Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell

Windsor Castle, 19th January 1861.

The Queen has received Lord John Russell's letter enclosing his correspondence with Lord Clarendon. She has kept the latter in order to show it to Lord Palmerston this evening, not knowing whether he has seen it already. She must say that Lord Clarendon's arguments are very conclusive. Has it ever occurred to Lord John Russell that, if Lord Clarendon were to go to Berlin carrying the highest compliment the Queen has to bestow, viz. the Order of the Garter to the new King of Prussia, and from thence to Vienna empty-handed to the Emperor of Austria for the purpose of giving good advice, the Emperor might look upon it as an offensive public proceeding towards him?

Footnote 5: Lord Clarendon was appointed to represent the Queen at the Coronation of the King of Prussia.