he Queen must also express her decided wish that Lord Derby will not
allow Lord Malmesbury to move a single step in this affair without it
has been previously concerted with Lord Derby.[58]

[Footnote 57:

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury._
[_Draft._]
OSBORNE, _14th December 1852._

The Queen has received Lord Malmesbury's letter of yesterday,
reporting his conversation with Count Walewski, who had asked
him to ascertain from the Queen "whether any objections would
be raised on her part or on that of the Princess Adelaide's
family to his (the Emperor's) contracting a marriage with Her
Serene Highness."

In a question which affects the entire prospects and happiness
of a third person, and that person being a near and dear
relation of hers, the Queen feels herself conscientiously
precluded from forming an opinion of her own, and consequently
from taking the slightest part in it either directly or
indirectly. The only proper persons to refer to for the
consideration of and decision on so serious a proposal are the
parents of the Princess and the Princess herself.]

[Footnote 58: In his reply Lord Derby observed that it did not
appear to him that the matter was at present in so critical
a position. Lord Malmesbury would have little difficulty in
showing Count Walewski, without any interruption of a friendly
_entente_, that the intended overtures were not likely to be
favourably received. He suggested that Lord Malmesbury should
be instructed to treat the proposition as emanating, not from
the Emperor, but unofficially, from Count Walewski; and that
he should, also unofficially, dissuade him from pressing the
subject further; such course could have no injurious effect
upon the political aspect of Europe. Lord Derby could not
understand how the affair, however it might turn out, could
affect the Queen's "personal character."

He suggested that the following words should be substituted
for the last paragraph: "And while she fully appreciates
the desire expressed by Count Walewski on the part of his
Government, '_de resserrer les liens de l'amitie entre
l'Angleterre et la France_,' she feels bound to leave the
consideration and decision of so serious a proposal to the
unbiassed judgment of the parents of the Princess and the
Princess herself, the only pers