(Ch.

IX, 26th September 1840)] [Footnote 30: Under this treaty (14th September 1829) the Danubian principalities were made virtually independent States, the treaty rights of Russia in the navigation of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles were confirmed, and Greek affairs were arranged, by incorporating in the treaty the terms of the Protocol of 22nd March 1829.] [Pageheading: A THREATENED CRISIS] _Queen Victoria to Viscount Melbourne._[31] WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th September 1840._ This is certainly awkward; but the latter part about Peel is most absurd; to him I can never apply, we must do everything but that.

But for God's sake do not bring on a crisis;[32] the Queen really could not go through that _now_, and it might make her _seriously ill_ if she were to be kept in a state of agitation and excitement if a crisis were to come on; she has had already so much lately in the distressing illness of her poor Aunt to harass her.

I beseech you, think of _all_ this, and the consequences it might cause, not only to me, but to all Europe, as it would show our weakness in a way that would be seriously injurious to this country.
[Footnote 31: The letter, to which this is a reply, seems not to have been preserved.

The Queen's letter, having been shown to Lord John Russell and copied by him, has hitherto been supposed to be a letter from Lord Melbourne to Lord John Russell.