here
strictly to the faithful observance of Treaties, of calming the
apprehensions of Europe, and restoring her confidence in your
Majesty's pacific policy; or, by permitting yourself to be influenced
by the ambitious or interested designs of others, of involving Europe
in a war, the extent and termination of which can hardly be foreseen,
and which, whatever glory it may add to the arms of France, cannot
but interfere materially with her internal prosperity and financial
credit. I am sure that your Majesty will not doubt the sincerity of
the friendship which alone induces me to write thus unreservedly to
your Majesty, and if anything could add to the sorrow with which I
should view the renewal of war in Europe, it would be to see your
Majesty entering upon a course with which it would be impossible for
England to associate herself."[10]

[Footnote 10: The Queen accordingly wrote a letter, which
is printed in the _Life of the Prince Consort_, assuring the
Emperor that rarely had any man had such an opportunity as was
now his for exercising a personal influence for the peace
of Europe, and that, by faithful observance of Treaty
obligations, he might calm international anxieties.]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _4th February 1859_.

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--... Heaven knows what dance our Emperor
_Napoleon Troisieme de nom_ will lead us. In a few days he will have
to make his speech. I fear he is determined on that Italian War. The
discussions in Parliament may influence him; I fear party spirit in
lieu of a good and right sense of what is the interest of Europe. It
was praiseworthy that you said in your Speech that _treaties_ must be
respected, else indeed we return to the old _Faustrecht_ we have been
striving to get rid of. It is curious that your speech has made the
funds fall again: I presume they hoped at Paris that you would have
been able to say that you congratulated Parliament on the prospect
of peace being preserved. For us poor people who find ourselves _aux
premieres loges_, these uncertainties are most unsatisfactory. Your
devoted Uncle,

LEOPOLD R.

[Pageheading: THE INDIAN ARMY]

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN AND LORD STANLEY]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

WINDSOR CASTLE. _5th February 1859_.

With regard to a decision which will have to be taken when the report
of the Indian Army Commission shall have been received, the Queen
t