im for
four years, with very few exceptions--_daily_--you may imagine that I
_must_ feel the change; and the longer the time gets since we parted,
the _more_ I feel it. _Eleven days_ was the _longest_ I ever was
without seeing him, and this time will be elapsed on Saturday, so you
may imagine what the change must be. I cannot say what a comfort and
support my beloved Angel is to me, and how well and how kindly
and properly he behaves. I cannot resist copying for you what Lord
Melbourne wrote to me about Albert, the evening after we parted; he
has already praised him greatly to me, before he took leave of me. It
is as follows:

"Lord Melbourne cannot satisfy himself without again stating to your
Majesty in writing what he had the honour of saying to your Majesty
respecting H.R.H. the Prince. Lord Melbourne has formed the highest
opinion of H.R.H.'s judgment, temper, and discretion, and he cannot
but feel a great consolation and security in the reflection that
he leaves your Majesty in a situation in which your Majesty has the
inestimable advantage of such advice and assistance. Lord Melbourne
feels certain that your Majesty cannot do better than have recourse to
it, whenever it is needed, and rely upon it with confidence."

This naturally gave me great pleasure, and made me very proud, as it
comes from a person who is no flatterer, and would not have said it if
he did not think so, or feel so. The new Cabinet you have by this time
seen in the papers.

The Household (of which I send you a list) is well constituted--_for
Tories_.

Lord Aberdeen has written to me to say Bourqueney has announced Ste
Aulaire[90] as Ambassador. This is very well, but let me beg you, for
decency's sake, to stop his coming immediately; if _even not meant_
to, it would have the effect of their sending an ambassador the moment
the Government changed, which would be too marked, and most _offensive
personally_ to _me_. Indeed Guizot behaved very badly about refusing
to sign the Slave Trade Treaty[91] which they had so long ago settled
to do; it is unwise and foolish to irritate the late Government who
may so easily come in again; for Palmerston will _not_ forgive nor
_forget_ offences, and then France would be worse off than before,
with England. I therefore _beg_ you to stop Ste Aulaire for a little
while, else _I_ shall feel it a great personal offence.

_9th._--I have had a letter from Lord Melbourne to-day, who is much
gratified by yours