th Fould about it
that she insisted on his dismissal.[54] Then the Priests are said to
try and work upon her, and say that her son will die if the Emperor
continues _dans cette voie_ against the Pope.

We saw Mr Elliot[55] from Naples yesterday, who has always been very
fair. He says that _if_, when the King came to the Throne, he had
_only_ insisted on the laws of the country being properly carried
out, _no_ reforms or change in the Constitution would have been
necessary--but from the want of energy, and also no strength of
intellect and great indecision of character of the poor King, as well
as an unfortunate _Pietaet_ for the memory of his father, nothing right
was done; bad counsellors surrounded him, the Queen Mother had a bad
influence, and finally everything was given up as lost--when it might
yet have been prevented. They dislike extremely being annexed, but
prefer it to having back the former state of things.

We have since ten or twelve days almost incessant rain, so that we
shall soon be on an island. This is the more distressing as we can't
go to Osborne at present--there being a sort of epidemic fever which
the doctors declare is in the air and that it would be running too
great a risk if we went. But we have perpetual sunshine in the house
when we look at our dear young lovers, who are _so_ happy, so devoted
to each other, that it does one good to see it; he is so modest and
unassuming that we feel as if he was one of our own children; and he
is _so_ good and amiable, has such an open honest character, such
a warm heart, such high principles, and is withal so merry and
_aufgeweckt_ that I feel we have _gained_ a son and shall _not_ lose a
daughter--for we shall be able to have them a good deal with us, Louis
not having any duties to detain him much at home at present. I can't
say what happiness and comfort it is to me. I feel my dear child
will first of all have a peaceful, quiet, happy home, without
difficulties--and secondly, that she will not be entirely cut off from
us and monopolised as our poor Vicky is.

I add a few lines since we have seen the Empress. She came at
half-past one, and stayed till a little after three. She looked very
pretty, but very sad--and in speaking of her health and of her return
from Algiers began to cry. She seems to be much better, however, for
her journey; before she could neither eat nor sleep, nor would she
take notice of anything. She never mentioned the Emperor but o