t is it horsed? and in Batteries?

We are rapidly falling back into the old ways!

[Footnote 25: Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant, 1803-1874,
Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia from 1852 to 1857.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _6th May 1856_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Having returned late from a drive, I have but
little time to spare to thank you for your kind letter of the 2nd.
Last Thursday (1st) was our darling Arthur's sixth birthday, which he
enjoyed duly. On the 3rd we received Brunnow[26]--who was so nervous
and humble, and so _emu_ that he could hardly speak. He dines with us
to-night, and the dinner is given for him, being a _funny collection
of antagonistic elements_--Granville, Clarendon, Lansdowne, Aberdeen,
Graham, John Russell, Derby, and Malmesbury! "The Happy Family," I
call it.

The Opposition have taken the line of disapproving the Peace and
showing great hostility to Russia.

To-morrow we have a Levee, and on Thursday a ball in our fine new
room, which we open on that day; and on Friday there is a _Peace_ Fete
at the Crystal Palace. On Saturday we go out of town; and now I must
end, begging to be forgiven for so hurried a scrawl, but I had to
write a long letter and to _sit_ to Winterhalter. Ever your devoted
Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 26: He had come to England, charged with a special
mission.]

[Pageheading: COLONIAL GOVERNORSHIPS]

_Queen Victoria to Mr Labouchere._

OSBORNE, _14th May 1856_.

The Queen has received Mr Labouchere's letter, and hastens to express
her opinion that Mr Wilson[27] would not be at all a proper person to
be Governor of so large and important a Colony as Victoria. It ought
to be a man of higher position and standing, and who could represent
his Sovereign adequately....

She wishes further to observe that Mr Labouchere should in future take
care that, while he tries to ascertain the feelings of people as to
their accepting the offer of a Colonial appointment, before he submits
them to the Queen, that these enquiries should be made in such a
manner as not to lead these persons to _expect_ the appointment,
else, if the _Queen_ does not approve of them, the whole odium of the
refusal will fall upon her. The best way, and the way in which similar
appointments are conducted in the other Offices, would be to mention
the names first to the Queen, and if she approves of them, to
ascertain the feelings