reader look-up.

INDEX

Page numbers have been adjusted to allow for the re-positioning
of footnotes. Other (numerous) page numbering errors have been
corrected.

A list of corrections will be found at the end of the text.

[Illustration: H.M. QUEEN VICTORIA, H.R.H. THE PRINCE CONSORT, AND
CHILDREN

From the picture by F. Winterhalter at Buckingham Palace

_Frontispiece, Vol. III._]

THE LETTERS OF QUEEN VICTORIA

A Selection from Her Majesty's
Correspondence between the Years
1837 and 1861

Published by Authority of His Majesty The King

Edited by

ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER BENSON, M.A.
and
VISCOUNT ESHER, G.C.V.O., K.C.B.

In Three Volumes

VOL. III.--1854-1861

London
John Murray, Albemarle Street, W.
1908

_Copyright in Great Britain and Dependencies, 1907, by_
H.M. THE KING.

_In the United States by_ Messrs LONGMANS, GREEN & CO.

_All rights reserved._

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXIII

1854
PAGES
The Eastern Question--Attack on the Prince--The French
alliance--The Orleans family--The Reform Bill--The Baltic
command--The British ultimatum--Departure of the Guards--War
declared--Cabinet dissensions--Austrian interests--The
Sultan--Prussian policy--Marshal St Arnaud--Invasion of
the Principalities--Separation of Departments--The Russian
loan--Debates on the War--Prince Albert and the Emperor
Napoleon--The Crimea--Battle of the Alma--Maharajah Dhuleep
Singh--Attack on Sebastopol--Battle of Inkerman--Death of
Sir G. Cathcart--A hurricane--Lord John Russell and the
Premiership--Miss Nightingale's mission 1-62

CHAPTER XXIV

1855

Peace proposals--The Four Points--Offer of the Garter to the
Premier--Sufferings of the troops in the Crimea--Resignation
of Lord John--The Queen's disapproval--Lord Palmerston as
Leader--The Ministry defeated--Lord Derby sent for--Lord
Palmerston and the Leadership--Lord Derby's failure--Lord
Lansdowne consulted--Lord John sent for--Disappointment of
Lord John--Lord Palmerston to be Premier--Intervention of Lord
Aberdeen--The new Cabinet--The Vienna Conference--Resignation
of the Peelites--Death of the Czar--Lord Panmure at the War
Office--Negotiations at Vienna--Visit of the Emperor--Russia
and the Black Sea--Estimate of the Emperor--Retirement