les Wood._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _4th May 1860_.

The Queen returns these papers. She wishes the thanks to Civil
Servants to be given in all cases, where to be given by the Home
Government, in her own name. The Bath or Knighthood comes directly
from the Sovereign, and so should the thanks; the Civil Servants are
the Queen's servants, and not the servants of the Government. The
Hindoo address is very striking and gratifying as a symptom.[23]
Presuming that Sir Charles does not want the copy back again, the
Queen has kept it.

[Footnote 23: The copy of this address does not seem to have
been preserved.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _8th May 1860_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--... Really it is too bad! _No_ country, no human
being would ever dream of _disturbing_ or _attacking_ France; every
one would be glad to see her prosperous; but _she_ must needs disturb
every quarter of the Globe and try to make mischief and set every
one by the ears; and, of course, it will end some day in a _regular
crusade_ against _the universal disturber_ of _the world!_ It is
really monstrous!

Dear Mamma returned to Frogmore on Friday, and Alfred left us on
Thursday, sailed from Portsmouth on Saturday, but had to stop at
Plymouth for some derangement in the machinery till to-day. He was
very low at going, though very happy to return to his ship. Now, with
Albert's affectionate love, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: VISIT TO ALDERSHOT]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _15th May 1860_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many, many thanks for your very kind letter
received on Saturday. We returned yesterday evening from Aldershot,
where we spent two very pleasant days with very warm weather. Sunday
was a beautiful day and we rode over to Farnham, the Bishop of
Winchester's Palace, and it was quite beautiful, the country is
so green and sweet--and enjoyable. The warm rain of last week has
produced a burst of Spring which is quite beautiful. Yesterday
morning it rained when we first went out, but it cleared and became a
beautiful day, and we had a pretty field day. Your old Regiment
looked extremely well. In the afternoon we saw some very interesting
rifle-shooting. The whole Army practises this now most unremittingly,
and we saw three different companies of the Guards fire at 300 yards,
and so on to 900 yards, and _hit_ the target! They fired