russia would soon be marvellously developed. Lord
Clarendon has had the honour to hold a very long conversation with
Her Royal Highness, and has been more than ever astonished at the
_statesmanlike_ and comprehensive views which she takes of the policy
of Prussia, both internal and foreign, and of the _duties_ of a
Constitutional King.

Lord Clarendon is not at all astonished, but very much pleased, to
find how appreciated and beloved Her Royal Highness is by all classes.
Every member of the Royal Family has spoken of her to Lord Clarendon
in terms of admiration, and through various channels he has had
opportunities of learning how strong the feeling of educated and
enlightened people is towards Her Royal Highness. All persons say
most truly that any one who saw Her Royal Highness yesterday can never
forget her.

Lord Clarendon is sorry to say that the Princess Royal has a feverish
cold to-day--nothing at all serious--and as Her Royal Highness stayed
in bed this afternoon, did not attend the great concert at the Palace
this evening, and, as Lord Clarendon hopes, will not go to Dantzic
to-morrow, Her Royal Highness will probably be quite fit for the many
fatiguing duties she will have to perform next week....

[Pageheading: THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON'S AIMS]

[Pageheading: AUSTRIA AND PRUSSIA]

_The Earl of Clarendon to Queen Victoria._

BERLIN, _20th October 1861_.

Lord Clarendon presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and humbly
begs to say that yesterday he had the honour of being sent for by the
Queen, with whom he had a long and interesting conversation....

The Queen expressed her deep regret at the tone of the English
newspapers, but admitted that the German Press repaid the English
insults with large interest. Her Majesty said, however, that she
and the King, and all sensible men with whom their Majesties hold
communication, were determined to disregard the attacks, and by every
possible means to draw nearer to England.

Lord Clarendon took the opportunity of warning the Queen respecting
the Emperor and his _idee fixe_, that his dynasty could only be
secured by the territorial aggrandisement of France. Lord Clarendon
expressed his conviction that if the King had resembled M. de Cavour,
some strong proposals would already have been made to them, but that
the Emperor's plans had been foiled by the honourable character of the
King. There ought, nevertheless, to be no delusion here, but on the
contra