‘The policy of substituting ships protected by heavy iron plates need not enter into the consideration’

The policy of substituting ships protected by heavy iron plates need not enter into the consideration even if it were deemed desirable to increase this class of vessels they could be best obtained from private builders and reliance upon such ships is not yet so far established as to warrant any Government in discontinuing the preparation of wooden ships. Palmerston held no illusions about either the Emperor or Gladstone. He observed that sending an inferior naval force would only be over ruled by a Superior Naval Force of the Federal Government. Palmerston knew it did not affect Britain’s interests directly but served to make people here more ready to complete their defences. he listed off the schemes that he was sure the French Emperor fancied co-operation with Russia to dismember the Turkish Empire afterwards the Rhine and perhaps Belgium but all in the most friendly Manner & Spirit towards England.