Towards her German relatives she preserved a discreet appearance of impartiality; but she poured out upon her Ministers a flood of appeals, protests, and expostulations.

She invoked the sacred cause of Peace.

"The only chance of preserving peace for Europe," she wrote, "is by not assisting Denmark, who has brought this entirely upon herself.

The Queen suffers much, and her nerves are more and more totally shattered...

But though all this anxiety is wearing her out, it will not shake her firm purpose of resisting any attempt to involve this country in a mad and useless combat." She was, she declared, "prepared to make a stand," even if the resignation of the Foreign Secretary should follow.