think I never
was better than in all this fatigue and exercise....

I get every day fonder of dearest, excellent Uncle Mensdorff and the
dear cousins, who are so amiable and good and unassuming; really, in
society they keep quite in the background. They are out and out the
nicest cousins we have. I am sure what I can do for them I shall be
too happy to do. Alexander is the most distinguished and solid,
but Alphonse and Arthur the most unassuming. There is something so
peculiarly _good_ in dear Arthur! and they are all five so fond of
Pussy, and she so fond of them.... Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 39: This was the Queen's first journey on the Great
Western Railway. The Prince had often used it, and had been
known to say, on descending from the train, "Not quite so
fast next time, Mr Conductor, if you please."--Acworth, _The
Railways of England_, p. 17.]

[Pageheading: THE INCOME TAX BILL]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

SOUTH STREET, _19th June 1842._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and offers
many thanks for the letter, which he received yesterday evening. Lord
Melbourne is very glad to hear that your Majesty has enjoyed in the
society of your near and dear relations so much happiness, which, like
all other things, must have its portion of alloy in their departure.
Lord Melbourne was much pleased with the short conversation which
he had with Count Mensdorff at Stafford House, and it is highly
interesting to see at this distance of time a man who has been engaged
in affairs so important and of so awful and melancholy a character.
Your Majesty is surely right in terming your cousins young men; if
the health and constitution be good, thirty-six is a young man,
twenty-nine and thirty-two very young men, and twenty-five quite a
boy. The weather has been very hot but very fine. The rain was so much
required that Lord Melbourne cannot lament its coming, but he also
regrets the hot suns which it has banished.

The course which had been taken upon the Income Tax in the House of
Commons,[40] contrary to Lord Melbourne's wish and opinion, rendered
it impossible for Lord Melbourne directly to support the Bill in the
House of Lords without offending and separating himself from the whole
body of those who supported the last Government.

He therefore acquiesced in the resolution, which was moved by Lord
Lansdowne, and which did not oppos