prefer himself to his children. He may, with entire truth, add that
the knowledge that your Majesty has approved of their conduct is ample
and abundant reward for Lord Cowley and himself. Lord Clarendon hopes
it is not presumptuous in him to say that he would not exchange your
Majesty's letters of approval for any public mark of your Majesty's
favour....

[Pageheading: LORD PALMERSTON AND THE GARTER]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _11th April 1856_.

Now that the moment for the ratification of the Treaty of Peace is
near at hand, the Queen wishes to delay no longer the expression
of her satisfaction as to the manner in which both the War has been
brought to a conclusion, and the honour and interests of this country
have been maintained by the Treaty of Peace, under the zealous and
able guidance of Lord Palmerston. She wishes as a public token of her
approval to bestow the Order of the Garter upon him. Should the two
vacant Ribbons already have been promised to the Peers whose names
Lord Palmerston has on a former occasion submitted to the Queen, there
could be no difficulty in his being named an extra Knight, not filling
up the next vacancy which may occur; this course was followed when
Lord Grey received the Garter from the hands of King William.

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

PICCADILLY, _11th April 1856_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and is
unable to express in words the gratification and thankfulness which he
feels upon the receipt of your Majesty's most gracious and unexpected
communication of this morning. The utmost of his ambition has been so
to perform the duties of the high position in which your Majesty has
been pleased to place him, as to prove himself not unworthy of the
confidence with which your Majesty has honoured him; and the knowledge
that your Majesty has found no reason to be dissatisfied with your
choice; and that his endeavour properly to discharge his duties to
your Majesty and the country have met with your Majesty's approval
would of itself be an ample reward for any labour or anxiety with
which the performance of those duties may have been attended, and,
therefore, the gracious communication which he has this morning
received from your Majesty will be preserved by him as in his eyes
still more valuable even than the high honour which it announces your
Majesty's intention to confer upon him.

T