of the respective candidates. This would avoid
all difficulties on the subject.

[Footnote 27: James Wilson, the founder of _The Economist_,
was at this time Financial Secretary to the Treasury. In 1859
he accepted the new office of Financial Member of the Council
of India, but died in the following year.]

_Queen Victoria to Mr Labouchere._

_14th May 1856_.

The Queen would quite approve of the selection of Sir H. Bulwer, Lord
Lyttelton, or Sir H. Barkly for Victoria. She is decidedly of opinion
that the Governor should be an Englishman and not a Colonist. Now that
self-Government has been established in the Colonies, the person of
the Governor is the only connection remaining with the Mother Country;
and if the Government were once filled from among the public men in
the Colonies, this would become a precedent most difficult to break
through again, and possibly paving the way for total separation.[28]

[Footnote 28: Sir Henry Bulwer declined. Sir Henry Barkly was
appointed.]

[Pageheading: NAVAL POLICY]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Charles Wood._

OSBORNE, _18th May 1856_.

The Queen has to thank Sir C. Wood for his long and clear statement
as to the present position of the Naval Force, which she quite
understands. She attaches the greatest importance to perfect faith
being kept with the sailors, and on that account was distressed to
hear of the misapprehension at Portsmouth the other day.

A good system for a Naval Reserve would be most important. The Queen
thinks a Commission, composed chiefly of _younger officers_ still
conversant with the _present_ feelings of our sailors, would best be
able to advise on the subject; the old Admirals are always and not
unnaturally somewhat behind their time.

With respect to the policy of not too rapidly reducing our naval
armaments, Sir C. Wood only anticipates the Queen's most anxious wish
on this subject, for we cannot tell what may not happen anywhere at
any moment; our relations with America are very unsettled, and our
Alliance with France _depends_ upon the life of one man. And it
is best to be prepared, for else you excite suspicion if you have
suddenly to make preparations without being _able_ to state for what
they are intended.

With regard to the Sailors' Homes, the Queen concurs in the advantage
of leaving them to private management; but the Government, having so
large a stake in the sailors' welfare, would act wisely a