PALACE, _1st March 1848._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Every hour seems to bring fresh news and events.
Victoire and her children and Montpensier are at Jersey, and are
expected to arrive to-morrow. About the King and Queen, we still know
nothing, but we have some clue, and think _he may be_ somewhere on the
coast, or even _in_ England. We do everything we can for the poor
dear Family, who are indeed most dreadfully to be pitied; but you will
naturally understand that we cannot _make cause commune_ with them and
cannot take a hostile position opposite to the new state of things
in France; we leave them alone, but if a Government which has the
approbation of the country be formed, we shall feel it necessary to
recognise it, in order to pin them down to maintain peace and the
existing Treaties, which is of great importance. It will not be
pleasant for us to do this, but the public good and the peace of
Europe go before one's feelings. God knows what _one feels_ towards
the French. I trust, dear Uncle, that you will maintain the fine and
independent position you are now in, which is so gratifying to us, and
I am sure you will feel that much as we all must sympathise with
our poor French relations, you should not for that quarrel with the
existing state of things, which however is very uncertain. There were
fresh reports of great confusion at Paris, which is sure to happen.
All our poor relations have gone through is worthy only of a
_dreadful_ romance, and poor Clem behaves beautifully, courageously,
and calmly, and is full of resignation; but she can get no sleep, poor
thing--and hears the horrid cries and sees those _fiend-like
faces_ before her! The children are very happy with ours, but very
unmanageable. I saw the Duchesse de Montpensier to-day.

Now, with every wish for _all_ going on well, believe me ever, your
devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: MR FEATHERSTONHAUGH]

[Pageheading: A GRAPHIC NARRATIVE]

_Mr Featherstonhaugh[9] to Viscount Palmerston._

HAVRE, _3rd March 1848._

MY DEAR LORD PALMERSTON,--It was a hair-trigger affair altogether, but
thanks be to God everything has gone off admirably. I was obliged
to abandon the plan of trusting the King in a fishing-boat from
Trouville. The weather was very stormy; had he attempted to find the
steamer, he might have failed, for the sea was in a furious state and
the wind ahead. There was also the danger of the fishing-boat being
lost, a continge