[Footnote 19: Lord John Russell had announced the decision of the Government to postpone till the 27th of April the second reading of the Reform Bill, and, in reply to some sarcastic comments from Mr Disraeli, stated that he would be ashamed of himself if he preferred anything connected with his own personal reputation to the interest of the country. He added that the security of the country depended upon its confidence in the character of public men.] [Pageheading: THE BALTIC FLEET] _Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._ OSBORNE, _14th March 1854._ MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Your kind letter of the 9th arrived here on Saturday just when we returned from a splendid and never-to-be-forgotten sight-- the sailing of our noble Fleet for the Baltic;[20] the Navy and Nation were particularly pleased at _my leading them out_, as they call it, which in fact was the case, as, in our little _Fairy_ we went on and lay to, to see them all come out, which (the wind being fair) they did, with sails set, each passing us close by, and giving us three hearty cheers, as I think none but British tars _can_ give. Gloriously they bore along, followed by the prayers and good wishes of all. You should read the account in yesterday's _Times_. Another sailing squadron goes to-morrow. The Captains and Admirals all took leave on board, and seemed much impressed with the solemnity of the moment.... Ever your truly devoted Niece, VICTORIA R. [Footnote 20: The Fleet, under Sir Charles Napier, had been assembled at Spithead.] [Pageheading: THE KING OF PRUSSIA] [Pageheading: PRUSSIAN NEUTRALITY] [Pageheading: WAR DECLARED] _Queen Victoria to the King of Prussia._ [_Translation._] OSBORNE, _17th March 1854._ DEAR SIR AND BROTHER,--General Count von der Groeben has brought me the official letter of your Majesty, as well as the confidential one,[21] and I send your kind messenger back, with these two answers to you. He will be able to tell you, orally, what I can express only imperfectly in writing, how deep my pain is, after our going so far, faithfully, hand in hand, to see you, at this weighty moment, separating yourself from us. My pain is still further increased by the fact that I cannot even conceive the grounds which move your Majesty to take this step. [Footnote 21: The Prussian Court considered itself under no obligation to engage in the impending struggle, till its own interests became directly involved; it would not (said Baron Manteuffel, President of the Ministry, on the 18th of March) take part, for the protection of the integrity of the Ottoman Empire, "in a conflict, the full scope of which cannot yet be apprehended, and the original subject matter of which does not affect the interests of our fatherland."]