mous and splendid Kingdom, the Queen thinks we
ought to do _everything_ (which does not interfere with the safety of
her Indian dominions) to render the position of this interesting and
peculiarly good and amiable Prince as agreeable as possible, and not
to let him have the feeling that he is _a prisoner_.

His being a Christian and completely European (or rather more English)
in his habits and feelings, renders this much more necessary, and at
the same time more easy.

The Queen has a very strong feeling that everything should be done to
show respect and kindness towards these poor fallen Indian Princes,
whose Kingdoms we have taken from them, and who are naturally very
sensitive to attention and kindness.

Amongst all these, however, the Maharajah stands to a certain degree
alone, from his civilisation, and likewise from his having lost his
kingdom when he was a child entirely by the faults and misdeeds of
others.[62]

[Footnote 62: In reply, Mr Vernon Smith stated that he had
brought all the Queen's wishes before the Company.]

[Pageheading: MILITARY EDUCATION]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

OSBORNE, _18th December 1856._

In answer to Lord Palmerston's explanation with regard to Colonel
Lefroy's[63] appointment, the Queen has to say, that if he is to be
made Inspector of Regimental Schools, she has no objection; but she
must protest against his being made _Director_ of Education for the
Army generally. We want a Director-General of Education very much, but
he ought to be immediately under the Commander-in-Chief, if possible
a General Officer of weight, assisted by a Board of Officers of the
different Arms.

Education ought to be made one of the essential requisites of an
officer, and the reports on his proficiency ought to go direct through
the proper superior from the bottom to the top, particularly if
selection by merit is to receive a greater application for the future.
If for his military proficiency and moral discipline, an officer is to
be responsible to his Military chief, but for his mental acquirements
to a Civil department, the unity of the system will be broken and the
Army ruined; and this _must_ be the case if the superintendence of the
education is separated from the Military command.

The subject of Military Education has, as Lord Palmerston says, often
been discussed in Parliament, which expects that some sufficient
arrangement shall be made for it. But the me