in _volleys_.
It is very satisfactory, as this precision would be very _telling_ in
action. I think you would be interested by it.

I _hope_ you have forgiven my hurried note of Saturday--but I was _so_
anxious at the time. We go to Osborne on the 19th, I am happy to say,
till the 31st.

Affairs continue to be very threatening, and keep everybody in
suspense.... Ever, dearest Uncle, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE, _22nd May 1860_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I write to you from here, where it is wonderfully
beautiful and unusually _hot_ for May--it is _quite_ like July, but
the _late_ Spring has brought out everything together in the most
wonderful manner. The foliage of many trees is hardly out yet, but
there are all the fruit-trees in fullest blossom--the lilacs and
peonies out--the thorns only beginning and every wild flower
in profusion--the grass splendidly green, and a fragrance about
everything which is too delicious; and the birds singing _most_
beautifully. The nightingales were last night singing all round the
house....

Affairs are in a most bewildered state. Lord Palmerston is _very stout
and right_ about our neighbour. I am glad to be able to _refute
most positively_ the report of our _ships_ having _prevented_ the
Neapolitans from firing; the _case_ is _quite_ clear, and the French
and Neapolitan Governments themselves have spread this falsehood.

The House of Lords have thrown the Bill for the Abolition of the
paper Duties[24] _out_ by a very large majority, which is a _very good
thing_. It will save us a large amount of revenue.

I must end for to-day. Hoping that these lines will find you quite
well, ever your devoted _Daughter_ (I _wrote_ by mistake _but_ will
leave, as it _only_ expresses what _my feelings_ are) and Niece,

VICTORIA R.

We have quite a small party on the 1st, with some choral singing.

[Footnote 24: This part of Mr Gladstone's financial scheme had
lost a good deal of its early popularity: it had only passed
the third reading in the Commons by the small majority of
nine, and the Premier had already told the Queen that the
Peers would perform a public service by rejecting it. The
majority against it in the House of Lords was 89.]

[Pageheading: THE HOUSE OF LORDS AND MONEY BILLS]

[Pageheading: COMMITTEE OF THE COMMONS]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

94 PICCADILLY, _