the question of the Indian
Army comes before the Cabinet, General Peel will stoutly defend the
interests of the Crown and the British Army. On the opinion which he
will give and maintain much of their decision must depend, and unless
he speaks out boldly the Indian Secretary will have it all his own
way.

[Footnote 13: General Jonathan Peel, brother of Sir Robert
Peel (the Premier), and Secretary of State for War.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _15th February 1859_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--We came here to _settle_ yesterday--and also here
Spring seems _wonderfully forward!_ It can't last--and frost is _sure_
to _follow_ and cut off everything. At Windsor and Frogmore everything
is budding--willow I see is green--rose-leaves _out_, and birds
singing like in May!

Accept my warmest thanks for your kind letter of the 11th. I _still_
hope that matters _will cool_ down--the Emperor _personally_ expressed
regret to Huebner for his words, disclaiming the construction put upon
them, and saying that _no one could dispute_ the right of Austria to
her Italian possessions.[14] He has not written to me lately, but I
wrote him ten days ago a long friendly letter, speaking out _plainly_
our fears for the future, and urging him to aid us in averting the
calamity of _War_....

Our Parliament is as quiet as possible as _yet_, but it will soon have
more cause for _action_ and excitement....

Bertie's interview with the Pope went off extremely well. He was
extremely kind and gracious, and Colonel Bruce was present; it would
never have done to have let Bertie go alone, as they might hereafter
have pretended, God knows! what Bertie had said.... With Albert's
love, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 14: See _ante_, 13th January, 1859, note 2.]

[Pageheading: THE EMPEROR OF AUSTRIA]

_The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria._

DOWNING STREET, _21st February 1859_.

Lord Derby, with his humble duty, and in obedience to the commands
which he had the honour of receiving from your Majesty last night,
submits the following suggestions, as embodying the substance of what,
in his humble judgment your Majesty might address with advantage in a
private letter to the Emperor of Austria.

Your Majesty might say, that deeply penetrated with the conviction
of the duty imposed upon your Majesty of acting on the principles
enunciated in the speech from the Throne, of exerc