cide anything,
it is the fate of Holstein.

Whether this will be an attack upon Germany or not will be easily
deduced from the fact that the attempt on the part of Denmark to
incorporate into her polity the Duchy of Schleswig was declared by
the Diet in 1846 to be a declaration of war against Germany merely on
account of its intimate connection with the Duchy of Holstein.

The Queen does not wish her Minister to be Minister for Germany, but
merely to treat that country with the same consideration which is due
to every country on whose interests we mean to decide.

The Queen would wish her correspondence upon this subject to be
brought before the Cabinet, and will abide by their deliberate
opinion.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th June 1850._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Charles will have told you how kindly and amiably
the Prince of Prussia has come here, travelling night and day from
St Petersburg, in order to be in time for the christening of our
little _Arthur_.[20] I wish you could (and you will, for he intends
stopping at Brussels) hear him speak, for he is so straightforward,
conciliatory, and yet firm of purpose; I have a great esteem and
respect for him. The poor King of Prussia is recovered,[21] and has
been received with great enthusiasm on the first occasion of his first
reappearance in public.

We are in a _crisis_, no one knowing how this debate upon this most
unfortunate Greek business will end. It is most unfortunate, for
whatever way it ends, it must do great harm.

I must now conclude, for I am quite overpowered by the heat. Ever your
truly devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 20: The present Duke of Connaught, born on the 1st
of May, the birthday of the Duke of Wellington, who was one of
the sponsors, and after whom he was named.]

[Footnote 21: From an attempt to assassinate him.]

[Pageheading: THE DON PACIFICO DEBATE]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

CHESHAM PLACE, _26th June 1850._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
has the honour to report that in the debate of last night Viscount
Palmerston defended the whole Foreign Policy of the Government in a
speech of four hours and three quarters.[22] This speech was one
of the most masterly ever delivered, going through the details of
transactions in the various parts of the world, and appealing from
time to time to great principles of