ther now. I fear I am very
indiscreet about these letters, but I have so much to tell him, and
it will only last two months, so that I trust you will forgive it, and
forward them.

I mentioned the topics you spoke of to me in your letter to our good
friend Lord Melbourne, and as he is writing, I leave it to him to
explain to you, as he writes so much better than I do. He will explain
to you _why_ the word Protestant was left out in the Declaration,
which I think was quite right; for do what one will, nothing will
please these Tories.... I shall be delighted to see Stockmar here, for
so many reasons, and the quicker he comes the better....

I have a favour to ask you, dear Uncle, which I hope you will grant,
unless it should be _indiscreet_ in me. It is, if you have still got
Aunt Charlotte's bust at Claremont, if you would give it to me to put
in the Gallery here, where you would see it _oftener_ than you do at
Claremont, and I am so anxious there should be one of her _here_.

We have _vile_ weather, cold and foggy; such fogs we have here! I move
to London for good on the 9th or 10th of January. Ever your devoted
Niece,

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _11th December 1839._

... I like Lady A---- very much too, only she is a little _strict and
particular_, and too severe towards others, which is not right; for
I think one ought always to be indulgent towards other people, _as I
always think, if we had not been well brought up and well taken care
of, we might also have gone astray_. That is always my feeling. Yet
it is always right to show that one does not like to see what is
obviously wrong; but it is very dangerous to be _too_ severe, and I am
certain that as a rule such people always greatly regret that in their
youth they have not been as careful as they ought to have been. I have
explained this so badly, and written it so badly, that I fear you will
hardly be able to make it out.

_Queen Victoria to the Prince Albert._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _15th December 1839._

... Again no letter from you!... Lord Melbourne left here this
morning, but comes back to-morrow evening, after the wedding of his
sister. I hope he will remain here, because I am fond of him, and
because he has a share in all my happiness, and is the only man with
whom I can speak without _gene_ on everything, which I cannot do with
my Court.

"Islay"[80] is still plagued by him every evening--a t