on the Oaths question,
the words "on the true faith of a Christian" having hitherto prevented
Jews from sitting in Parliament. They were now enabled to take the
oath with the omission of these words, and Baron Rothschild took his
seat for the City of London accordingly.

Among the other events of importance in the year were the satisfactory
termination of a dispute with the Neapolitan Government arising out
of the seizure of the _Cagliari_; a modified union, under a central
Commission, of Moldavia and Wallachia; the despatch of Mr Gladstone
by the Conservative Government as High Commissioner to the Ionian
Islands; and the selection of Ottawa, formerly known as Bytown, for
the capital of the Dominion of Canada.

CHAPTER XXVII

1858

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _12th January 1858_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Accept my warmest thanks for your kind and
affectionate letter of the 8th. I hope and trust to hear that your
cold has left you, and that on Monday I shall have the immense
happiness of embracing you.

It is a time of immense bustle and agitation; I _feel_ it is terrible
to give up one's poor child, and _feel_ very nervous for the coming
time, and for the departure. But I am glad to see Vicky is quite well
again and _unberufen_ has got over her cold and is very well. But
she has had ever since January '57 a succession of emotions and
leave-takings--most trying to any one, but particularly to so young
a girl with such _very_ powerful feelings. She is so much improved
in self-control and is so clever (I may say wonderfully so), and so
sensible that we can talk to her of anything--and therefore shall miss
her sadly. But we try _not_ to dwell on or to think of _that_, as I
am sure it is much better _not_ to do so and not get ourselves _emus_
beforehand, or she will break down as well as we, and that never would
do.

To-day arrive (on a visit _here_) _her_ Court--which is a very good
thing, so that she will get acquainted with them....

The affection for her, and the loyalty shown by the country at large
on this occasion is _most_ truly gratifying--and for so young a child
really _very, very_ pleasing to our feelings. The Nation look upon
her, as Cobden said, as "_England's_ daughter," and as if they married
a child of their own, which is _very_ satisfactory, and shows, in
spite of a few newspaper follies and absurdities, how really _sound_
and _monarchical_ everything is in