sumption of office, with a very sorry Cabinet. I
believe, however, that it is quite necessary they should have a trial,
and then have done with it. Provided the country remains quiet, and
they are prudent in their Foreign Policy, I shall take the trial as
patiently as I can....

Alas! your confidence in our excellent Lord Granville is no longer
of any avail, though I hope ere long he will be at the Foreign Office
again,[15] and I cannot say that his successor,[16] who has never been
in office (as indeed is the case with almost all the new Ministers),
inspires me with confidence. I see that Louis Napoleon has again
seized one of the adherents, or rathermore one of the men of business,
of the poor Orleans....

There are some terrible stories from Madrid of people having told the
poor Queen that the King had arranged this attack on her person, and
that she was anxious to abdicate.[17] If you should hear anything of
this kind, be kind enough to tell me of it. With Albert's love (he is
well fagged with business), ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 15: Lord Granville held the Foreign Secretaryship in
1870-1874, and again in 1880-1885.]

[Footnote 16: Lord Malmesbury.]

[Footnote 17: The Queen was stabbed by a priest when returning
from church.]

[Pageheading: LORD MALMESBURY]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _24th February 1852._

The Queen thinks that it would be of the highest importance that not
only Lord Malmesbury (as is always usual) should receive the necessary
information from Lord Granville, but that Lord Derby should see him
and hear from him the state of all the critical questions now pending
on Foreign Affairs. Lord Granville has made himself master in a very
short time of all the very intricate subjects with which his
Office has to deal, and she must here bear testimony to the extreme
discretion, good sense, and calmness with which he has conducted the
very responsible and difficult post of Foreign Secretary.

[Pageheading: NEW APPOINTMENTS]

_The Earl of Derby to the Prince Albert._

ST JAMES'S SQUARE, _25th February 1852._ (_5_ P.M.)

SIR,--I have delayed longer than I could have wished acknowledging the
letter which I had the honour to receive from your Royal Highness last
night, in hopes that by this time I should have been enabled to solve
the difficulties connected with the Household Appointments; but I
regret to