Volume Iii Part 53 (1/2)
_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.
The mission to Was.h.i.+ngton will be difficult to fill.[61] Is it necessary to be in a hurry about it? Lord Elgin is sure to perform the duties very well, but is his former position as Governor-General of Canada not too high for him to go to Was.h.i.+ngton as Minister?...
[Footnote 61: A complaint had been made by the Government of the United States of the unlawful enlistment in that country of recruits for the English army, and Mr Crampton, the British Minister at Was.h.i.+ngton, had been dismissed. Diplomatic relations were resumed after a suspension of some months; and Lord Napier was appointed British Minister in March 1857.]
[Pageheading: THE MAHARAJAH DHULEEP SINGH]
_Memorandum by Queen Victoria._
OSBORNE, _15th December 1856._
The Queen has seen the Memorandum which the Maharajah Dhuleep Singh has sent to the East India Company; she thinks all he asks very fair and reasonable, and she trusts that the East India Company will be able to comply with them. As we are in complete possession since 1849 of the Maharajah's enormous and splendid Kingdom, the Queen thinks we ought to do _everything_ (which does not interfere with the safety of her Indian dominions) to render the position of this interesting and peculiarly good and amiable Prince as agreeable as possible, and not to let him have the feeling that he is _a prisoner_.
His being a Christian and completely European (or rather more English) in his habits and feelings, renders this much more necessary, and at the same time more easy.
The Queen has a very strong feeling that everything should be done to show respect and kindness towards these poor fallen Indian Princes, whose Kingdoms we have taken from them, and who are naturally very sensitive to attention and kindness.
Amongst all these, however, the Maharajah stands to a certain degree alone, from his civilisation, and likewise from his having lost his kingdom when he was a child entirely by the faults and misdeeds of others.[62]
[Footnote 62: In reply, Mr Vernon Smith stated that he had brought all the Queen's wishes before the Company.]
[Pageheading: MILITARY EDUCATION]
_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._
OSBORNE, _18th December 1856._
In answer to Lord Palmerston's explanation with regard to Colonel Lefroy's[63] appointment, the Queen has to say, that if he is to be made Inspector of Regimental Schools, she has no objection; but she must protest against his being made _Director_ of Education for the Army generally. We want a Director-General of Education very much, but he ought to be immediately under the Commander-in-Chief, if possible a General Officer of weight, a.s.sisted by a Board of Officers of the different Arms.
Education ought to be made one of the essential requisites of an officer, and the reports on his proficiency ought to go direct through the proper superior from the bottom to the top, particularly if selection by merit is to receive a greater application for the future.
If for his military proficiency and moral discipline, an officer is to be responsible to his Military chief, but for his mental acquirements to a Civil department, the unity of the system will be broken and the Army ruined; and this _must_ be the case if the superintendence of the education is separated from the Military command.
The subject of Military Education has, as Lord Palmerston says, often been discussed in Parliament, which expects that some sufficient arrangement shall be made for it. But the mere creation of a place for an officer, however meritorious, to find him an equivalent for one which has to be reduced, can hardly be so called, and may even defeat the object itself. This subject is a most important one, and ought to be thoroughly examined before acting. The Queen understands that the Duke of Cambridge has transmitted to Lord Panmure a complete scheme, which must be now before him. If Lord Palmerston, Lord Panmure, the Duke of Cambridge, and the Prince were to meet to consider this scheme, and the whole question in connection with it, the Queen would feel every confidence that a satisfactory decision would be arrived at.