resignation (_viz._ that the investigation was a
dangerous breach of a great constitutional principle, and that
similar enquiries could never thenceforward be refused), see
Parker's _Sir James Graham_, vol. ii. pp. 268-272.

The secession of the Peelites, however, did not make the
Ministry a Whig Government. The last Whig Administration was
that which left office early in 1852. Had Lord John Russell
succeeded in his attempt on the present occasion, the Whig
party might have endured _co nomine_; but Palmerston had,
notwithstanding Cobden's distrust, been popular with the
Radicals, and henceforward his supporters must be known as the
Liberal Party.]

[Footnote 39: Sir Charles Wood became First Lord of the
Admiralty (Mr. Vernon Smith succeeding him at the Board of
Control), Sir George Lewis succeeded Mr Gladstone at the
Exchequer, and the Colonial Office was offered to and accepted
by Lord John Russell, who was at the moment in Paris on his
way to attend the Vienna Conference.]

[Pageheading: CRIMEAN HEROES]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _27th February 1855_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Since I last wrote to you, we have again had much
trouble, as Van de Weyer will have informed you. We have lost our
_three_ best men--certainly from the purest and best of motives--but
the result is _unfortunate_. Altogether, affairs are very unsettled
and very unsatisfactory. The good people here are really a little
_mad_, but I am certain it _will_ right itself; one must only _not_
give way to the nonsense and absurdity one hears.

Lord John's return to office _under_ Lord Palmerston is very
extraordinary![40] I hope he may do good in his mission; he is most
anxious for it.

Many thanks for your kind letter of the 23rd. The frost has left us,
which personally I regret, as it agrees so well with me; but I believe
it was very necessary on account of the great distress which was
prevalent, so many people being thrown out of employment.

The Emperor's meditated voyage[41]--though natural in him to wish--I
think most alarming; in fact, I don't know how things are to go on
without him, independent of the great danger he exposes himself
to besides. I own it makes one tremble, for _his life_ is of such
_immense importance_. I still hope that he may be deterred from it,
but Walewski was in a great state about it.

On Thursday we s