iving and walking with her, he is not
satisfied, and says he has not seen her, unless he can have her for an
hour to himself, when I am naturally bound to be acting as chaperon.
Under these circumstances I may truly say that dear Charlotte would
have very little enjoyment; she would see very little of Vicky, _I
could not_ take care of her, and I fear it would be anything but
agreeable for her. Fritz Wilhelm would besides be miserable if I took
Vicky more away from him than I already do, and therefore _while he_
is here, it would _not_, I think, be advisable that _Charlotte_ should
come. Could you _not_ come a little in August when the Prince and
Princess of Prussia have left us? Or would you prefer coming in
October, when we return from Scotland? You will easily believe,
dearest Uncle, _what_ pleasure it gives me to see you; but I know you
will understand the reasons I here give for begging you to delay this
dear visit either to August or October....

I had a little hope that the Archduke and Charlotte _might_ take a
mutual liking; it would be such a good _parti_.

We had an interesting ceremony yesterday, the laying of the first
stone of the Wellington College--which is the monument to the memory
of the dear old Duke. Dear little Arthur appeared for the first time
in public, and I hope you will approve my answer.[32]

Now, dearest Uncle, ever your truly devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 32: The Queen's reply to an address presented to
her, on behalf of the College, by Lord Derby.]

[Pageheading: THE NATIONAL GALLERY]

_Queen Victoria to Lord Panmure._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th June 1856_.

The Queen and Prince had intended to take their visitors down to
the Camp on Monday next--the _only day_ which we shall have for
a fortnight free from other engagements--and hears, to her _utter
astonishment_, that _all_ the troops are gone--not only the Militia,
but the 3rd Battalion of the Rifles!--and this without the Queen's
hearing _one_ word of it! The Queen is the more astonished and
annoyed, as Lord Panmure had promised that the Militia regiments
should _not_ be disembodied until there were other troops to replace
them, which will not be the case for some little time. _What_ is the
cause of this, sudden determination? The Queen is much vexed, as her
visitors will not stay long, and are very anxious to visit the Camp;
and it is of much importance that Foreign Princes should see what we
have, and i