PREFACE. THE Author of this Journal was the eldest son of Mr. Thomas Raikes, a rich and respected merchant in the city of London, who was descended from an ancient family in Yorkshire, and himself a personal friend of Mr. Pitt and of Mr. Wilberforce. His son was educated at Eton, where he became a fair classical scholar. In his nineteenth year he was sent abroad with a private tutor. In the course of his travels he visited most of the German courts, and made himself extensively acquainted with modern languages. On his return to England, he became a partner in his father's house; but having little inclination for mercantile affairs, and a marked preference for social and literary pursuits, he very soon established himself in the west end of the town, became a member of the fashionable clubs, and mixed largely in what is, by a somewhat questionable courtesy, denominated the best society. He married Miss Sophia Bayly, a daughter of Nathaniel Bayly, Esq., the proprietor of large estates in the West Indies. The entries in this Journal will show in what sort of society Mr. Raikes's life was passed, and the intimacies he formed. In the year 1832 (the year in which this Journal commences), embarrassments of the house with which he was connected compelled him to break up his establishment in London, and to settle in Paris, where he remained till 1846. He then returned to England; but by this time most of his early friends and associates were either dead, or dispersed in various directions; and not long after his own health began to decline. He passed some months in Ireland with his friend Lord Glengall, and then went to Bath, to be near a still older friend, the late Lord Alvanley, who was confined there by illness; after which he took up his abode at Brighton, where he died on the 3rd of July, 1848, in the 70th year of his age. Mr. Raikes visited St. Petersburg in the year 1831, and a few years afterwards he published the result of his observations on Russia in the shape of "Letters from St. Petersburg." In the course of his residence at Paris he likewise published a work entitled " Paris since 1830." JOURNAL, &c. 1832. LONDON, Friday, 6th January. I had to-day a curious conversation with Matuscewitz*; he was just returned from the Conference †, which had sat very late, and I could see that things were not going on smoothly, which indeed he allowed very frankly. Still," said he, "there is a way by which everything now might be arranged finally, and the peace of Europe rendered certain; though 66 * Count Matuscewitz, who had been employed in the chancellerie at St. Petersburgh, was sent to London in 1830 to act as joint plenipotentiary with Prince Lieven at the Conference. He took root in this country, where he resided many years, speaking the language perfectly, and adopting all the habits and tastes of an Englishman. He left England on being appointed Russian minister at Naples. The Conference was opened in London in November, 1830, when the plenipotentiaries of Austria, Russia, Prussia, France, and England met for the purpose of settling by negotiation the affairs of Belgium and Holland. They succeeded in effecting the separation of the two kingdoms, and in averting the war with which Europe was threatened at that time. one individual seems anxious to do everything which would prevent it, and embroil the question more and more." I at first thought he meant Talleyrand, with whom I knew he had had some difference of opinion on the Conference. "No," said he, “I mean the King of Holland, who is obstinate, and perverse beyond conception, and if anything will produce war, it will be his headstrong conduct." I was rather surprised at this observation, because there seems a general feeling abroad that Russia is secretly abetting Holland not to accede to the treaty, as it could hardly be supposed that so small a state would set all the Five Powers at defiance without some underhand assurance of aid from a powerful quarter. I then remarked that, whatever might occur, one circumstance alone was sufficient, in my opinion, to prevent a war in Europe; that was, the want of money: such an event would produce bankruptcy to the different governments, and, moreover, would tend to throw England, ruled as she now is, into the arms of France. His answer was, "I pretend not to say that there will be war; but if a real cause arises for it, no dread of bankruptcy or pecuniary motives will stop it; and then, should your surmise be true, England will see how little she has to gain by clinging to France in her present state." These words are rather mysterious; but still I cannot help thinking that the Russians are trying what they can do by this semblance of menace. Lord Allen, with whom I dined tête-à-tête, grognon chez lui, comme ailleurs. Tuesday, 10th. The accounts from Paris alarming, and everything looks woeful. Wednesday, 11th. - French funds fell 5 per cent. Thursday, 12th. - The panic subsiding, a soothing protocol appeared from the Conference. The feigned delay of Russia to ratify the treaty seems to have had a good effect for Holland, and I think that some modifications will be made in her favour, as to the navigation of the canals and the settlement of Luxembourg; then a formal ratification may probably take place, at least pro tempore; for which purpose a delay of fifteen days longer is agreed to. Notwithstanding his permission from the King to create peers, Lord Grey seems evidently unwilling to proceed to this unconstitutional extremity; the feeling to-day is that a compromise may take place between the Government and the Tories, in order to obviate this expedient; that a modification may still be made of the bill in the Commons, to which Lords Harrowby, Wharncliffe, Bristol, Haddington, and it is said the bishops, are not averse. Saturday, 14th. - Périer's brother and another Frenchman, M. Glasson, arrived last night from Paris, with a most private dispatch to Talleyrand, to insist at the Conference that the two fortresses of Marienbourg and Philippeville shall not be in the number of those to be demolished. Périer threatens * Casimir Périer, who six months previously had succeeded M. Lafitte as president of the council in the ministry of King LouisPhilippe. |