rt with
Lord Palmerston; but this appears not to be the case. Much will
therefore depend on the decision of Lord Palmerston. Should he join
with Lord John, matters will probably be pushed to extremity; but
should he decline, Lord Aberdeen does not think that Lord John will
venture to act alone.

[Footnote 62: Lord John Russell urged, in this correspondence,
that Lord Palmerston should supersede the Duke of Newcastle at
the War Office.]

[Pageheading: MAHARAJAH DHULEEP SINGH]

_Queen Victoria to the Marquis of Dalhousie._

_24th November 1854._

The Queen thanks Lord Dalhousie for his long and most interesting and
satisfactory letter of the 2nd of October.

It is peculiarly gratifying to hear of such quiet and prosperity in
her vast Indian dominions, in which the Queen ever takes the liveliest
interest, and at the present moment of intense anxiety, when
England's best and noblest blood is being profusely shed to resist the
encroaching spirit of Russia. The heroism of our noble Troops in the
midst of herculean difficulties and great privations is unequalled,
and will fill Lord Dalhousie's loyal and patriotic heart with pride
and admiration. Though entirely concurring in his opinion that Russia
can undertake no invasion of India, her spirit of encroachment on the
north frontier must be carefully watched and, if possible, put a stop
to, when peace is made.

The progress of the railroad will make an immense difference in India,
and tend more than anything else to bring about civilisation, and will
in the end facilitate the spread of Christianity, which hitherto has
made but very slow progress.

The Queen was already aware of the idea formerly entertained by the
Maharajah Dhuleep Singh of marrying the young Princess of Coorg.[63]
Agreeing as she does with Lord Dalhousie in the wisdom of advising the
young man to pause before he makes his choice of a wife, she thinks
such a marriage between these two most interesting young Christians
most desirable; indeed, as Lord Dalhousie himself observes, the
difficulty of any other marriage for either must be great. The young
people have met and were pleased with each other, so that the Queen
hopes that their union will, in the course of time, come to pass. Her
little god-daughter has been here lately, and though still childish
for her age (she is nearly fourteen) is pretty, lively, intelligent,
and going on satisfactorily in her education.

Of the young M