aking
us to see poor Chartres' monument, which is beautiful. Nothing could
exceed his tact and kindness. I find I must end in a great hurry, and
will say more another day. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: PERSONAL FRIENDSHIP]

_Queen Victoria to Baron Stockmar._

OSBORNE, _1st September 1855_.

You continue to refuse to answer me, but I am _not_ discouraged by it;
but on the contrary _must_ write to you to give _vent_ to my _delight_
at our triumphant, most interesting, and most enjoyable visit to
Paris! The Prince has written to you, and given you some general
accounts, which will please you, and the _Times_ has some descriptions
... of the wonderful beauty and magnificence of _every_thing. I never
enjoyed myself more, or was more delighted or more interested, _and
I can think_ and talk of nothing else. I am _deeply_ touched by the
extraordinary warmth, heartiness, and enthusiasm with which we have
been received by _all_ ranks, and the kindness shown to every one
has brought us all back--beginning with ourselves and ending with
the lowest of our servants--full of gratitude, pleasure, admiration,
regret at its being over, and a great desire to see such a visit
renewed! It was touching and pleasing in the extreme to see the
alliance sealed so completely, and without lowering _either_ Country's
pride, and to see old enmities and rivalries _wiped out_ over the tomb
of Napoleon I., before whose coffin I stood (by torchlight) at the arm
of Napoleon III., now my nearest and dearest ally! We have come back
with feelings of _real_ affection for and interest in _France_--and
indeed how could it be otherwise when one saw _how_ much was done to
_please_ and delight us? The Army too (such a fine one!) I feel a real
affection for, as the companions of my beloved troops!

For the Emperor _personally_ I have conceived a _real_ affection and
friendship, and so I may truly say of the Prince. You know what _I
felt_ the moment I saw him and became acquainted with him, what I
wrote down about him, etc. Well, we have now seen him for full _ten
days_, from twelve to fourteen hours every day--often alone; and I
cannot say _how_ pleasant and easy it is to live with him, or how
attached one becomes to him. I know _no_ one who puts me more at my
ease, or to whom I felt more inclined to talk unreservedly, or in whom
involuntarily I should be more inclined to confide, than the Emperor!
He was entirely at his eas