this country. Now, with Albert's
love, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Pageheading: MARRIAGE OF THE PRINCESS ROYAL]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _9th February 1858_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Accept my warmest thanks for your very kind and
affectionate letter of the 4th, with such kind accounts of our dear
child, who was so thankful for your kindness and affection, and of
whose immense and universal success and admirable behaviour--natural
yet dignified--we have the most charming accounts. I send you a letter
from Augusta[1] (Mecklenburg), which will give you an idea of the
impression produced, begging you to let me have it back soon. She is
quite well and _not_ tired. But the separation was _awful_, and the
poor child was _quite_ broken-hearted, particularly at parting from
her dearest beloved papa, whom she _idolises_. _How_ we miss her, I
can't say, and never having been separated from her since thirteen
years above a fortnight, I am in a constant fidget and impatience to
know everything about _every_thing. It is a _great, great_ trial for
a _Mother_ who has watched over her child with such anxiety day after
day, to see her far away--dependent on herself! But I have great
confidence in her good sense, clever head, kind and good heart, in
Fritz's excellent character and devotion to her, and in faithful E.
Stockmar, who possesses her _entire_ confidence.

The blank she has left behind is _very great_ indeed....

To-morrow is the eighteenth anniversary of my blessed marriage, which
has brought such universal blessings on this country and Europe! For
_what_ has not my beloved and perfect Albert done? Raised monarchy to
the _highest_ pinnacle of _respect_, and rendered it _popular_ beyond
what it _ever_ was in this country!

The Bill proposed by the Government to improve the law respecting
conspiracy and assassination will pass, and Lord Derby has been most
useful about it.[2] But people are very indignant here at the conduct
of the French officers, and at the offensive insinuations against this
country.[3]....

Hoping to hear that you are quite well, and begging to thank Leopold
very much for his very kind letter, believe me, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 1: Elder daughter of Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge,
and now Grand Duchess-Dowager of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.]

[Footnote 2: Lord Derby and his party, however, changed their
attitu