all of Sebastopol!_ General
Simpson must indeed _feel proud_ to have commanded the Queen's noble
Army on _such_ an occasion.

She wishes him to express to that gallant Army her high sense of their
gallantry, and her joy and satisfaction at their labours, anxieties,
and cruel sufferings, for nearly a year, having _at length_ been
crowned with such success.

To General Pelissier[80] also, and his gallant Army, whom the Queen
ever unites in her thoughts and wishes with her own beloved troops,
she would wish General Simpson to convey the expression of her
personal warm congratulations, as well as of her sympathy for their
losses.

The Queen intends to mark her sense of General Simpson's services by
conferring upon him the Grand Cross of the Bath.

We are _now_ most anxious that not a moment should be lost in
following up this great victory, and in driving the Russians, while
still under the depressing effect of their failure, from the Crimea!

[Footnote 80: He now became Duke of Malakhoff, and a Marshal
of the French Army.]

[Pageheading: ATTITUDE OF AUSTRIA]

_Earl Granville to the Earl of Clarendon._

BALMORAL, _14th September 1855_.

MY DEAR CLARENDON,--I was sent for after breakfast. The Queen and the
Prince are much pleased with the draft of your Despatch to Naples;
they think it good and dignified. With respect to the draft to Lord
Stratford, instructing him to recommend to the Porte an application
to the Austrian Government for the withdrawal or diminution of the
Austrian troops in the Principalities, I have been commanded to write
what the Queen has not time this morning to put on paper. Her Majesty
does not feel that the objects of this proposed Despatch have been
sufficiently explained. It does not appear to Her Majesty that, in
a military point of view, the plans of the Allies are sufficiently
matured to make it clear whether the withdrawal of the Austrian Army
would be an advantage or a disadvantage. If the Allies intend to
march through the Principalities, and attack Russia on that side, the
presence of the Austrians might be an inconvenience. If, on the other
hand, they advance from the East, it is a positive advantage to have
the Russians contained on the other flank, by the Austrians in their
present position. Looking at the political bearing of this move, Her
Majesty thinks that it will not fail to have an unfavourable effect on
Austria, who will be hurt at the Allies urging the