William, about Macaulay, America
and the ironclads, where she was very national and high-spirited;
and Schleswig-Holstein, in which she is intensely interested,
because the Prince thought it a great case of justice on the side
rather opposite to that of Lord Palmerston and the government
policy. She spoke about this with intense earnestness, and said
she considered it a legacy from him.

Princess Alice's baby lives above me, and I believe never cries. I
never hear it. We have been out riding to Birkhall to-day, and I
had much talk with Lady Churchill about the Queen. She (Lady C.)
feels and speaks most properly about her. I told Lady Augusta last
night, _a propos_ to the lines I wanted to mention, that I had
been a great coward, _and she too_. She was very submissive at
dinner in her manner to the Queen, and I told her it made me feel
I had been so impudent. Only think of this: both through her and
through General Grey it has come round to me that the Queen thinks
she was too cheerful on the night I last dined. This she feels a
kind of sin. She said, however, to Lady Augusta she was sure I
should understand it.... I am very glad and a little surprised
that Mrs. Bruce should say I have a good name here. The people
are, one and all, very easy to get on with, and Windsor, I
suppose, stiffens them a little.

_Oct. 8._--The Queen has had a most providential escape. The
carriage, a sociable, very low and safe, was overturned last night
after dark, on her way back from an expedition of seven or eight
hours. Princesses Louis of Hesse and Helena were with her. They
were undermost, and not at all hurt. The Queen was shot out of the
carriage, and received a contusion on the temple and sprained a
thumb. When she got in, I think near ten o'clock, Dr. Jenner
wished her to go to bed, but she said it was of no use, and she
would not. She was very confident, however, about performing the
duties of the ceremonial in Aberdeen to-morrow. But now this
evening it is given up, and I do not doubt this is wise, but much
inconvenience will be caused by so late a postponement. I have
been up to the place to-day.... The Queen should give up these
drives after dark; it is impossible to guarantee them. But she
says she feels the hours from her drive to dinner such weary
hours.

Little Princess Vi