[Pageheading: LORD COWLEY'S MISSION]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _1st March 1859_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--Many thanks for your kind letter of the 25th.
Matters remain much in the same state. Lord Cowley arrived on Sunday
at Vienna, but we know nothing positive yet. I much fear the obstinacy
of Austria.

It will indeed be a blessing if _we_ could do something not only to
avert the war for the present, but to prevent the _causes_ of it, for
the future. Nothing but improvement in the Italian Governments _can_
bring about a _better state_ of things. What is _really_ the matter
with the King of Naples[18]?

We found the poor Queen really very tolerably well at Claremont on
Saturday. She is decidedly better than when we saw her at the end
of November. Poor Joinville is suffering from an accident to his bad
knee.

Here our Reform Bill has been brought in yesterday.[19] It is
moderate, and ... [Lord John] has therefore allied himself with Mr
Bright and Mr Roebuck against it! He has _no_ other followers. The
Debate on Foreign Affairs on Friday was extremely moderate, and can
only have done good.[20]

It is rumoured that you are going to Berlin to the Christening, but
I doubt it! Oh! dearest Uncle, it _almost breaks_ my heart _not_ to
witness our _first grandchild_ christened! I don't think I _ever_ felt
so bitterly disappointed _about anything_ as about this! And then it
is an _occasion_ so gratifying to both _Nations_, which brings them
_so much_ together, that it is _most_ peculiarly mortifying! It is a
_stupid law_ in Prussia, I must say, to be so particular about having
the child christened so soon. However, it is now no use lamenting;
please God! we shall be more fortunate another time! With Albert's
affectionate love, ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

Affectionate love to your children. When does Philip go to Italy?

[Footnote 18: Ferdinand II., known as Bomba, died on the 22nd
of May in the same year.]

[Footnote 19: See _ante_, Introductory Note to Chapter XXVIII.]

[Footnote 20: In this debate Lord Palmerston urged the
Ministry to mediate between Austria and France, in order
to obtain their simultaneous withdrawal from Rome, and Mr
Disraeli announced the confidential mission of Lord Cowley as
"one of peace and conciliation."]

[Pageheading: THE EMPEROR'S REPLY]

_The Emperor of Austria to Queen Victoria._

VIENNE,