le, _29th January 1856_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--You will kindly forgive my letter being short, but
we are going to be present this morning at the wedding of Phipps's
daughter[8] with that handsome lame young officer whom you remember
at Osborne. It is quite an event at Windsor, and takes place in St
George's Chapel, which is very seldom the case.

Many thanks for your kind letter of the 25th, by which I am glad to
see that dear good Philip has arrived safe and well and brought back
_de bons souvenirs_. We shall always be _happy_ to see him.

The _peace negotiations_ occupy every one; _if_ Russia is _sincere_,
they will end most probably in peace; but _if_ she is _not_, the war
will be _carried_ on with _renewed vigour_. The recollection of last
year makes one _very distrustful_.

England's policy throughout has been the _same_, _singularly
unselfish_, and _solely_ actuated by the _desire_ of _seeing Europe
saved_ from the _arrogant_ and _dangerous pretensions_ of that
_barbarous power_ Russia--and of having _such safeguards_ established
for the _future_, which may ensure us against a _repetition_ of
similar _untoward events_.

I repeat now, what we have said from the beginning, and what I have
_repeated_ a _hundred_ times, _if Prussia_ and _Austria_ had held
_strong and decided_ language to _Russia in_ '53, we should _never_
have had _this war!_

Now I must conclude. With Albert's best love, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 8: Maria Henrietta Sophia, daughter of Sir Charles
Beaumont Phipps, K.C.B., Keeper of the Privy Purse, married
Captain Frederick Sayer, 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers.]

[Pageheading: MISS NIGHTINGALE]

_Queen Victoria to Miss Florence Nightingale._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _[January] 1856_.

DEAR MISS NIGHTINGALE,--You are, I know, well aware of the high sense
I entertain of the Christian devotion which you have displayed during
this great and bloody war, and I need hardly repeat to you how warm my
admiration is for your services, which are fully equal to those of my
dear and brave soldiers, whose sufferings you have had the _privilege_
of alleviating in so merciful a manner. I am, however, anxious of
marking my feelings in a manner which I trust will be agreeable to
you, and therefore send you with this letter a brooch, the form and
emblems of which commemorate your great and blessed work, and which,
I hope, you will wear as a mark of the high approbation of your