lations to be very silent on the subject, as it
would be otherwise very offensive to the King.

With Albert's love, ever your very affectionate Cousin,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: DEATH OF LORD HARDINGE]

_Queen Victoria to Viscountess Hardinge._

BALMORAL, _26th September 1856_.

MY DEAR LADY HARDINGE,--Where can I find words to express to you
our _deep heartfelt_ sorrow at the sad and totally unexpected news
conveyed to us by telegraph yesterday.[52]

My first thought was for you, dear Lady Hardinge, whose whole
existence was so completely bound up in _his_, that this blow must be
awful indeed. We feel _truly_ and sincerely what we, and the country,
have lost in your dear, high-minded, noble husband, whose _only_
thought was _his duty_. A more loyal, devoted, fearless public servant
the Crown never possessed. His loss to _me_ is one of those which in
our times is quite _irreparable_. Added to all this we have ever
had _such_ a true affection and personal friendship for dear Lord
Hardinge, and know how warmly these feelings were requited. _All_
who had the pleasure of knowing him must ever remember his benevolent
smile and kind eye.

But I speak of ourselves and of what we have lost, when I _ought_ only
to express _our_ sympathy with _you_, in your present overwhelming
loss, but I could not restrain my pen, and the expression of our
feelings may perhaps be soothing to your bleeding heart.

Most truly also do we sympathise with your children.

Pray do not think of answering this yourself, but let us hear through
your son or daughter how you are. Ever, dear Lady Hardinge, with the
sincerest regard and truest sympathy, yours affectionately,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 52: Lord Hardinge, who had only temporarily rallied
from the stroke he had received at Aldershot, died on the
24th.]

[Pageheading: THE ARCHDUKE MAXIMILIAN]

_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._

LAEKEN, _10th October 1856_.

MY DEAREST VICTORIA,--Since your kind letter of the 2nd I have not had
any communications from you. I can well understand that it grieves you
to leave the Highlands. It is not a great proof of the happiness of
human kind, that all love to be elsewhere than at the place where
their real residence is, notwithstanding all songs of home sweet home,
etc. I plead quite guilty to this, though I used to be much attached
to my old home at Coburg and to Claremont. That the weather should
have