John Russell._

OSBORNE, _25th August 1851._

The Queen wishes to draw Lord John Russell's attention to the enclosed
draft, which she does not think can go in its present shape. We argued
in innumerable despatches that the _choice of the successor_ to the
Danish Crown was entirely an internal question for Denmark, in which
foreign Powers could not interfere. Here, however, it is laid down
that the German Diet has no right to treat the succession in Holstein
(a German State) as an _internal_ question, as it ought to be decided
on--not according to the _German law of succession_, but according to
the interests of Europe. Nor is it true, as stated in the despatch,
that the Duke of Augustenburg has _no_ claim to the Danish Crown. His
mother was the daughter of Christian VII. and of Queen Matilda.

[Pageheading: THE QUEEN IN SCOTLAND]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BALMORAL CASTLE, _16th September 1851._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Accept my best thanks for your kind and dear letter
of the 8th. It is a good thing for Leo to begin to follow in your
footsteps, but (if I may speak out plainly), I think that anything
like _fonctions_ and _representation_ is agreeable and _not_ difficult
to Leo. It is the common contact with his fellow-creatures, the being
put on a par with him, the being brought to feel that he is as much
_one_ of them as any other, in spite of his birth, which I think of
such great importance for him, and I therefore hope you will send him
to _Bonn_.

My letter is terribly _decousu_, for it has been twice interrupted.
I was out the whole day with Albert, in the forest in a perfectly
tropical heat. Since we went to Allt-na-Giuthasach, our little bothy
near Loch Muich on the 12th, the heat of the sun has been daily
increasing, and has reached a pitch which makes it almost sickening to
be out in it, though it is beautiful to behold. The sky these last two
evenings has been like an Italian one, and for the last few days--at
least the last four--without the slightest particle of cloud, and the
sun blazing. With this, not a breath of air. The mountains look quite
crimson and lilac, and everything glows with the setting sun.
The evenings are quite a _relief_. Really one cannot undertake
expeditions, the heat is so great. We thought of you, and wished you
could be here; you would fancy yourself in Italy.

Albert got a splendid stag to-day. I must hastily conclude, hoping
to hear from you tha