to the Russian General
Mouravieff, in circumstances, however, so honourable, that the
officers were allowed to retain their swords, and their General
received a Baronetcy and a pension of L1000 a year.

CHAPTER XXIV

1855

[Pageheading: THE FOUR POINTS]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon._

OSBORNE, _9th January 1855._

THE Queen received Lord Clarendon's box by special messenger yesterday
evening. The acceptance by Russia of our interpretation of the
four points[1] is a most clever, diplomatic man[oe]uvre, and very
embarrassing for us at this moment, before Sebastopol is taken, and
before Austria has been compelled to join in the war. It leaves us no
alternative but to meet in conference, which, however, in the Queen's
opinion, ought to be preceded by a despatch to Austria, putting on
record our opinion as to the nature and object of the step taken by
Russia, and the advantages she hopes to derive by it from Austria and
Germany, and the disadvantages she expects to inflict on the Western
Powers. As hostilities ought not to be interrupted unless the Russians
give up Sebastopol and evacuate the Crimea (which would give rest
and quiet to our poor soldiers), there still remains the hope of our
getting the place before preliminaries of peace could be signed; and
in that case a Peace on the four points would be everything we could
desire, and much preferable to the chance of future convulsions of the
whole state of Europe. Russia would then have yielded all our wishes
for the future.

A mere moral defeat, such as Count Buol seems disposed to consider
as sufficient, would soon prove to have been none at all, and Austria
would be the Power which, to its cost, would find out (when too late)
that the preponderance of Russia is by no means diminished.

The Queen has given her permission to Lord John to go to Paris; he
will find the Emperor as little able to help himself in this stage of
the business as ourselves.

The Queen is afraid that the news of the Russian acceptance may induce
our commanders in the Crimea to rest on their oars, and thinks it
necessary, therefore, that immediate orders should go out, pointing
out that the early fall of the town is just now more important than
ever.

The Queen wishes Lord Clarendon to communicate this letter to Lord
Aberdeen and the Duke of Newcastle.

She returns to Windsor this afternoon.

[Footnote 1: The celebrated "Four Points" were--

1. C