A R.

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

OSBORNE, _8th December 1856_.

Lord Palmerston's explanation of Lord Panmure's object in proposing
the appointment of a Director-General of Education of the Army in
the Civil Department of its Government has but confirmed the Queen's
apprehensions as to the effect of that step, if sanctioned. The Queen
has for some time been expecting the proposal of a well-digested and
considered plan for the education of the officers of the Army, and
knows that the Duke of Cambridge has had such a one elaborated.
Surely, in the absence of any fixed and approved system of education,
it would be most imprudent to establish an Office for the discharge of
certain important functions which are not yet defined. The Queen must
therefore ask that the system of education to be in future adopted
should first be submitted to her, and afterwards only the plan for the
machinery which is to carry this out, the fitness of which can only be
properly judged of with reference to the object in view.

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon._

OSBORNE, _12th December 1856_.

The Queen returns the enclosed letters. Sir H. Bulwer's is a clever
composition, showing his wit and powers of writing.

The Queen has never, however, seen anything from him producing the
impression that great and important affairs would be safe in his
hands.

The mission to Washington will be difficult to fill.[61] Is it
necessary to be in a hurry about it? Lord Elgin is sure to perform the
duties very well, but is his former position as Governor-General of
Canada not too high for him to go to Washington as Minister?...

[Footnote 61: A complaint had been made by the Government of
the United States of the unlawful enlistment in that country
of recruits for the English army, and Mr Crampton, the
British Minister at Washington, had been dismissed. Diplomatic
relations were resumed after a suspension of some months; and
Lord Napier was appointed British Minister in March 1857.]

[Pageheading: THE MAHARAJAH DHULEEP SINGH]

_Memorandum by Queen Victoria._

OSBORNE, _15th December 1856._

The Queen has seen the Memorandum which the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh
has sent to the East India Company; she thinks all he asks very fair
and reasonable, and she trusts that the East India Company will be
able to comply with them. As we are in complete possession since 1849
of the Maharajah's enor