on that if the
French had the _slightest defeat ce serait fini avec la Dynastie!_ A
pretty speech for an Ambassador, but a _very true one!_

Pray say everything most kind to your dear children and believe me
ever, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

We are just arrived here, and go back to Windsor to-morrow
_afternoon_.

[Footnote 9: Frederick William Victor Albert, now German
Emperor, born on the 27th of January.]

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _3rd February 1859_.

The Queen has this moment received Lord Malmesbury's letter. As she
has not yet written (only telegraphed) to announce to the Emperor the
birth of our grandson (we being in the habit since we know the Emperor
and Empress personally to communicate to one another _reciprocally
family events_), the Queen has an opportunity or a pretext for writing
to the Emperor, and is therefore prepared to do so _to-morrow_. But
as the terms to be used are of the most _vital_ importance, she would
wish Lord Malmesbury to consult forthwith with Lord Derby, and to let
her have "the matter" to be put into the letter _before_ the Queen
_leaves town_, which we do at half-past four this afternoon.

[Pageheading: LETTER TO THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON]

_The Earl of Derby to Queen Victoria._

ST JAMES'S SQUARE, _3rd February 1859_.
(_Thursday_,1 P.M.)

Lord Derby, with his humble duty, and in obedience to your Majesty's
commands, received within this half hour through Lord Malmesbury,
submits the accompanying very hastily drawn sketch of the language
which, in his humble opinion, your Majesty might hold in a private and
confidential letter to the Emperor of the French. Lord Derby is not
sure that it is what your Majesty desired that he should submit;
but he trusts that your Majesty will be pleased to receive it as an
attempt to obey your Majesty's commands, and will excuse its many
imperfections on account of the extreme haste in which it has
unavoidably been written.

"I cannot refrain from taking this opportunity of expressing
confidentially to your Imperial Majesty my deep anxiety for the
preservation of the peace of Europe, nor can I conceal from myself how
essentially that great object must depend upon the course which your
Imperial Majesty may be advised to take. Your Majesty has now the
opportunity, either by listening to the dictates of humanity and
justice, and by demonstrating unmistakably your intention to ad