question his Excellency on the subject, which he felt himself justified in doing, as it had repeatedly been mentioned in the public prints. M.

Baroche received him this afternoon, and in reply to Dr. Kern's inquiry whether there was any truth in the above rumour, said, "Cette question n'a aucun intérêt, ni actuel ni prochain;" but that should any change occur hereafter, he thought it only just that it should only be made after a complete understanding between France and Switzerland, and with due regard to those provisions of the Treaties of 1815 which stipulated that in case of the cession of Savoy to France, a portion of it sufficient. to insure a good line of defence should be at the same time ceded to Switzerland.

Dr. Kern said that Switzerland would of course prefer the status quo, but that he was glad to hear what his Excellency said with regard to the Treaties of 1815; and he left M. Baroche apparently satisfied with the assurances he had received, although M. Baroche's expression, "should any change occur hereafter," was open to another interpretation. He appears, however, subsequently to have been alarmed by one of his colleagues, who repeated to him that he was sure the cession of Savoy to France was already determined upon by Sardinia, in return. for which France was to sanction the annexation of the Duchies and Romagna to Sardinia, and that M. Baroche, in giving him the assurances quoted above, had spoken in ignorance of the real state of affairs.

The question, Dr. Kern repeated again and again, was so serious and so materially affected, not only the independence, but the very existence of Switzerland, that he hoped Her Majesty's Government would give it their earnest consideration in that spirit of friendship which Great Britain had so often shown towards his country.

No. 17.-Earl Cowley to Lord J. Russell.-(Received January 26.) Paris, January 25, 1860.

(Extract.)

It is more than probable that your Lordship has been made acquainted with a rumour prevalent to a certain extent in Paris, that there exists a secret Treaty between France and Sardinia entered into before the late war, by which the latter binds herself, in case her territory should be considerably increased in Italy by the events of the war, to cede Savoy to France.

I have no reason to believe in the existence of this Treaty, and for many reasons am inclined to doubt it; still I cannot undertake upon myself to affirm that some sort of engagement or understanding respecting Savoy has not been entered into between the two Go

vernments.

But let this be as it may, it is my duty to call your Lordship's attention to the fact that the question of the annexation of Savoy to France is beginning to occupy the public mind very seriously, and I cannot doubt is more or less in the contemplation of the French Government, should the Duchies, and more particularly the Romagna, be annexed to Sardinia.

with regard to the annexation of Savoy and the County of Nice to France.

You will recollect that on the occasion of announcing to Parliament the intelligence of the Preliminaries of Villafranca, I stated the satisfaction which I felt in assuring the House of Commons that no cession of Savoy to France was in contemplation, and that, had it been otherwise, great alarm would have been felt on the Rhine and throughout Germany.

Your Lordship had at this time received the solemn assurrance from Count Walewski that the idea of the annexation of Savoy and Nice to France had, if once entertained, been abandoned.

I do not wish, at present, to do battle in argument upon the question. If ever entertained, it must be considered by all the Great Powers of Europe, and the grounds of such a proposal critically examined.

But I wish you to state to M. Thouvenel at once the view which we take of this question in connection with the general interests of Europe, and the position of the Emperor of the French.

The Emperor cannot fail to have present to his mind the alarm and anxiety which prevailed in Europe during the past. summer; the arming of Prussia and the German Powers; the

Foreign Office, January 28, 1860. My Lord, I have received and laid before the Queen your Lordship's despatch of yesterday, respecting Savoy.

I have no difficulty in giving you instructions as to the language which you should hold,

rumours of alliances, offensive and defensive, which agitated the public mind. The Emperor can well recall that period; for he stated how much of glory he was content to forego, how much of noble aspirations to disappoint, in order to give satisfaction and peace to Europe.

It is to be hoped and desired

that the present tendency should be to soothe the troubled waves and restore calm to the agitated atmosphere.

But the question of the annexation of Savoy would be regarded not so much as composing past troubles as raising the elements for new storms. Natural frontiers the Alps and the Rhine -the repetition of the history of long and bloody wars-the commencement of a new struggle between France and Europe: such are the ideas which would pass through men's minds at the announcement of such an acquisition.

Let the Emperor recall the noble words in which he gave forth at Milan a sentiment not less just than becoming the Sovereign of so great an Empire.

In addressing the Italians, His Imperial Majesty said, "Your enemies, who are mine, have endeavoured to diminish the universal sympathy for your cause which prevailed in Europe, by making it believed that I only made war from motives of personal ambition, or for the aggrandisement of the territory of France. If persons exist who

do not understand the age in which they live, I am not of that number. In the enlightened state of public opinion, the moral influence that can be exercised contributes more to grandeur at the present time than barren conquests, and that moral influence I seek with pride by contributing to render free one of the fairest portions of Europe."

I choose rather to suppose that the Emperor will adhere consistently to this declaration than that he will run the risk of arousing jealousies and fears in Europe

which he would find it difficult thereafter to appease.

I am, &c.
(Signed) J. RUSSELL.

No. 26.-Lord J. Russell to Sir J. Hudson.

Foreign Office, February 6, 1860. Sir,-In speaking to Count Cavour respecting the rumoured annexation of Savoy, you will not disguise from Count Cavour that, in the opinion of Her Majesty's Government, it would be a blot in the escutcheon of the House of Savoy if the King of Sardinia were to yield to France the cradle of his ancient and illustrious House.

You will likewise point out that if the military position of Sardinia will be weak, in face of the fortresses possessed by Austria on the Mincio and the Adige, that weakness will not be cured by placing on another frontier the great power of France in possession of the passes of the Alps, commanding an easy access to Italy in any case of hostile discussion between the French and Sardinian Governments. I am, &c. (Signed)

J. RUSSELL.

No. 27.-Sir J. Hudson to Lord J. Russell.-(Received February 8.)

Turin, February 3, 1860.

My Lord,-With reference to your Lordship's despatch of the 31st ultimo, relative to the reported intended cession of Savoy to France, I have the honour to report that I took an opportunity this day to inquire of Count Cavour whether he could account for rumours which were in