ir, and when I gave him his medal I told him I should make him one
of my Aides-de-camp for his very gallant conduct, to which he replied:
"I am amply repaid for everything!"[59]

_One must_ revere and love such soldiers as those! The account in the
_Times_ of Saturday is very correct and good.

I must, however, conclude now, hoping soon to hear from you again.
Could you kindly tell me if you could in a few days forward some
letters and papers with _safety_ to good Stockmar. Ever your devoted
Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 58: Prince Albert, in a Memorandum dated the 25th of
May, emphasised the difficulties in the way of peace caused
by the attitude of Austria, and the possibility of her passing
from the one alliance to the other.]

[Footnote 59: He was made a C.B. and a Brevet-Colonel; and
also received the Legion of Honour.]

[Pageheading: SUCCESSOR TO LORD DALHOUSIE]

_Queen Victoria to Mr Vernon Smith._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _19th June 1855_.

The Queen has received Mr Vernon Smith's letter on the subject of Lord
Dalhousie's resignation and the appointment of a successor. She
was somewhat astonished that the name of a successor to that most
important appointment should for the first time be brought before her
after all official steps for carrying it out had been completed.
If the selection should now not receive the Queen's approval, it is
evident that great awkwardness must arise.[60]

[Footnote 60: Mr Vernon Smith, in reply, referred to the
statutory power then existing of the Directors of the East
India Company to nominate a Governor-General, subject to the
approbation of the Crown.]

_Queen Victoria to Mr Vernon Smith._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _20th June 1855_.

The Queen received Mr V. Smith's letter yesterday evening after her
return from Chatham. She readily acquits him of any _intentional_
want of respect towards her, or of any neglect in going through the
prescribed forms with regard to the appointment in question, neither
of which she meant to insinuate by her letter. But she does not
look upon the question as one of form. She takes a deep and natural
interest in the welfare of her Indian Empire, and must consider the
selection of the fittest person for the post of Governor-General as
of paramount importance. She had frequently discussed this point with
Lord Palmerston, but the name of Lord Canning never occurred amongst
the candidates allude