n what state of efficiency our troops are.

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _26th June 1856_.

The Queen hopes Lord Palmerston will make it quite clear to the
subordinate Members of the Government that they cannot be allowed
to vote against the Government proposal about the National Gallery
to-morrow, as she hears that several fancy themselves at liberty to do
so.

[Pageheading: TITLE OF PRINCE CONSORT]

_The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria._[33]

ST JAMES'S SQUARE, _28th June 1856_.

Lord Derby, with his humble duty ... will be prepared, as well as Lord
Lyndhurst, to give his cordial support to such a Bill as that sketched
out by the Lord Chancellor; but using that freedom which is invited by
and due to the gracious confidence reposed in him by your Majesty, he
hopes he may be pardoned for earnestly submitting to your Majesty's
serious consideration the question whether it may be expedient to
raise a discussion on such a subject during the short remainder of the
present Session of Parliament. Measures of public importance already
in progress are now beginning to be abandoned in consequence of
the advanced period of the Session, and Lord Lyndhurst concurs very
strongly in Lord Derby's apprehensions as to the result on public
feeling of the introduction of such a measure at the present moment.
If it could be stated that your Majesty contemplated a foreign visit
in the course of the summer, which rendered it desirable that a
measure should be passed to obviate the embarrassment which had been
created on previous occasions of the same sort, some case might be
made out for immediate legislation, though even then the question
would arise why it was not thought of sooner; but in the absence of
any change of circumstances, and in the present unfortunate temper of
the House of Commons, of which a proof was given last night, such
a course would probably lead to suspicions and remarks of the most
painful character. It would be said, and with some justice, that the
greater the constitutional importance of a settlement, the greater was
also the necessity of ample opportunity for consideration being given
to Parliament; and the hurry of passing the Bill would be cited as a
proof that it covered some unavowed and objectionable design. If such
suspicions should lead to the postponement of the measure, not only
would the Crown have been subjected to a mortifying defeat, but the
Bill w