full of hatred to the
English.

We found the children very well, and Bertie quite recovered, but poor
fat Alice (who, I _must_ say, is becoming _very_ pretty) has had the
earache.

Mamma with Feo and Ernest are with the Queen Dowager at Witley Court
since Thursday last, and only return next Thursday (the day after
to-morrow). Clem seems very happy, and writes that she is happiest
when she is _tete-a-tete_ with poor Gusti, which _I_ should _not_
fancy. Ever, dearest Uncle, your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

I open my letter, dearest Uncle, to say that I have _just_ seen in a
confidential despatch from Lord Cowley that Aumale is authorised
to ask for the hand of the daughter of the Prince de Salerno[83] (a
singular coincidence after what I wrote to you in _utter ignorance_
of this report), and that he was also to find out what the opinions of
the Neapolitan Royal Family were respecting an alliance with the Queen
of Spain. But tell me, dearest Uncle, if these reports are true? You
may _rely_ on my discretion, and I shall not breathe a word of what
you may answer me, if you wish the secret to be kept.

[Footnote 80: The Royal party went by road from Paddington
to Cambridge, and stayed at the Lodge at Trinity; on the
following day Prince Albert was made LL.D. The party then went
to Wimpole, and visited Bourn (Lord Delawarr's). At the ball
which was given at Wimpole, there was a sofa, covered with a
piece of drapery given by Louis XIV. to the poet Prior and by
him to Lord Oxford, the owner of Wimpole, before its purchase
by Lord Chancellor Hardwicke. _See_ Lord Melbourne's letter of
7th November, _post_, p. 503. (Ch. XII, 7th November, 1843)]

[Footnote 81: Louis Rellstab (1799-1860), a prolific German
writer of novels, whose thinly-veiled attacks on public men
earned him at one time a sentence of imprisonment.]

[Footnote 82: The Marquis Astolphe de Custine (1790-1857),
author of _La Russie en 1839_, at this time recently
published.]

[Footnote 83: The Due d'Aumale married in November 1844,
Caroline, daughter of the Prince and Princess of Salerno.]

[Pageheading: INDIAN AFFAIRS]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

DRAYTON MANOR, _31st October 1843._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
leave to return to your Majesty the accompanying communication from
Lord Ellenborough, and a letter which your Majest