]

_The Emperor of the French to Queen Victoria._

PARIS, _le 31 Decembre 1860_.

MADAME ET TRES CHERE S[OE]UR,--Je ne veux pas laisser cette annee
s'ecouler sans venir porter a votre Majeste l'expression de mes
souhaits pour son bonheur et celui du Prince et de sa famille.
J'espere que l'annee qui va commencer sera heureuse pour nos deux
nations, et qu'elle verra encore nos liens se resserrer. L'Europe est
bien agitee, mais tant que l'Angleterre et la France s'entendent, le
mal pourra se localiser.

Je felicite votre Majeste du succes que nos deux armees ont obtenu
en Chine; laissons toujours nos etendards unis; car Dieu semble les
proteger.

J'ai bien envie l'Imperatrice qui a pu vous faire une visite et revoir
votre charmante famille: elle en a ete bien heureuse.

Je saisis avec empressement cette occasion de renouveler a votre
Majeste les sentiments de haute estime et de sincere amitie avec
lesquels je suis, de votre Majeste le bon Frere,

NAPOLEON.

[Pageheading: DEATH OF KING OF PRUSSIA]

_The Princess Royal to Queen Victoria and the Prince Albert._

POTSDAM, _2nd January 1861_.

BELOVED PARENTS,--At last I can find a moment for myself to sit down
and collect my thoughts and to write to you an account of these two
last dreadful days! My head is in such a state, I do not know where
I am hardly--whether I am in a dream or awake, what is yesterday and
what to-day! What we have so long expected is come at last! All the
confusion, bustle, excitement, noise, etc., is all swallowed up in
that one thought for me--I have seen death for the first time! It has
made an impression upon me that I shall never, never forget as long
as I live--and I feel so ill, so confused and upset by all that I have
gone through in the last forty-eight hours, that you must forgive
me if I write incoherently and unclearly. But to go back to Monday
evening (it seems to me a year now). At a quarter to eight in the
evening of Monday the 31st, I took dear darling Affie to the railway
station, and took leave of him with a heavy heart. You know I love
that dear boy distractedly, and that nothing could have given me more
pleasure than his dear, long-wished-for visit. At nine o'clock Fritz
and I went to tea at the Prince Regent's; we four were alone together.
The Princess was rather low and unwell, the Prince low-spirited, and
I thinking of nothing but Affie and of how dear he is. While we were
sitting at tea we received b