e that Austria, as a
member of the Confederation, is not and cannot be independent of them.

The Queen would accordingly advise a temperate consideration of the
Austrian proposals and an amendment of them in those points which seem
to require them, and which Lord Clarendon clearly points out in his
letter, and the avoidance of anything which could weaken the _accord
Europeen_.[55]

The Emperor Napoleon's answer to Lord Cowley with reference to this
visit to England renders it probable to the Queen that he was not
anxious to have the general invitation changed into a special one,
_obliging_ him to come or to refuse. The answer is almost a refusal
now, and has not improved our position. The Queen would wish that
no anxiety should be shown to obtain the visit, now that it is quite
clear to the Emperor that he will be _le bienvenu_ at any time. His
reception here ought to be a boon to him and not a boon to us.

The Queen fully enters into the feelings of exultation and joy at the
glorious victory of the Alma, but this is somewhat damped by the sad
loss we have sustained, and the thought of the many bereaved families
of all classes who are in mourning for those near and dear to them.

[Footnote 54: In one of which, in reference to Austria's
desire for an offensive and defensive treaty with Great
Britain, Lord Clarendon had described the Austrian terms as
irritating, and the discussion of them a mere waste of time.]

[Footnote 55: The Cabinet, at its meeting on the 20th, decided
to meet the Austrian proposals in the most conciliatory manner
possible.]

[Pageheading: THE ALMA]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

HULL, _13th October 1854._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Already far away from my loved beautiful Highlands
and Mountains, I find a few minutes to write and thank you for your
kind letter of the 2nd, with such lively and glowing descriptions of
such glorious and beautiful scenery, which I hope and trust to see
_some day_. Still, with all its beauties, I would not exchange it for
our northern beauties, which really they are--for a _lovelier_ country
with a _more beautiful_ combination of wood and mountain, and river,
and cultivation with the greatest wildness, at the same time close
at hand, cannot, I am sure, be seen; Stockmar is in the greatest
admiration of it. We left it yesterday morning, slept at Holyrood last
night, and came here this evening; the good people of th