I must now conclude in great haste; excellent Stockmar is particularly well and brisk. Ever your devoted Niece,
Victoria R.
Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston.
Osborne, 8th December 1856.
Lord Palmerston's explanation of Lord Panmure's object in proposing the appointment of a Director-General of Education of the Army in the Civil Department of its Government has but confirmed the Queen's apprehensions as to the effect of that step, if sanctioned. The Queen has for some time been expecting the proposal of a well-digested and considered plan for the education of the officers of the Army, and knows that the Duke of Cambridge has had such a one elaborated. Surely, in the absence of any fixed and approved system of education, it would be most imprudent to establish an Office for the discharge of certain important functions which are not yet defined. The Queen must therefore ask that the system of education to be in future adopted should first be submitted to her, and afterwards only the plan for the machinery which is to carry this out, the fitness of which can only be properly judged of with reference to the object in view.
Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon.
Osborne, 12th December 1856.
The Queen returns the enclosed letters. Sir H. Bulwer's is a clever composition, showing his wit and powers of writing.
The Queen has never, however, seen anything from him producing the impression that great and important affairs would be safe in his hands.