Now adieu! Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _20th April 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and thanks
your Majesty much for your letter of the 17th inst. Lord Melbourne has
been so much occupied with the debates in the House of Lords during
the last two days, that he has ventured to put off replying to your
Majesty's letters, which he trusts that your Majesty will excuse.

Lord Melbourne did not leave the ball until ten minutes after one, and
as there were so many persons there, which Lord Melbourne thinks quite
right and was very glad to see, Lord Melbourne had little hope of
seeing your Majesty again, and therefore ventured to take advantage of
having ordered his carriage at half-past twelve and of its having
come at the time that it was ordered. It was a very brilliant and very
beautiful and a very gay ball.

Lord Melbourne is very sorry to be obliged to express his fear that
your Majesty will prove more in the right than he was about the
duration of Parliament. There will be much debate in the Committee
upon the details of the Income Tax, and the discussions upon the
Tariff of duties, which affects so many interests, are likely to be
very long indeed. There is one good thing in the House of Lords, and
that is that it never much delays or obstructs public business....

As Lord Melbourne drove down the Park on Saturday evening last to dine
with his sister, he could see clearly into your Majesty's room, so
as to be able to distinguish the pictures, tables, etc., the candles
being lighted and the curtains not drawn. Your Majesty was just
setting off for the Opera.

[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT AND THE ARMY]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _20th April 1842._

The Queen encloses the Prince's letter to Sir Robert Peel, containing
his acceptance of the Guards. At the same time, both the Prince and
Queen feel much regret at the Prince's leaving the 11th, which is,
if possible, enhanced by seeing the Regiment out to-day, which is
in beautiful order. It was, besides, the Regiment which escorted the
Prince from Dover to Canterbury on his arrival in England in February
'40. The Queen fears, indeed knows, that Lord Cardigan will be deeply
mortified at the Prince's leaving the Regiment, and that it will have
the effect of appearing like another slight to him; therefore, the
Queen much wis