sterday, and last night
seven degrees of frost. On Sunday we celebrated, with feelings of
_deep gratitude_ and love, the _twenty-first_ anniversary of our
blessed marriage, a day which had brought us, and I may say the
_world_ at _large_, such incalculable blessings! _Very_ few can say
with me that their husband at the end of twenty-one years is _not_
only full of the friendship, kindness, and affection which a truly
happy marriage brings with it, but the same tender love of the _very
first days of our marriage!_

We missed dear Mamma and _three_ of our children,[7] but had _six_
dear ones round us--and assembled in the evening those of our
Household _still_ remaining who were _with us then!_...

In Parliament things go on quietly enough, and every one _hopes_ for a
short session....

Hoping that these lines will find you well, believe me ever, your
devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 7: The Duchess of Kent was at Frogmore; the Princess
Royal, now Crown Princess of Prussia, was at Potsdam; the
Prince of Wales had just entered upon his first term at
Cambridge; and Prince Alfred had joined his ship, the
_Euryalus_, at Plymouth.]

[Pageheading: LORD JOHN RUSSELL AND GARIBALDI]

_Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria._

DOWNING STREET, _13th February 1861_.

Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and
begs to state that the Cabinet at its meeting this afternoon were
of opinion that Lord John Russell's proposed letter to Garibaldi, as
altered by Lord John, might do good, and could scarcely be attended
with any material inconvenience, and that therefore it might go.[8]

[Footnote 8: It accordingly was sent in the following form:--

GENERAL,--You did me the honour, some time ago, to write me a
letter, thanking me for a speech I made in Parliament.

I was not insensible to the value of that compliment. My
present purpose however is not compliment.

I wish you seriously to reconsider your declaration that you
propose to begin a war in the Spring.

It seems to me that no individual, however distinguished, has
a right to determine for his country the momentous question of
peace or war with a foreign State.

Italy, represented by a free Parliament, is about to assemble
and declare her own sentiments and wishes.

It is surely for the King and the Parliament together to
decide on questions which may invol