eps now to be taken to preserve
peace, is very judicious, and fully concurs with the letter sent
out by the Secret Committee. She now returns it, together with the
despatch.

The despatches from Prince Schwartzenberg to Count Buol are
satisfactory in one sense, as showing a readiness to return to the
English Alliance, but unfortunately only under the supposition that
we would make war upon liberty together; they exhibit a profound
ignorance of this country.[24] The Queen is quite sure that Lord
Derby will know how to accept all that is favourable in the Austrian
overtures without letting it be supposed that we could for a moment
think of joining in the policy pursued at this moment by the great
Continental Powers. As Lord Derby's speech has been referred to by
Prince Schwartzenberg, it would furnish the best text for the answer.
The President seems really to have been seriously ill.

[Footnote 23: The French had been pressing the Swiss
Government to expel refugees, and Austria supported the French
President.]

[Footnote 24: Lord Derby had urged that a more conciliatory
message should accompany Lord Granville's last despatch,
which, because of its unfriendly tone, Count Buol had delayed
sending on to Vienna. The precise language (he said) must
depend on what information Count Buol could supply.]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

OSBORNE, _14th March 1852._

The Queen has received this morning Lord Derby's letter respecting the
St Albans' Disfranchisement Bill, and is glad to hear that Lord Derby
means to take up this Bill as dropped by the late Government. Whether
the mode of transferring these seats proposed by Lord Derby will meet
with as little opposition in Parliament as he anticipates, the Queen
is not able to form a correct judgment of. It may be liable to
the imputation of being intended to add to the power of the landed
interest. This might not be at all objectionable in itself, but it may
be doubtful how far the House of Commons may be disposed to concur in
it at the present moment. This will be for Lord Derby to consider, but
the Queen will not withhold her sanction from the measure.

She knows that Lord John Russell meant to give the vacant seats
to Birkenhead. Are not there two seats still vacant from the
Disfranchisement of Sudbury? and would it not be better (if so) to
dispose of all four at the same time? There is an impression also
gaining ground that