expressions used which did a great deal of harm, and Lord
Derby begged me to warn them very strongly and earnestly on this
point; _I_ cannot do much, but I think _you_ might, for in fact they
might _unintentionally compromise us seriously_. The Government are
rather shaky; Disraeli has been imprudent and blundering, and has done
himself harm by a Speech he made about the Duke of Wellington, which
was borrowed from an _eloge_ by Thiers on a French Marshal!!![46]

You will have heard from your children and from Charles how very
touching the ceremony both in and out of doors was on the 18th. The
behaviour of the millions assembled has been the topic of general
admiration, and the foreigners have all assured me that they never
could have believed _such_ a number of people could have shown such
feeling, such respect, for _not_ a sound was heard! I cannot say
_what_ a deep and _wehmtuehige_ impression it made on me! It was a
beautiful sight. In the Cathedral it was much more touching still! The
dear old Duke! he is an irreparable loss!

We had a great dinner yesterday to all the Officers. There is but one
feeling of indignation and surprise at the conduct of Austria [47]
in taking _this_ opportunity to slight England in return for what
happened to _Haynau_[48] for _his own_ character. Ernest Hohenlohe
was extremely anxious you should know the reason why he may _possibly_
appear one evening at the Elysee (they are gone for three or four days
to Paris).

Louis Napoleon being excessively susceptible, and believing us to be
inimical towards him, we and the Government thought it would not be
wise or prudent for _my_ brother-in-law, just coming _from here_,
purposely to avoid him and go out of his way, which Louis Napoleon
would immediately say was _my doing_; and unnecessary offence we do
not wish to give; the more so as Stockmar was presented to him at
Strasburg, and received the _Legion d'honneur_. I promised to explain
this to you, as Ernest was distressed lest he should appear to be
_timeserving_, and I said I was sure you would understand it.

I must end in a hurry, hoping to write again on Thursday or Friday.
Dear Stockmar is very well and most kind. He is much pleased at your
children spending some time with him every day. Ever your devoted
Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 46: Marshal Gouvion de St Cyr.]

[Footnote 47: In sending no representative to the funeral of
the Duke of Wellington.]

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