Confronted  by  the  enmity  of  the  general  public,  of  the
friends  of  Thiers,  and  of  Liberals  irritated  by  the  news  from
the  East  and  the  demands  of  Europe,  Guizot  found  himself
in  a  difficult  situation,  when  the  discussion  on  the  foreign
policy  of  France  opened  in  the  Chamber  of  Deputies.  On
November  25  the  Ministry  had  to  meet  a  fierce  combined
attack  by  Thiers  and  Berryer,  who  severely  blamed  Louis
Philippe  and  his  Ministers  for  having  humiliated  by  their
cowardice  and  lack  of  confidence  in  the  people  a  great
nation  that  was  still  capable  of  wiping  out  the  disgrace  of
1815.  By  dint  of  eloquence  and  coolness,  like  that  of  Mole
in  former  days  under  his  own  attacks,  Guizot  succeeded  in
repelling  the  assault.  "The  battle  is  won,"  he  said,  "but
it  is  only  the  beginning  of  a  long  and  severe  campaign."
He  could  not  indeed  feel  secure  of  having  reached  harbour,
but  at  any  rate  he  had  weathered  the  most  dangerous  point.
In  the  midst  of  Guizot's  manoeuvres  in  Paris,  an  in-
valuable supporter  turned  up  for  him  in  London.  On
November  15,  1840,  Queen  Victoria  wrote  Palmerston  a
decisive  though  courteously  worded  letter,  which  brought
her  impetuous  Minister  to  reason.  "My  one  ardent  desire
is  for  peace;    I  attach  a  high,  nay,  extreme  importance  to


232  Louis  Philippe  and  Guizot  [CH.
