isposition at any time she pleases....

I am only apprehensive that the accommodation in the Castle would
scarcely be sufficient for Her Majesty, the Prince, and the Royal
children, and such suite as must attend....

It is the most delightful sea-residence to be found anywhere,
particularly for children. They can be out all day, on the ramparts
and platforms quite dry, and the beautiful gardens and wood are
enclosed and sheltered from the severe gales of wind. There are good
lodgings at Walmer village and on Walmer beach at no great distance
from the Castle, not above half a mile. Believe me, ever, yours most
sincerely,

WELLINGTON.

If the Queen should send anybody here, I beg that he will write me a
line, that I may have an apartment prepared for him.

[Pageheading: LETTER FROM QUEEN ADELAIDE]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

CANFORD HOUSE, _31st October 1842._

MY DEAREST NIECE,--A thousand thanks for your very kind dear letter
of yesterday with its enclosures, which I have just received. Your
opinion respecting George of Hanover's[98] marriage is quite my own,
and I regret that the King does not seem to be inclined to settle it
and fix a day for the celebration of it. I do not know his reasons
against it, for I have not heard from him for a long, long time. I am
so sorry to find that the accounts of his health are so indifferent,
and fear he is not careful enough.

I am happy to hear that you thought the Cambridge visit went off well,
and that the affianced[99] looked and seemed happy. I hope it will
always be the same, and that the marriage will not be delayed too
long. I always had imagined that the Duke of Cambridge was rich and
would give a fortune to his daughters, but I have lately heard that it
is not the case. I do not know what is the usual marriage portion of
an English Princess given by the country. In Germany those portions
are called _die Prinzessin Teuer_.

We received 25,000 Fl. each when we married, and 10,000 Fl. for our
_trousseaux_ each.

If the young couple are to live in future with the Grand Duke they
will not want any Plate, but if they are to have a separate _menage_,
then they will want it. I shall find it out by and by. I wonder that
the Duchess likes to part with her fine sapphires. I thought the
turquoises had been intended for Augusta.

I wish you could see the Convent to which I went the other day. The
nuns belong to the Order of the Cistercian _Trappists_. Th