dian traditions,
would appear to wish to force upon the Crown.

The Queen does not expect an answer to this letter from Lord Derby,
and asks him to treat it as strictly confidential.

The Queen sees that Lord Stanley means to make a statement on Monday
on the Indian Finances. She trusts that there will be nothing said in
that statement to prejudge the Army Question.

_Decipher from Lord Cowley._

PARIS, _6th February 1859_.
(1 A.M. _Received_ 4 A.M.)

A great change for the better. The Queen's letter has produced an
excellent effect, as also the Debates in Parliament.[11] The Emperor
has expressed himself ready to subscribe to every word of Lord Derby's
speech.

[Footnote 11: Parliament was opened by the Queen in person on
the 3rd; the ensuing debates, and especially the speeches of
the Liberal leaders, showed that, however much the English
nation, as a whole, might sympathise with Italian aspirations
for the expulsion of the Austrians from Lombardy, they would
regard unfavourably a war commenced in defiance of Treaty
obligations.]

[Pageheading: THE INDIAN ARMY]

_The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria._

ST JAMES'S SQUARE, _6th February 1859_.

Lord Derby, with his humble duty, submits to your Majesty his
respectful acknowledgment of the explicitness with which the letter he
had the honour of receiving last night conveys to him the intimation
of your Majesty's views upon the important subject of the Indian Army.
He cannot, however, disguise from your Majesty the deep pain which
that communication has occasioned him; first, that your Majesty should
think that Lord Stanley has so far mistaken his duty as systematically
to place your Majesty in a false position; and next because unless
Lord Derby misconceives the purport of your Majesty's letter, he fears
that it may leave him no alternative but that of humbly entreating to
be relieved from a responsibility which nothing should have induced
him to undertake but a sense of duty to your Majesty, and the
conviction that he might rely with confidence upon your Majesty's
continued support. It would ill become Lord Derby to attempt to
argue a question on which your Majesty has expressed so strong a
determination; he has studiously avoided taking any step which might
prejudge a question so important as the organisation of your Majesty's
Forces in India. He has awaited the report of the Commission appointed
to enquire into th