d December 1858_.

The Queen acknowledges the receipt of Lord Canning's letter of the
19th October, which she received on the 29th November, which has given
her great pleasure.

It is a source of great satisfaction and pride to her to feel herself
in direct communication with that enormous Empire which is so bright a
jewel of her Crown, and which she would wish to see happy, contented,
and peaceful. May the publication of her Proclamation be the beginning
of a new era, and may it draw a veil over the sad and bloody past!

The Queen rejoices to hear that her Viceroy approves this passage
about Religion.[52] She strongly insisted on it. She trusts also that
the certainty of the Amnesty remaining open till the 1st January may
not be productive of serious evil.

The Queen must express our admiration of Lord Canning's own
Proclamation, the wording of which is beautiful. The telegram received
to-day brings continued good news, and announces her proclamation
having been read, and having produced a good effect.

The Queen hopes to hear from Lord Canning, whenever he can spare time
to write. She misses hearing from Lady Canning, not having heard from
her since the 30th August; but the Queen fears that she is herself
to blame, as she has not written to Lady Canning for a long time; she
intends doing so by the next mail....

Both the Prince and herself hope that Lord Canning's health is now
perfectly good, as well as dear Lady Canning's. We ask him to remember
us to her, and also to Lord Clyde.

The Queen concludes with every wish for Lord Canning's success and
prosperity, and with the assurance of her undiminished and entire
confidence.

[Footnote 51: The Queen's Proclamation to her Indian subjects
had been received by Lord Canning on the 17th of October, when
he also learned that the title of Viceroy was in future to
dignify the Governor-General's office.]

[Footnote 52: "Firmly relying ourselves on the truth of
Christianity, and acknowledging with gratitude the solace of
religion, we disclaim alike the right and desire to impose
our convictions on any of our subjects." The Proclamation
proceeded to state that all the Queen's Indian subjects should
be impartially protected by the law, and live unmolested in
the observance of their several religions.]

[Pageheading: FRANCE AND ITALY]

_The Earl of Malmesbury to Queen Victoria._

LONDON, _10th December 1858_.

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