er received this evening,
and will return the enclosures to-morrow.

The Queen gathers from what she has read that the Emperor is bent upon
going, and that nothing in the shape of remonstrance or argument will
turn him from his purpose.

Should the Emperor's journey take place, Lord Cowley's accompanying
him appears to the Queen in all respects a most useful step, and the
Queen gives accordingly her permission for him to go.

The Emperor's taking the management of the whole Campaign, as well as
the command of our Forces, entirely into his own hands, involves so
many considerations that it may be worth considering whether we
ought not previously to come to a more direct and comprehensive
understanding with him, such as full and verbal discussion would alone
afford--to which, in some shape or other, his present stay at Boulogne
might afford some facilities.

[Pageheading: DEATH OF THE CZAR]

_From Sir Ralph Abercromby._[42]

THE HAGUE. _2nd March 1855_. (Received 3.45 P.M.)

The Emperor Nicholas died this morning at 1 A.M. of Pulmonic Apoplexy,
after an attack of Influenza.[43]

[Footnote 42: Who had married the sister of Lady John
Russell.]

[Footnote 43: Nothing had been known publicly of the Czar's
illness, and the startling news of his death caused a
sensation in England of tragedy rather than of joy. Mr
Kinglake has vividly depicted the feelings of agony and
mortification with which the news of the earlier Russian
reverses had been received by Nicholas. On the 1st of March,
he received the full account of the disaster at Eupatoria,
after which he became delirious, and died on the following
day. He had stated, in referring to the horrors of that
Crimean winter, that Russia had still two Generals on whom
she could rely: Generals Janvier and Fevrier; and Leech, with
matchless art, now made his famous cartoon--"General Fevrier
turned traitor," depicting Death, in the uniform of a Russian
officer, laying his bony hand on the Emperor's heart.]

[Pageheading: THE COMMITTEE OF ENQUIRY]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

HOUSE OF COMMONS, _2nd March 1855_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty....

The death of the Emperor of Russia may or may not produce important
changes in the state of affairs. It is probable that the Grand Duke
Hereditary will succeed quietly, notwithstanding the notion that a