,
to any extent short of actual war, in the interests of liberty and
good government. The only other man who had any title to speak with
authority on foreign affairs was the Duke of Wellington, who had held
the seals as Foreign Secretary for a few months in 1834 and 1835. He
had, however, lost much of the reputation for political sagacity which
he had held at the time when he was the arbiter of Europe and virtual
ruler of France. Moreover, being, as he was, a much occupied man, with
varied business to transact, and at the mercy of his almost excessive
conscientiousness, he held himself to a considerable extent aloof
from current politics, though he never lost his absorbing interest in
Continental affairs.

CHAPTER IV

1821-1835

[The first letter ever received by Queen Victoria appears to be the
following little note, written by the Duchess of Clarence, afterwards
Queen Adelaide, in May 1821, when the Princess entered upon her third
year. It is pathetic to recollect that the Duchess's surviving child,
Princess Elizabeth, had died, aged three months, in March of the same
year.]

MY DEAR LITTLE HEART,--I hope you are well and don't forget Aunt
Adelaide, who loves you so fondly.

Loulou and Wilhelm[1] desire their love to you, and Uncle William
also.

God bless and preserve you is the constant prayer of your most truly
affectionate Aunt,

ADELAIDE.

[Footnote 1: Princess Louise and Prince William of
Saxe-Weimar, children of Duchess Ida of Saxe-Weimar (sister
of the Duchess of Clarence). They were the eldest brother and
sister of Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar.]

_The Duchess of Clarence to the Princess Victoria._

_24th May 1822._

Uncle William and Aunt Adelaide send their love to _dear little
Victoria_ with their best wishes on her birthday, and hope that she
will now become a _very good Girl_, being now _three years old_. Uncle
William and Aunt Adelaide also beg little Victoria to give dear Mamma
and to dear Sissi[2] a kiss in their name, and to Aunt Augusta,[3]
Aunt Mary[4] and Aunt Sophia[5] too, and also to the _big Doll_. Uncle
William and Aunt Adelaide are very sorry to be absent on that day and
not to see their _dear, dear_ little Victoria, as they are sure she
will be very good and obedient to dear Mamma on that day, and on many,
many others. They also hope that dear little Victoria will not forget
them and know them again when Uncle and Aunt return.

To dear l