The
remonstrance of the Ambassador was a myth, Lord Lyons was a friend
of Sir Charles; but the latter was suspect at the time both in
England and France; in England for his speeches and motion on the
Civil List; in France, because, with Frederic Harrison, he had
helped to get some of the French Communists away from France; and
the French Government was watching him with spies. In Sir
Charles's motion Kinglake took much interest, refusing to join in
the cry against it as disloyal. Sir Charles, he said, spoke no
word against the Queen; and only brought the matter before the
House because challenged to repeat in Parliament the statements he
had made in the country. As a matter of policy he thought it
mistaken: "Move in such a matter openly, and party discipline
compels your defeat; bring pressure to bear on a Cabinet, some of
its members are on your side, and you may gain your point." Sir
Charles's speech was calmly argumentative, and to many minds
convincing; it provoked a passionate reply from Gladstone; and when
Mr. Auberon Herbert following declared himself a Republican, a
tumult arose such as in those pre-Milesian days had rarely been
witnessed in the House.
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