feel sure of the good effect it must have on these Princes, and on
India in general.

We have just seen Lord Clyde looking wonderfully well; he speaks in
high terms of Lord Canning, and enthusiastically of dear Lady Canning.
Alas! another most valuable public servant and friend of ours, Lord
Elphinstone,[32] only returned to die! Lord Canning will grieve much
no doubt to hear this.

Both he and Lady Canning will have heard with interest of the birth
of our second grandchild and first grand-daughter.[33] Nothing can go
better than the Princess Royal does. Of the Prince of Wales's arrival
in Canada we could not yet hear, but shall do so in a few days.

This country and Europe continue to be in a state of alarms, or rather
more profound distrust in, the conduct and purposes of our neighbour.
Fortunately the feeling of Germany is so unanimous upon this subject,
and the Emperor's attempt to produce disaffection or division there
has so signally failed and produced so diametrically a contrary
effect, and Belgium has shown such an enthusiastic spirit of loyalty
only equal to the public spirit which this country has shown in the
Volunteer movement, that it is to be hoped these sinister designs are
checked for a time at least.

With the Prince's kind remembrance to Lord Canning, the Queen
concludes, hoping this letter will find him in good health, and Lady
Canning safely returned from her expedition.

[Footnote 32: See _ante_, 25th January, 1859, note 8.]

[Footnote 33: The Princess Charlotte of Prussia, now
Hereditary Princess of Saxe-Meiningen, was born on the 24th of
July.]

[Pageheading: VISIT TO SCOTLAND]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

HOLYROOD, _7th August 1860_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I have _many_ excuses for sending a few hurried
lines from here, instead of my usual letter, but I was much hurried
yesterday; the separation from baby quite upset me, as she too cried
very much--but she is consoled again.

Many thanks for your dear letter of the 3rd, which I shall duly answer
on Friday.

We came down here by _night_ train, arriving at eight. We paid dear
Mamma a visit at her really charming residence at Cramond,[34] quite
near the sea, with beautiful trees, and very cheerful.

And this afternoon she was present the whole time at the splendid
Volunteer Review, which lasted from half-past three till near six,
in the open carriage with me, and enjoyed it so much; and I w