arlotte asked _me_, I should not hesitate a moment,
as I would give any of my own daughters to him were he not a Catholic;
and if Charlotte consulted her friend Vicky I know what _her_ answer
would be as she is so very fond of Pedro.

_14th._--I could not finish last night, and so continue to-day. I
shall be most anxious to hear from you about Charlotte, when a _final_
decision has been taken.

Since the 6th we have the _most beautiful weather_--with the country
in the _most_ brilliant beauty--but _not_ the bracing weather which
did one so much good; yesterday and to-day it is _quite_ warm and
relaxing. Albert has continued to have wonderful sport; not only has
he killed seven more stags since I wrote, but the finest, largest
stags in the whole neighbourhood--or indeed killed in almost any
forest!...

Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: MILITARY EFFICIENCY]

_Queen Victoria to Lord Panmure._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _9th November 1856_.

The Queen has received Lord Panmure's two boxes of the 4th. She is
glad to hear that the Military and the Defence Committees of the
Cabinet are to be reassembled. The absence of all plans for our
defences is a great evil, and hardly credible. There should exist a
well-considered general scheme for each place supported by a detailed
argument; this when approved by the Government, should be sanctioned
and signed by the Sovereign, and not deviated from except upon
resubmission and full explanation of the causes which render such
deviation necessary; no special work should be undertaken which does
not realise part of this general scheme. The Queen trusts that Lord
Panmure will succeed in effecting this.

It is very much to be regretted that so few of the soldiers of
the German Legion should have accepted the liberal terms of the
Government. Those should, however, be made to sail soon.

The returns of the different Departments for the last quarter show a
lamentable deficiency in small arms. Fifty-two thousand three hundred
and twenty-two for the whole of the United Kingdom is a sadly small
reserve to have in store; we should never be short of 500,000. The
Queen was struck also with the little work done at Enfield. It appears
that during the whole quarter this new and extensive establishment has
completed only three muskets!

With regard to some of the barracks, the tenders have not even yet
been accepted, although the year is nearly drawing to a close.
The Qu