urally, would have expressed the deepest and
most exuberant feelings of what I trust I may venture to say is not an
ungrateful heart. Ungrateful it would be most certainly if it did
not feel to its deepest core the uniform and great kindness I have
received now for so many years from Her Majesty and from the Prince. I
wish I could better show them my feelings....

You have read no doubt the _Times_ article on Dr Hampden. I am
afraid it is too true. I cannot conceive _what_ was Dr Hampden's
recommendation. He was not a persecuted man, for he had got a station
far higher than he ever dreamed of already; he is not an able, or
an active man, or one popular with any party, and unless Lord John
Russell wished for an opportunity of shocking the young confidence
of the Church in him, I cannot conceive why he should have made it.
I deeply lament it. Pray let me hear of your health, if it be only
a single line (to Cuddesdon), and believe me to be, ever your truly
affectionate,

S. OXON.

[Pageheading: LORD PALMERSTON'S DESPATCHES]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

_17th November 1847._

The Queen has been struck by the concluding passage of the
accompanying draft to Mr Bulwer. It gives an official declaration of
the views of England with respect to a point of the greatest gravity
and importance, and upon which the Queen apprehends that the mind
of the Cabinet is not yet made up. The Queen herself has come to no
determination upon it, and it may involve the question of peace
or war. Surely our line of policy under future and uncertain
contingencies ought not to be pledged beforehand and in such an
indirect way. The Queen wishes Lord Palmerston to speak to Lord John
Russell upon the subject, and to show him the draft and these remarks
of the Queen upon it.

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

FOREIGN OFFICE, _17th November 1847._

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and in
compliance with your Majesty's wishes he has omitted the whole of the
latter part of the proposed despatch to Mr Bulwer.

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

(_Undated._)

The Queen has seen with surprise in the _Gazette_ the appointment of
Mr Corigan,[23] about which she must complain to Lord John Russell.
Not only had her pleasure not been taken upon it, but she had actually
mentioned to Lord Spencer that she had her doubts about the true
propriety of the appointment. Lord John wi