tures to express his opinion that the Empress might think the tone
of your Majesty's letter rather too severe. It is by no means severe,
but perfectly just and true as regards the conduct of Russia and
France, and on that very account it might wound the _amour-propre_ of
the Emperor.

Lord Clarendon ventures to suggest the omission of the second sentence
beginning by "_il est impossible_," and of the parenthesis at the
bottom of the second page.[50] In the concluding sentence it might
perhaps be better to say "_la France et l'Angleterre_" instead of
"_nous_," which would possibly be taken as an announcement of separate
action. Your Majesty might perhaps think it right to add after the
last words "_tels dangers_"--"_ces dangers seront ecartes a l'instant
que la France s'unira a nous pour tenir un langage ferme a la
Russie qui tache de nous desunir et il ne faut pas a s qu'elle y
reussisse_."[51]

[Footnote 50: _I.e._ the passage from "acte auquel" to "notre
insu."]

[Footnote 51: The Prince wrote in reply to this letter: "The
draft of letter to the Empress of the French has been altered
in every particular as you suggest, and I will send you a
corrected copy of it by to-morrow." See _post_, 10th November,
1856, note 54.]

_Queen Victoria to the Duke of Cambridge._

BALMORAL, _22nd September 1856_.

MY DEAR GEORGE,--I waited to thank you for your letter of the 17th
till I had received Mary's from Lord Clarendon, which I did yesterday
morning, and which I now return to you. It is admirably written, and
does dear Mary the greatest credit; she puts it on the _right_ ground,
viz. that of the _Protestant feeling_ which should _always_ actuate
our family, and to this we _now must_ keep. It _effectually_ closes,
however, the door to _all Catholic_ proposals--whether from Kings or
Princes, which makes matters easier.

I must say, however, that I think it very wrong of _certain_ ladies to
have spoken of Mary's feelings and wishes on the subject, which has no
doubt encouraged the idea when they had no reason for doing so.

I am very glad that the decision has been so entirely dear Mary's own,
and that _she is_ convinced of my anxious wish for her happiness and
welfare--which I have as much at heart as if she were my own sister.

It is very necessary, however, that _not_ a word should be breathed of
this whole affair, and I trust that you will caution your mother and
sisters and their re