The Queen has to acknowledge Lord John Russell's letter of this morning. Much as she must regret the postponement of the second reading of the Reform Bill, she must admit its wisdom under the present peculiar circumstances;[18] but she doubts the advantage of naming a precise day after Easter on which it is to come on. Considering the _importance_ to the country of _preserving_ the present Government and of not allowing it to be beat on so vital a question, the opportunity should not be lost of ascertaining the state of feeling both in the House of Commons and in the country after the reassembling of Parliament, before the Government decide on entering upon the struggle which the carrying through of the measure might entail. It is quite impossible _now_ to conjecture with certainty what that state of feeling and the general political circumstances at home and abroad may be at that time. Possibly the country may be more eager _then for_ the measure--or the War may _disincline_ it _altogether_ towards it. The Queen seizes this opportunity of expressing her sense of the _imperative importance_ of the Cabinet being _united_ and of one mind at this moment, and not to let it _appear_ that there are differences of opinion within it. The knowledge that there are such is a cause of GREAT _anxiety_ to the Queen, at a time when she is to enter upon a European War, of which nobody can confidently predict the extent. [Footnote 18: See the Queen's letter of the 4th of March, _post_.] _Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._ BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _2nd February (? March) 1854._ In returning these letters to Lord Aberdeen the Queen must express to him that there are _hints_ in them which give her great uneasiness. The stability of this Government is not only of _paramount importance_ at the _commencement_ of the War, but throughout it; the moment for negotiation may arrive much sooner than we now expect--and _then_, more than _now even_, the Government ought to be composed of the _ablest and most moderate_ men which this Country can produce. _Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._ BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th March 1854._ The Queen thanks Lord John Russell for his letter received this morning. She has read the proceedings in the House of Commons with much interest.[19] She was particularly pleased with Lord John's second speech, in which he affirmed the principle that public men ought not to oppose the regard for personal honour or reputation to the well-understood interests of the Country. Indeed, the Queen cannot conceive the possibility of their collision, as an exclusive regard for the well-understood interests of the Country must always redound to the honour and reputation of a Statesman.