the complete documents
would have been ordered.

In this difficult and distressing position the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, after consultation with his colleagues in the House of
Commons, thought it best, and, indeed, inevitable, to submit to
circumstances, the occurrence of which he deeply regrets, and humbly
places before your Majesty.

[Footnote 28: See _ante_, Introductory Note to Chapter XXVII.
The draft proclamation (differing from the ultimate form in
which it was issued), with a covering despatch, were sent
home to the Board of Control by Lord Canning, who at the same
time wrote an unofficial letter to Mr Vernon Smith, then
President of the Board, stating that he had not been able to
find time before the mail left to explain his reasons for
adopting what appeared a somewhat merciless scheme of
confiscation. Lord Ellenborough thereupon wrote a despatch,
dated the 19th of April, reprobating the Governor-General for
abandoning the accustomed policy of generous conquerors, and
for inflicting on the mass of the population what they would
feel as the severest of punishments. This despatch was made
public in England, as will be seen from the dates, before it
could possibly have reached Lord Canning.]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th May 1858_.

The Queen has received Lord Derby's letter of last night, and was
glad to see that he entirely concurs with her in the advantage and
necessity of appointing a Commission to consider the question of the
organisation of the future Army of India.[29] She only hopes that no
time will be lost by the reference to the different bodies whom Lord
Derby wishes previously to consult, and she trusts that he will not
let himself be overruled by Lord Ellenborough, who may very likely
consider the opinion and result of the labours of a Committee as
entirely valueless as compared with his own opinions.

The Queen has not the same confidence in them, and is, therefore,
doubly anxious to be advised by a body of the most competent persons
after most careful enquiry.

[Footnote 29: The Queen had written that she thought the
Commission should be composed of officers of the Home and the
Indian Armies, some politicians, the Commander-in-Chief, the
President of the Board of Control, with the Secretary-for-War
as President.]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

B