nce when
she offered his compliments, and there was not the slightest allusion
to politics. It is altogether very strange. She remains another week
in England, and then goes back as she came. I gave her your message,
and she enquired after you. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 54: See _ante_, 15th May, 1859, note 38.]

[Footnote 55: See _ante_, 17th July, 1859, note 62.]

[Pageheading: VISIT OF THE EMPRESS EUGENIE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

_Windsor Castle, 11th December 1860_.

MY BELOVED UNCLE,--I have to thank you for two _most_ kind letters
of the 4th and 7th. Your kind interest in our dear child's
happiness--your approval of this marriage of our dear Alice, which,
I cannot deny, has been for _long_ an ardent wish of mine, and just
therefore I feared _so_ much it _never_ would come to pass, gives
us the greatest pleasure. _Now_--that _all_ has been so _happily_
settled, and that I find the young man so very charming--my joy, and
my _deep_ gratitude to God are very great! He is so loveable, so
very _young_, and like one of our own children--not the _least in
the way_--but a dear, pleasant, _bright_ companion, full of fun and
spirits, and I am _sure_ will be a _great_ comfort to us, besides
being an excellent husband to our dear, good Alice, who, though
radiant with joy and much in love (which well she may be), is as quiet
and sensible as possible.

The Empress is still here, and enjoys her liberty of _all_ things. We
went to town for the Smithfield Cattle Show yesterday, and visited her
at Claridge's Hotel. She very civilly wanted us to avoid the trouble,
but we felt that it would not be civil if we did not, and that
hereafter even the French might say that she had not been treated with
due respect. She looked very pretty, and was in very good spirits, but
again carefully avoided any allusion to her husband and to politics,
though she talked a great deal about all she was seeing!...

I must now wish you good-bye. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

TO CHAPTER XXX

Early in 1861--a year destined to close in sorrow and
desolation--Queen Victoria experienced a heavy grief in the death of
her mother, the Duchess of Kent, at the age of seventy-four.

In January, fresh overtures were made to Lord Palmerston by the
Conservative leaders, with a view of supporting him in office against
the dissentients in his Ministry, espec