cret
despatch in answer, entirely approving the conduct and language of
Lord Cowley.

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN'S APPROVAL]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

OSBORNE, _10th March 1860_.

The Queen, in returning Lord Cowley's private letter and secret
despatch, agrees with Lord John Russell, that he has deserved praise
for his mode of answering the Emperor's Napoleonic address.[15] ...

[Footnote 15: The ratification by the House of Commons of the
Commercial Treaty, and Mr Gladstone's message to the Emperor,
enclosing a copy of his Budget speech, gave the Emperor an
opportunity of making amends to Lord Cowley for his hasty
language.]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Charles Wood._

OSBORNE, _12th March 1860_.

The Queen is sorry to find that Lord Canning does not approve of any
of the modes suggested by Sir Charles Wood, for giving the Chiefs
security of title and possession. The object appears to the Queen so
important as a means of protection against the temptation of our own
representatives to seize upon the possessions of these Chiefs at any
convenient opportunity--and as a means of giving confidence to those
Chiefs that the Queen's Government is not actuated by rapacity--that
she must hope Lord Canning will indicate some mode, appearing less
objectionable to him, for attaining the same object. The Queen would
be glad to have a copy of Lord Canning's letter.

[Pageheading: SWISS CLAIMS]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _25th March 1860_.

The Queen has just seen the Swiss Note, and has returned it to the
Foreign Office.[16] With reference to Lord John Russell's letter of
this morning, she has only to express her anxiety that her Government
should not look upon this question as one of an _optional_ character
to take up or not. We have no choice, and the consideration whether
what we are doing may be pleasing or displeasing to France cannot be
entertained for a moment, although the Queen is grieved to find from
Lord Cowley's last letter that he considers the question from that
point of view. We are parties to a treaty of guarantee together with
other Powers, and have as such a clear and solemn _duty_ to perform.
We should therefore openly and avowedly call upon our partners in
this treaty and guarantee to consider the note addressed by the Swiss
Confederation to us.

The proper course would be to summon the Ministers of the Contracting