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and Parliament, like any other part of Her Majesty's dominions. There would of course,' he added, be much opposition on the part of all persons connected with the India Company, and the opposition in Parliament might take up their cause; the matter, therefore, will require to be well weighed before any recommendation on the subject can be submitted for your Majesty's consideration.'

Lord Palmerston took up the question with the greatest energy, and no pains were spared to obtain all the information necessary to guide the Cabinet in settling the principles on which legislation should be based. It was discussed by him personally with the Queen and Prince in the beginning of November, but only on the 17th of December was he able to lay before Her Majesty the heads of the arrangement for the future government of India, which the Committee of the Cabinet had agreed to recommend. In framing the measure, which was subsequently submitted to Parliament, Lord Palmerston courted the opinion of the Prince on many points of detail, and he was not backward in acknowledging the advantage which it derived from the Prince's suggestions.

Meanwhile the same despatches which were now bringing news of the steady progress that was being made in putting down the rebellion in India told of a growing feeling of intolerant rancour on the part of the Europeans against the native population, which was causing great uneasiness and apprehension to the local Indian Government:-

"There is a rabid and indiscriminate vindictiveness abroad,' Lord Canning wrote on the 25th of September to the Queen, even amongst many who ought to set a better example, which it is impossible to contemplate without a feeling of shame for one's countrymen. Not one man in ten seems to think that the hanging and shooting of forty or fifty thousand mutineers, besides other rebels, can be otherwise than practicable and right; nor does it occur to those who talk and write most upon the matter, that for the Sovereign of England to hold and govern

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India without employing, and to a great degree trusting, natives, both in civil and military service, is simply impossible.'

More he added, that was little to the credit of those who were illustrating on so large a scale the aphorism that fear is always cruel,' regardless of the numerous instances of the kindness and generosity of both Hindoos and Mohammedans, which had somewhat brightened the miserable story of the last eight months. He then added:

'To those whose hearts have been torn by the foul barbarities inflicted upon those dear to them, any degree of bitterness against the natives may be excused. No man will dare to judge them for it. But the cry is raised loudest by those who have been sitting quietly in their homes from the beginning, and have suffered little from the convulsions around them, unless it be in pocket. It is to be feared, that the feeling of exasperation will be a great impediment in the way of restoring tranquillity and good order, even after signal retribution shall have been deliberately measured out to all chief offenders.'

In

This letter did not reach the Queen till November. replying to it on the 9th of that month Her Majesty said, in language which merits the widest record :

Lord Canning will easily believe how entirely the Queen shares his feelings of sorrow and indignation at the unchristian spirit, shown, alas! also to a great extent here by the public, towards Indians in general, and towards Sepoys without discrimination! It is, however, not likely to last, and comes from the horror produced by the unspeakable atrocities perpetrated against the innocent women and children, which make one's blood run cold and one's heart bleed! For the perpetrators of these awful horrors no punishment can be severe enough, and sad as it is, stern justice must be dealt out to all the guilty:

'But to the nation at large-to the peaceable inhabitantsto the many kind and friendly natives who bave assisted us,

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sheltered the fugitives, and been faithful and true-there should be shown the greatest kindness. They should know that there is no hatred to a brown skin-none; but the greatest wish on their Queen's part to see them happy, contented, and flourishing.

'We are delighted to hear such good accounts of Sir Colin Campbell, to whom we ask Lord Canning to remember us most kindly. We can well imagine his delight at seeing his gallant and splendid 93rd, whom we saw at Gosport in June just before they left.'

It will not be out of place here to cite the letter to the gallant soldier to whom this cordial message was sent, written by the Queen a few weeks later (19th January, 1858), when the tidings of the victories of himself, and of those who, along with him, had upheld the honour of the British name, had come to set the hearts of their countrymen at home comparatively at rest :

"The Queen must give utterance herself to the feelings of pride and satisfaction with which she has learned of the glorious victories which Sir Colin Campbell, and the heroic troops which he has under his command, have obtained over the mutineers. The manner in which Sir Colin has conducted all the operations, and his rescue of that devoted band of heroes and heroines at Lucknow (which brought comfort and relief to so many, many anxious hearts), are beyond all praise.

The Queen has had many proofs already of Sir Colin's devotion to his Sovereign and his country, and he has now greatly added to that debt of gratitude which both owe to him. But Sir Colin must bear one reproof from his Queen, and that is, that he exposes himself too much. His life is most precious, and she entreats that he will neither put himself where his noble spirit would urge him to be-foremost in danger-nor fatigue himself so as to injure his

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health. In this anxious wish the Prince most earnestly joins, as well as in all the Queen's previous expressions.

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That so many gallant and brave and distinguished men, beginning with one whose name will ever be remembered with pride, viz. General Havelock, should have fallen, is a great grief to the Queen! To all European as well as native troops, who have fought so nobly and so gallantly, and amongst whom the Queen is rejoiced to see the 93rd, the Queen wishes Sir Colin to convey the expression of her great admiration and gratitude.

The Queen cannot conclude without sending Sir Colin the congratulations and good wishes of our dear daughter, the Princess Royal, who is in a fortnight to leave her native land.

'And now, with the fervent wish that the God of Battles may ever attend and protect Sir Colin and his noble army, the Queen concludes.'

CHAPTER LXXXII.

THROUGHOUT the month of December the Prince was busy with the preparations for the approaching marriage of the Crown Princess. Writing at the close of the year to the Dowager Duchess of Coburg, he gives a hint of the hidden pain which was at his heart while arranging for the reception of the numerous princely guests who had intimated their intention of being present to witness that which was to him so solemn a ceremony.

'The last year,' he says, 'has again brought so much trouble with it that one is quite glad to leave it behind. The new year begins for us with the separation from a beloved daughter, which will be especially painful to me. I do not, however, let any hint of this be seen, and I rejoice for her in the prospect of a happy future.

'I hope she may soon be able to present herself to you in person, and that you may judge her with indulgence. This will be especially necessary for her in Germany, where everything is so new to her, and in Berlin, where much will be so difficult. Heaven will be her stay.

"We have innumerable visitors, and to find room for them all in a very limited palace will be a real feat of dexterity. If I succeed in doing this, I may take a professional tour as a conjuror, for the countless bouquets from Herr Döbler's hat are not more remarkable than the Princes without number in Buckingham Palace.