into the field 80,000 men and 300 pieces of field artillery, it
appears to the Governor-General most politic to diminish the means of
this warlike people to repeat a similar aggression. The nation is in
fact a dangerous military Republic on our weakest frontier. If the
British Army had been defeated, the Sikhs, through the Protected
States, which would have risen in their favour in case of a reverse,
would have captured Delhi, and a people having 50,000 regular troops
and 300 pieces of field artillery in a standing permanent camp within
50 miles of Ferozepore, is a state of things that cannot be tolerated
for the future....

The energy and intrepidity displayed by your Majesty's
Commander-in-Chief, Sir Hugh Gough, his readiness to carry on the
service in cordial co-operation with the Governor-General, and the
marked bravery and invincibility of your Majesty's English troops,
have overcome many serious obstacles, and the precautions taken have
been such that no disaster or failure, however trifling, has attended
the arduous efforts of your Majesty's Arms.

[Footnote 3: The Sikhs were defeated at Sobraon on 10th
February by the British troops under Sir Hugh Gough,
reinforced by Sir Harry Smith, fresh from his victory at
Aliwal. _See_ p. 71.]

[Pageheading: PEEL'S ANXIETIES]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE, _3rd March 1846._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I hasten to thank you for a most dear and kind
letter of the 28th, which I received this morning. You know how I
love and esteem my dearest Louise; she is the dearest friend, after my
beloved Albert, I have.

I wish you could be here, and hope you will come here for a few days
during your stay, to see the innumerable alterations and improvements
which have taken place. My dearest Albert is so happy here, out all
day planting, directing, etc., and it is so good for him. It is a
relief to be away from all the bitterness which people create for
themselves in London. Peel has a very anxious and a very peculiar
position, and it is the force of circumstances and the great energy
he _alone possesses_ which will carry him through the Session. He
certainly acts a most disinterested part, for did he not feel (as
_every one_ who is fully acquainted with the _real state_ of the
country must feel) that the line he pursues is the _only right_ and
sound one for the welfare of this country, he never would have
exposed himself to all the anno