d
had not been firm, and everybody is, of course, glad _even here_ that
peace should not have brought dishonour to France.

Lord Clarendon, therefore, ventures to hope that the language
in England with respect to the peace will not be apologetic or
dissatisfied. It would be unwise and undignified, and would invite
criticism if such language were held before the conditions are
publicly known.

[Pageheading: END OF THE WAR]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _31st March 1856._

The Queen thanks Lord Clarendon much for his two letters of Saturday
and yesterday; and we congratulate _him_ on the success of his
_efforts_ in obtaining the Peace, for to him _alone_ it is due, and
also _to him alone_ is due the dignified position which the Queen's
beloved country holds, and which she owes to a straightforward,
steady, and unselfish policy throughout.

Much as the Queen disliked the idea of _Peace_, she has become
reconciled to it, by the conviction that France would either not have
continued the war, or continued it in such a manner that _no_ glory
could have been hoped for for us.

We have a striking proof of this in Pelissier not having obeyed the
Emperor's orders and never having thought of occupying Sak.[22] _This
really might_ be hinted to the Emperor....

The Queen finds Lord Palmerston very well pleased with the Peace,
though he struggled as long as he could for better conditions....

[Footnote 22: The word is so written in the original draft.
There was a place of the name near Old Fort in the Crimea,
but this is more probably an abbreviation for Sakatal in
Caucasia.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _1st April 1856_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--... _Peace is signed!_ But till the ratifications
have taken place its terms cannot be known. That so _good_ a Peace
_has_ been obtained, and that this country stands in the high position
she now does by _having_ made peace, but _not_ yielding to _unworthy_
and dishonourable terms, is _all_ owing to Lord Clarendon, whose
difficulties were immense, and who cannot be too highly praised.

May I beg to remind you to make enquiries, _quietly_, about the
young Prince of Orange[23]--as to his education, _entourage_, and
disposition? Pray also don't forget to try and let us have a _new_
Russian; it would be infinitely _better_.[24]

We were much grieved to hear the day before yesterday from S