and Austria had defined as intended
to terminate Russian preponderance in the Black Sea, caused
difficulty.]

[Pageheading: THE VIENNA CONFERENCE]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon._

OSBORNE, _19th March 1855_.

The Queen has read with the greatest interest Lord Cowley's three
reports. The changeableness of the French views are most perplexing,
although they have hitherto not prevented a steady course from being
followed in the end. Lord Cowley seems to have been a little off his
guard when he took the proposal of our taking Sinope as a second Malta
or Gibraltar, for a mere act of generosity and confidence towards
us. We must be careful not to break down ourselves the barrier of the
"abnegation clause" of our original treaty.[48] The Austrian proposal
can hardly be serious, for to require 1,200,000 men before going to
war is almost ridiculous.

The Queen read with much concern the two simultaneous proposals
from the King of Prussia's simultaneous Plenipotentiaries--both
inadmissible, in her opinion. A very civil answer would appear to the
Queen as the best, to the effect that, as Prussia was evidently not
now in a mood to resume her position amongst the great Powers with the
responsibilities attaching to it, we could not hope to arrive at any
satisfactory result by the present negotiations, but shall be ready
to treat Prussia with the same regard with which we have always done,
when she shall have something tangible to propose.

[Footnote 48: _I.e._ the formal renunciation by the Allies of
any scheme of territorial acquisition.]

[Pageheading: THE BALTIC EXPEDITION]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

OSBORNE, _19th March 1855_.

With regard to the Expedition to the Baltic[49] the Queen concurs in
believing it probable that we shall have to confine ourselves to a
blockade, but this should be with the _certainty_ of its being done
effectually and free from any danger to the squadron, from a sudden
start of the Russian fleet. Twenty sail of the Line (to which add
five French) would be a sufficient force if supported by the necessary
complement of frigates, corvettes, and gunboats, etc., etc.; alone,
they would be useless from their draught of water, and if twenty ships
only are meant (not sail of the Line), the force would seem wholly
inadequate. The Queen would therefore wish, before giving her sanction
to the proposed plan of campaign, to have a complete list