y, Lord Derby can hardly look upon
it as humiliating to a great country, in announcing a large increase
of its Naval Force, to disclaim any object of aggression. These words,
however, might, if your Majesty were so pleased, be omitted, though
Lord Derby cannot go so far as to say that in his humble judgment the
omission would be an improvement; but he trusts that your Majesty will
be satisfied with a general reference to the "state of Europe" without
speaking of the "complications which a war carried on by some of the
Great Powers may produce." These words would infallibly lead to a
demand for explanation, and for a statement of the nature of the
"complications" which the Government foresaw as likely to lead to war.
In humbly tendering to your Majesty his most earnest advice that
your Majesty will not insist on the proposed Amendments in his
Draft Speech, he believes that he may assure your Majesty that he
is expressing the unanimous opinion of his Colleagues. Of their
sentiments your Majesty may judge by the fact that in the original
draft he had spoken of your Majesty's "intention" to preserve peace
"as long as it might be possible"; but by universal concurrence these
latter words were struck out, and the "hope" was, instead of them,
substituted for the "intention." Should your Majesty, however, be
pleased so to order, Lord Derby will immediately submit the question
to the consideration of his Colleagues, in order that your Majesty may
be put, in the most authentic form, in possession of their views.
He assures your Majesty that nothing can be more repugnant to his
feelings than to appear to offer objections to any suggestions
emanating from your Majesty; and he has only been induced to do so
upon the present occasion by the deep conviction which he entertains
of the danger attending the course proposed, and the serious
embarrassments which it would cause your Majesty. He regrets more
especially having been compelled to take this step at a moment when
your Majesty's thoughts are very differently engaged, and when it may
be doubly irksome to have matters of public business pressed upon your
Majesty's consideration.

The above is humbly submitted by your Majesty's most dutiful Servant
and Subject,

DERBY.

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Derby._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _3rd June 1859_.

The Queen has received Lord Derby's answer to her observations on the
proposed Speech. There is in fact no difference of opinio