d
to be pursued--namely to take time to consider the affairs of India
without making any precipitate change in the Policy hitherto pursued,
and without involving the country hastily in expenses, is far the best
and safest.

[Pageheading: DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENTS]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th September 1841._

In the conversation that the Queen had with Lord Aberdeen last week,
she omitted mentioning two persons to him. The one is Lord Heytesbury;
the Queen believes him to be a very able man, and would it not
therefore be a good thing to employ him in some important mission? The
other person is Mr Aston, who is at Madrid; the Queen hopes it may be
possible to leave him there, for she thinks that he acted with great
discretion, prudence, and moderation since he has been there, and the
post is one of considerable importance. He was, the Queen believes,
long Secretary to the Legation at Paris.

_The Earl of Aberdeen to Queen Victoria._

FOREIGN OFFICE, _21st September 1841._

Lord Aberdeen presents his most humble duty to your Majesty....

Lord Aberdeen has seen the favourable opinion which your Majesty has
been graciously pleased to express of Lord Heytesbury, and he humbly
presumes to think that this honour is not unmerited. The situation
of Governor-General of India has recently been proposed by Sir Robert
Peel for Lord Heytesbury's acceptance, which has been declined by him,
and it is understood that Lord Heytesbury is not at present desirous
of public employment.[100]

Your Majesty's servants have not yet fully considered the propriety
of submitting to your Majesty any proposal of a change in the Spanish
Mission; but the opinion which your Majesty has been pleased to
signify respecting the conduct of Mr Aston at Madrid appears, in
the humble judgment of Lord Aberdeen, to be fully confirmed by the
correspondence in this Office.

Lord Aberdeen would, however, venture humbly to mention that the
person filling this Mission has usually been replaced on a change of
the Administration at home. Should this be the case in the present
instance, Lord Aberdeen begs to assure your Majesty that the greatest
care will be taken to select an individual for your Majesty's
approbation who may be qualified to carry into effect the wise, just,
and moderate policy which your Majesty has been graciously pleased to
recognise in the conduct of Mr Aston.

[Footnote 100: He was