Chapter X: THE REIGN OF VICTORIA (continued)

Winter of '55--Visit of the Czar to the Crimea--State of
the British Army--Sufferings of the French--Destruction of
Sebastopol--The Armistice--Views of Austria and Russia--And of
the Emperor Napoleon--Britain acquiesces in Peace--Walewski's
Circular--Austria proposes Peace--Buol's Despatch--Nesselrode's
Circular--The Austrian Ultimatum--Russia gives way--The Congress
fixed at Paris--The Queen's Speech--Speeches of Clarendon and
Palmerston--Meeting of the Congress--The Armistice--An Imperial
Speech--The Sultan's Firman--Prussia admitted to the Congress--Birth
of the Prince Imperial--The Treaty signed--Its Terms--Bessarabia
and the Principalities--The Three Conventions--The Treaty of
Guarantee--Count Walewski's Four Subjects--The Declaration of
Paris--International Arbitration mooted--The Kars Debate--Debates on
the Peace--General Rejoicings--Cost of the War--First Presentation
of the Victoria Cross 144