overbearing conduct and demeanour had induced Napoleon to
despatch the French Fleet from Toulon to Salamis, to watch
events.]

[Pageheading: THE CZAR CONCILIATORY]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _23rd March 1853._

The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's letter of yesterday, and
returns Lord Cowley's. Everything appears to her to depend upon the
real nature of the demands made by Russia, and the Queen was therefore
glad to hear from Lord Aberdeen that he found nothing in Prince
Menschikoff's instructions to justify the reproach of territorial
aggression or hostile ambition. Still the mode of proceeding at
Constantinople is not such as would be resorted to towards a "sick
friend for whose life there exists much solicitude." This ought
clearly to be stated to Baron Brunnow, in the Queen's opinion.

The two Drafts to Sir H. Seymour and Lord Cowley struck the Queen as
very temperate, conciliatory, and dignified.

_The Earl of Clarendon to Queen Victoria._

_29th March 1853._

Lord Clarendon presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and humbly
begs to state that he had this afternoon a satisfactory interview with
the French Ambassador, who told him that the Emperor had to a certain
extent been deceived upon the Eastern Question, and that he had given
his decision without fully considering the matter in all its bearings.
But that he had since viewed it in a different light, and had so
far recognised the propriety of the course adopted by your Majesty's
Government, that if the sailing order had not been improperly
published in the _Moniteur_ the French Fleet should not have quitted
Toulon.

Count Walewski further stated that _the Persons_ who had thus advised
the Emperor, finding that their views were not supported by facts as
they hoped, had endeavoured to throw the blame upon England and to
show that France had been abandoned and Russia preferred by your
Majesty's Government, and that hence had arisen the want of cordiality
and good feeling with respect to which Lord Clarendon some days ago
spoke to Count Walewski. He, however, assured Lord Clarendon that all
this had now passed away, and that the Emperor was as anxious as
ever for a good understanding with England, and particularly upon
all matters connected with the East. Lord Clarendon expressed
great satisfaction that this momentary difference between the two
Governments should be at an end.

Count Walewsk