Source.—Letters of Queen Victoria, edited by A.C. Benson, M.A., and Viscount Esher, vol. iii., p. 550. (John Murray, 1907.)

Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell.

February 10, 1861.

The Queen has received Lord John Russell’s letter enclosing the draft of one to General Garibaldi, which she now returns. She had much doubt about its being altogether safe for the Government to get into correspondence, however unofficial, with the General, and thinks that it would be better for Lord John not to write to him. Lord Palmerston, who was here this afternoon on other business, has undertaken to explain the reasons in detail to Lord John—in which he fully concurs.