t lead to war with England; and that he was
commissioned to propose to France in that case to join the Northern
States in war against England, and to offer France in that case the
restoration of the French Province of Canada.

General Scott will probably find himself much mistaken as to the
success of his overtures; for the French Government is more disposed
towards the South than the North, and is probably thinking more about
Cotton than about Canada....

[Pageheading: AN ULTIMATUM]

_Earl Russell to Queen Victoria._

FOREIGN OFFICE, _29th November 1861_.

Lord Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty; Mr Gladstone
has undertaken to explain to your Majesty what has taken place at the
Cabinet to-day.

Lord Russell proposes to frame a draft for to-morrow's Cabinet of a
despatch to Lord Lyons, directing him to ask for the release of Messrs
Mason and Slidell and their two companions, and an apology. In case
these requirements should be refused, Lord Lyons should ask for his
passports.

The Lord Chancellor and the law officers of the Crown are clear upon
the law of the case.

Lord Russell will be glad to have your Majesty's opinion on the draft
which will go to your Majesty about four o'clock to-morrow, without
loss of time, as the packet goes to-morrow evening.[58]

[Footnote 58: The draft of the despatch to Lord Lyons reached
Windsor on the evening of the 30th, and, in spite of his weak
and suffering state, the Prince prepared the draft of the
Queen's letter early the following morning. The letter has
been printed in _facsimile_ by Sir Theodore Martin, who
adds that it has a special value as "representing the last
political Memorandum written by the Prince, while it was at
the same time inferior to none of them, as will presently be
seen, in the importance of its results. It shows, like most of
his Memorandums, by the corrections in the Queen's hand, how
the minds of both were continually brought to bear upon the
subjects with which they dealt."]

[Pageheading: THE PRINCE'S LAST LETTER]

_Queen Victoria to Earl Russell._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _1st December 1861_.

_Note in the Queen's handwriting._

[This draft was the last the beloved Prince ever wrote; he was very
unwell at the time, and when he brought it in to the Queen, he said:
"I could hardly hold my pen."

VICTORIA R.]

The Queen returns these important drafts, which upon the