minor points and _insist_ upon the most important.
These the Queen takes to be the incorporation of the _Neutralisation_
Clause in the general Treaty, and the promise on the part of Austria
not to accept and communicate to us counter-proposals from Russia. If
France agreed to this, we might agree to the rest of the arrangement.
General Pelissier's plan has the advantage of setting us free, but
deprives us of the Sardinians in the field, an object the French
have kept steadily in view. The Duke of Cambridge will come down here
to-night, and we may then hear more on the subject.

The Queen of the French has been taken dangerously ill at Genoa; the
Duc d'Aumale and Prince de Joinville have been summoned by telegraph.
The Queen has asked the Foreign Office to telegraph to enquire after
the Queen's state.

[Pageheading: SIR WILLIAM CODRINGTON]

_Queen Victoria to Sir William Codrington._[96]

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th November 1855_.

The first Despatches of Sir William Codrington, acknowledging his
appointment to the Command of the Queen's gallant Army in the East,
having arrived, she will no longer delay writing herself to Sir
William, to assure him of her support and confidence in his new,
proud, and important, though at the same time difficult position.
She wishes to assure him of her confidence and support. It is with
pleasure that she sees the son of her old friend and devoted servant,
himself so distinguished in the sister Service, raised by his own
merits to so exalted a position. Sir William knows the Queen's pride
in her beloved Troops, as well as her unceasing solicitude for their
welfare and glory, and she trusts he will on all occasions express
these feelings from herself personally.

The Queen feels certain that Sir William Codrington will learn, with
great satisfaction, that that distinguished and gallant officer, Sir
Colin Campbell, has most readily and handsomely complied with the
Queen's wishes that he should return to the Crimea and take command
of the First Corps d'Armee. His presence and his assistance will be
of essential service to Sir William Codrington, who, the Queen knows,
entertains so high an opinion of him.

The Prince wishes his sincere congratulations and kind remembrance to
be conveyed to Sir William Codrington.

The Queen would be glad if Sir William could--when he has leisure to
do so--from time to time write to her himself, informing her of the
state of her Army, and of a