Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury

NEGOTIATIONS WITH RUSSIA

Buckingham Palace, 5th June 1859.

The Queen has read Lord Cowley's letter with regret. Nothing could be more dangerous and unwise than at this moment to enter into negotiations with Russia on the best manner of disposing of the Emperor of Austria's dominions. The Queen cannot understand how Lord Cowley can propose anything so indefensible in a moral point of view.