I hope that the Oriental Question will be satisfactorily settled. From all the confidential reports we have received from the Emperor of Russia, I think I may safely say that though he has treated the Sultan rather overbearingly and roughly, there is no alteration in his views—and no wish whatever on his part to appropriate Constantinople or any of those parts to himself—though he does not wish us, or France or Austria or Greece, to have it either. But he thinks the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire very imminent, which I really think is not the case. The Russians accuse us (as we have preached moderation) of being too French—and the French of being too Russian!....
Now with Albert's love, ever your devoted Niece,
Victoria R.
Queen Victoria to Lord Clarendon.
Windsor Castle, 30th March 1853.
The Queen has received Lord Clarendon's letter with great satisfaction. We are now reaping the fruits of an honest and straightforward conduct, and the Queen hopes Lord Clarendon will likewise in all future cases of difficulty arrest the mischief, sure to arise from a continuance of mutual suspicion between this Country and any Power, by at once entering upon full and unreserved explanations, on the first symptoms of distrust.
As the Emperor deserves great credit, if he really caused the liberation of the Madiai, the Queen wishes Lord Clarendon to express to Count Walewski her feelings on this subject.
The Emperor of Russia to the Prince Albert.
THE CZAR'S LETTER
| St. Pétersbourg, le | 8 — 20 | Avril 1853. |