_live_ in times I heard her talk of when I was
a child. It is touching to find how she treasured up every little
flower, every bit of hair. I found some of dear Princess Charlotte's,
and touching relics of my poor Father, in a little writing-desk of his
I had never seen, with his last letters to her, and her notes _after_
his death written in a little book, expressing such longing to be
reunited to him! _Now_ she _is!_ And what a comfort it is to think
_how many very dear ones_ are gone on before her whom she will find!
All these notes show how very, very much she and my beloved Father
_loved_ each other. _Such_ love and affection! I hardly knew it was
_to that extent_. Then her love for _me_--it is _too_ touching! I have
found little books with the accounts of my babyhood, and they show
_such_ unbounded tenderness! Oh! I am so wretched to think _how_, _for
a time_, _two people most_ wickedly estranged us!... To miss a mother's
friendship--not to be able to have her to confide in--when a girl
_most_ needs it, was fearful! I _dare not_ think of it--it drives me
_wild_ now! But thank God! that is all passed _long, long_ ago, and
she had forgotten it, and only thought of the last very happy years.

And all that was brought by my good angel, dearest Albert, whom _she_
adored, and in whom she had such unbounded confidence....

On Sunday our dear little Beatrice was four years old. It upset me
much, for she was the idol of that beloved Grandmamma, and the child
so fond of her. She continually speaks of her--how she "is in Heaven,"
but hopes she will return! She is a most darling, engaging child....
Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: THE DANISH QUESTION]

_Queen Victoria to Lord John Russell._

OSBORNE, _27th May 1861_.

The Queen returns the proposed draft of answer to the observations of
the Russian Government on Lord John Russell's proposals with regard to
the Danish Question. She has to observe that this reverses the whole
position taken by us hitherto. Prince Gortschakoff is quite right in
reminding us that the engagements taken in 1852[13] did not contain
a formal guarantee (_obliging_ to take up arms for the defence of
the object guaranteed) in deference to the opinion of the British
Government which, on general principles, has always objected to such
engagements. These principles are as important now as ever, and yet
Lord John proposes "to renew the _guarantee_ of the integrity of the