h to write. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

I shall write again to-morrow or next day how dear Mamma is.

[Pageheader: THE QUEEN'S SPEECH]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _1st June 1859_.

The Queen takes objection to the wording of the two paragraphs[41]
about the war and our armaments. As it stands, it conveys the
impression of a determination on the Queen's part of maintaining a
neutrality--_a tout prix_--whatever circumstances may arise, which
would do harm abroad, and be inconvenient at home.[42] What the
Queen may express is her wish to remain neutral, and her hope that
circumstances will allow her to do so. The paragraph about the
Navy[43] as it stands makes our position still more humble, as it
contains a public apology for arming, and yet betrays fear of our
being attacked by France.

The Queen suggests two amended forms for these passages, in which she
has taken pains to preserve Lord Derby's words as far as is possible,
with an avoidance of the objections before stated.

"Those endeavours have unhappily failed, and war has been declared
between France and Sardinia on one side, and Austria on the other.
I continue to receive at the same time assurances of friendship from
both contending parties. It being my anxious desire to preserve to
my people the blessing of uninterrupted peace, I trust in God's
assistance to enable me to maintain a strict and impartial
neutrality."

"Considering, however, the present state of Europe, and the
complications which a war, carried on by some of its great Powers, may
produce, I have deemed it necessary, for the security of my dominions
and the honour of my Crown, to increase my Naval Forces to an amount
exceeding that which has been sanctioned by Parliament."

[Footnote 41: In the Speech to be delivered by the Queen at
the opening of Parliament on the 7th of June.]

[Footnote 42: The passage originally ran: "Receiving
assurances of friendship from both the contending parties, I
intend to maintain a strict and impartial neutrality, and
I hope, with God's assistance, to preserve to my people the
blessing of continued peace."]

[Footnote 43: The passage originally ran: "I have, however,
deemed it necessary, in the present state of Europe, with no
object of aggression, but for the security of my dominions,
and for the honour of my Crown, to increase my Naval Forces
to an amou