of Russia by the entrance
of English and French ships of war into the Black Sea, under the
pretext of bringing off Consuls from Varna, and of looking after the
grain-ships at the Sulina mouth of the Danube. This information has
hitherto been only communicated by telegraph; but it is calculated
to lead to serious consequences, of which Lord Stratford must be
perfectly well aware.

[Footnote 32: The Emperor had made certain suggestions to Lord
Cowley, which the British Government were willing to adopt;
but the anti-Russian feeling was increasing daily in the
nation, and, as will be seen from the Queen's letter of the
27th of November, Lord Stratford seemed resolved on war.]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

OSBORNE, _27th November 1853._

The Queen has received Lord Aberdeen's letter of yesterday. She is
sorry to find that after all a considerable change was made in the
form of the French proposal. She is not aware at present of what that
change consists in and is therefore unable to form an opinion as
to the effects of its introduction, but she quite concurs in Lord
Aberdeen's apprehensions with regard to the effect of Lord Stratford's
orders to the Fleet. The perusal of Lord Stratford's Despatches of the
5th inst. has given the Queen the strongest impression that, whilst
guarding himself against the possibility of being called to account
for acting in opposition to his instructions, he is pushing us deeper
and deeper into the War policy which we wish to escape. Wherefore
should three poor Turkish steamers go to the Crimea, but to beard the
Russian Fleet and tempt it to come out of Sebastopol, which would thus
constitute the much desired contingency for our combined Fleets to
attack it, and so engage us irretrievably!

The Queen must seriously call upon Lord Aberdeen and the Cabinet to
consider whether they are justified in allowing such a state of things
to continue!

[Pageheading: THE CZAR TO THE QUEEN]

_The Emperor of Russia to Queen Victoria._

2
S. PETERSBOURG, _le -- Decembre 1853._
14

MADAME,--Je remercie votre Majeste d'avoir eu la bonte de repondre
aussi amicalement que franchement a la lettre que j'ai eu l'honneur
de lui ecrire. Je la remercie egalement de la foi qu'elle accorde a
ma parole,--je crois le meriter, je l'avoue,--28 annees d'une vie
politique, souvent fort penible, ne peuvent donner le droit a person