g of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _6th February 1855_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--We are here again for a few hours in order to try
and facilitate the formation of a Government, which seemed almost
hopeless.

Van de Weyer will have informed you of the successive failures of Lord
Derby and _Lord John_ ... and of Lord Palmerston being now charged
with the formation of a Government! I had _no_ other alternative. The
Whigs _will_ join with him, and I have got hopes, _also_ the Peelites,
which would be very important, and would tend to allay the _alarm_
which his name will, I fear, produce abroad.

I will leave this letter open to the last moment in the hope of giving
you some decisive news before we return to Windsor....

I am a good deal worried and knocked up by all that has passed; my
nerves, which have suffered very severely this last year, have not
been improved by what has passed during this trying fortnight--for it
_will_ be a _fortnight_ to-morrow that the beginning of the mischief
began....

_Six o'clock p.m._--One word to say that _Lord Palmerston_ has just
_kissed_ hands as _Prime_ Minister. ALL the _Peelites_ except poor
dear Aberdeen (whom I am deeply grieved to lose) and the Duke of
Newcastle, remain. It is _entirely_ Aberdeen's _doing_, and very
patriotic and handsome of him. In haste, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: A FAREWELL LETTER]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _7th February 1855_.

Though the Queen hopes to see Lord Aberdeen at six, she seizes the
opportunity of approving the appointment of the Hon. and Rev. A.
Douglas[31] to the living of St Olave's, Southwark, to say what
she hardly dares to do verbally without fearing to give way to her
feelings; she wishes to say what a pang it is for her to separate from
so kind and dear and valued a friend as Lord Aberdeen has ever been
to her since she has known him. The day he became Prime Minister was
a very happy one for her; and throughout his Ministry he has ever been
the kindest and wisest adviser--one to whom she could apply on all and
trifling occasions even. This she is sure he will still ever be. But
the thought of losing him as her First Adviser in her Government
is very painful. The pain is to a certain extent lessened by the
knowledge of all he has done to further the formation of this
Government, in so noble, loyal, and disinterested a manner, and by
his friends retaining their