_8th February 1842._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I thank you _de tout mon c[oe]ur_ for your kind
letter of the 4th, which I received the day before yesterday. You
have now seen our good, kind, amiable King of Prussia, for whom I have
really the greatest affection and respect. We were quite sorry to lose
him, and he was much affected at going. He is so open and natural, and
seems really so anxious to do good whenever he can. His liberality and
generosity here has been immense. He is very much displeased with his
"helter-skelter cousin,"[15] and quite unhappy at the state of things
in that country....

Ernest's marriage is a _great, great delight_ to us; thank God! I say,
as I so ardently wished it, and Alexandrina is said to be really _so_
perfect. I have begged Ernest beforehand to pass his honeymoon with
us, and I beg you to urge him to do it; for he witnessed our first
happiness, and we must therefore witness his.

Leopold is a dear, sweet boy, really, so full of feeling, and so very
good-tempered and modest; the King was charmed with him and he with
the King. I am happy to say faithful Eos is quite convalescent; she
walks about wrapped up in flannel.

We are off for Brighton the day after to-morrow; I can't say I _like_
it at all. We were, and the boy too, all three, vaccinated from the
same child yesterday! Now adieu! Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

Fanny Jocelyn is taking her first waiting, and makes a most excellent
and sedate _Dame d'Honneur_. I am sorry she is so very thin still.

[Footnote 15: The King of Holland. _See_ King Leopold's letter
of 4th February.]

[Pageheading: CHRISTENING OF PRINCE OF WALES]

_Queen Adelaide to Queen Victoria._

MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, _5th February 1842._

MY DEAR NIECE,--I thank you a thousand times for your kind letter,
just received, and am delighted with the hope of seeing you, if you
have time to spare, when you come to town next week. I hardly dare to
expect it, but it will make me very happy should you be able to fulfil
your kind intention.

I was happy to hear how well the holy ceremony went off on Tuesday,
and how splendid the whole was. The earnest attention of the King
of Prussia to the ceremony, and the manner with which he read the
responses, was universally remarked and admired. May your dear child,
our beloved Prince of Wales, follow his pious example in future, and
become as truly estimable and amiable and good as his Godfather really
is.