the death of her sister, the
Duchess of Alba.]

[Pageheading: BETROTHAL OF PRINCESS ALICE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _1st December 1860_.

DEAREST UNCLE,--I hasten to announce to you that yesterday our dear
young couple here were engaged, and that we _are all_ very happy.[47]
Louis was spoken to yesterday on our return from Aldershot by
Albert,--who told him he would have an opportunity of speaking to
Alice--and this opportunity he took last night after dinner when
he was standing alone with her at the fire, and every one else was
occupied in talking. They whispered it to me, and then, after we left
the drawing-room, we sent for good Louis--and the young people met and
confirmed in a very touching manner _what_ they had merely been able
to whisper to one another before. He was very much overcome. He is
a dear, good, amiable, high-principled young man--who I am sure will
make our dearest Alice _very_ happy, and she will, I am sure, be a
most devoted loving wife to him. She is _very, very_ happy, and it is
a pleasure to see their young, happy faces beaming with love for
one another. Alice is so extremely reasonable and quiet. She wishes
everything kind and affectionate to be said to you, and _hopes_ for
your _blessing!_ I am very, very happy, so are we both, but I am still
a good deal agitated and flurried by the whole event.

On Tuesday the Empress arrives, but only to luncheon. I must end now
in haste. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

Pray tell it to good Philip, and also to Leopold and Marie.

[Footnote 47: See _ante_, 31st July, 1860, and note 31.]

[Pageheading: THE SEE OF WORCESTER]

_Queen Victoria to Viscount Palmerston._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _1st December 1860_.

The Queen has received Lord Palmerston's second letter respecting the
Bishopric of Worcester,[48] just as she was going to answer the first.
While not objecting to the nomination of Mr Bayley,[49] she wanted to
point out the importance of, at a future vacancy, not to confine the
selection to respectable parish priests, but to bear in mind that the
Bench of Bishops should not be left devoid of some University men of
acknowledged standing and theological learning; it would be seriously
weakened if, in controversies on points of doctrine agitating the
Church, no value were attached to the opinions at least of some
of those who are to govern her. Lord Palmerston may now have an