e
inconsistent for him than it was for General Cavaignac, as President
of the _Republique Democratique_, to get rid of the Roman Republic,
and to reinstate the Pope by force of arms.

The Queen wishes Lord Derby to communicate this letter to Lord
Malmesbury, from whom she has also just heard upon this subject.

[Footnote 31: In this letter the President of the Republic had
expressed his admiration at the conduct of the French troops
in the Roman expedition under General Oudinot, and his warm
approval of the policy that led to the campaign.]

_Mr Disraeli to Queen Victoria._

HOUSE OF COMMONS, _19th April 1852._
(_Monday night, half-past twelve._)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, with his humble duty to your Majesty,
reports to your Majesty that, after a dull debate, significant only
by two of the subordinate Members of the late Administration declaring
their hostility to the Militia Bill, Lord John Russell rose at eleven
o'clock and announced his determination to oppose the second
reading of it.[32] His speech was one of his ablest--statesmanlike,
argumentative, terse, and playful; and the effect he produced was
considerable.

Your Majesty's Government, about to attempt to reply to it, gave way
to Lord Palmerston, who changed the feeling of the House, and indeed
entirely carried it away in a speech of extraordinary vigour and
high-spirited tone.

The Ministers were willing to have taken the division on his Lordship
sitting down, but as the late Government wished to reply, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer would not oppose the adjournment of the
debate.

The elements of calculation as to the division are very complicated,
but the Chancellor of the Exchequer is still inclined to believe that
the second reading of the Bill will be carried.

[Footnote 32: This tactical blunder, much condemned at the
time, estranged many of the Whigs from Lord John.]

[Pageheading: THE BUDGET]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th April 1852._

The Queen wishes to remind Lord Derby that the time for the
presentation of the Budget to the House of Commons being very close
at hand, none of the Measures referring to the finances of the country
which the Government may have to propose have as yet been laid before
her.

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _26th April 1852._

The Queen has received Lord Derby's explanation of his vie