to Viscount Palmerston._

OSBORNE, _4th August 1857_.

The defenceless state of our shores, now that the Army has been
reduced to eighteen effective Battalions, and the evident inclinations
of the Continental Powers, chiefly France and Russia, to dictate to us
with regard to the Oriental Question, makes the Queen naturally turn
her attention to the state of our naval preparations and force.

To render it possible to salute the Emperor[30] when he comes here,
the old _St Vincent_ has been brought out of the harbour, but has been
manned chiefly by the men of the _Excellent_ gunnery ship; and we
have been warned by the Admiralty not to visit the _Excellent_ in
consequence. This does not show a very brilliant condition! But what
is still more worthy of consideration is, that our new fleet, which
had been completed at the end of the Russian War, was _a steam_ fleet;
when it was broken up at the Peace the dockyard expenses were also
cut down, and men discharged at the very moment when totally new and
extensive arrangements became necessary to repair and keep in a state
of efficiency the valuable steam machinery, and to house our gunboat
flotilla on shore. To render any of these steamships fit for sea,
now that they are dismantled, with our _small_ means as to basins and
docks, must necessarily cost much time.

The Queen wishes accordingly to have a report sent to her as to the
force of screw-ships of the Line and of other classes which can be got
ready at the different dockyards, and the time required to get them to
sea for actual service; and also the time required to launch and get
ready the gunboats. She does not wish for a mere general answer from
the Lords of the Admiralty, but for detailed reports from the Admirals
commanding at the different ports, and particularly the Captains in
command of the Steam Reserve. She would only add that she wishes no
unnecessary time to be lost in the preparation of these reports. She
requests Lord Palmerston to have these, her wishes, carried out.

[Footnote 30: The Emperor and Empress of the French arrived
at Osborne on the 6th of August on a visit to the Queen
and Prince, lasting for four days, during which time much
discussion took place between the Prince and Emperor on
affairs in Eastern Europe.]

[Pageheading: DEATH OF SIR HENRY LAWRENCE]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

OSBORNE, _22nd August 1857_.

The Queen is afraid from the tel