he Exhibition in which you took so much interest. The
continuation of the work I send you, I shall forward as it comes out.

As I wrote so lately, and shall do so on Tuesday, I will not touch on
politics--with one exception--that I think it of high importance that
the Orleans should clear themselves of _all_ suspicion of a _plot_,
which _some people_, I am sure, wish to make it _appear_ they _are_
involved in; and that public contradiction should be given to the
foolish report, _much_ credited _here_, that Joinville has gone
to Lille, or to some part of France, to head the Troops. Ever your
devoted Niece and Child,

VICTORIA R.

How you will _again_ miss your departed Angel!

[Pageheading: LORD PALMERSTON'S EXPLANATION]

_Lord John Russell to Queen Victoria._

WOBURN ABBEY, _18th December 1851._

Lord John Russell presents his humble duty to your Majesty. He
received from Lord Palmerston yesterday an explanation of his
declaration of opinion to Mr Walewski, which Lord John Russell regrets
to state was quite unsatisfactory.

He thought himself compelled to write to Lord Palmerston in the most
decisive terms.

Lord Palmerston requested that his letter might be returned to be
copied.

The whole correspondence shall be submitted to your Majesty.

Your Majesty will find in the box a despatch of Lord Normanby of the
15th, and an answer of Lord Palmerston of the 16th,[37] which has been
sent without your Majesty's sanction, or the knowledge of Lord John
Russell.

[Footnote 37: The letters are given in full in Ashley's
_Life of Lord Palmerston_, vol. i. chap. vii., were Lord
Palmerston's explanation of the 16th, in answer to the
Premier's letter of the 14th, will also be found.]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _19th December 1851._

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Receive my warmest and best thanks for your
truly kind and gracious recollection of my old birthday, and your
amiable presents.

Our angelic Louise had quite _un culte_ for that day, and two have
already passed since the best and noblest of hearts beats no longer
amongst us. When one sees the haste and ardour of earthly pursuits,
and how all this is often disposed of, and when one sees that even the
greatest success always ends with the grave, one is tempted to
wonder that the human race should follow so restlessly bubbles
often disappearing just when reached, and always being a source of
never-ending