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1829-32] very happy returns of the 24th, and tell you how I love you, dearest sister, and how often I think of you and long to see you. I think if I were once with you again I could not leave you so soon. I should wish to stay with you, and what would poor Ernest ! say if I were to leave him so long ? He would perhaps try to fly after me, but I fear he would not get far ; he is rather tall and heavy for flying. So you see I have nothing left to do but to write to you, and wish you in this way all possible happiness and joy for this and many, many years tocome. I hope you will spend a very merry birthday. How I wish to be with you, dearest Victoire, on that day !

I have not thanked you, I believe, for a very dear letter you have written to me, which gave me the greatest pleasure. Your descriptions of the plays you had seen amused me very much. I wish I had seen your performance too. Your most affectionate Sister, FEODORE.

The Duchess of Clarence to the Princess Victoria.

BUSHEY PARk, 14th August 1829.

A thousand thanks to you, dear Victoria, for your very nice and well-written letter full of good wishes, which I had the pleasure to receive yesterday ; and many thanks more for the pretty gifts your dear Mamma has sent me in your name. I wore them last night for your sake, dearest child, and thought of you very often.

It gives me great satisfaction to hear that you are enjoying the sea air and like the place which you now occupy. I wish I could pay your Mamma a visit there and see you again, my dear little niece, for I long to have that pleasure, and must resign myself at being deprived of it some time longer. Your Uncle desires to be most kindly remembered to you, and hopes to receive soon also a letter from you, of whom he is as fond as Iam. We speak of you very often, and trust that you will always consider us to be amongst your best friends. . ..

God bless you, my dear Victoria, is always the prayer of your most truly affectionate Aunt, ADELAIDE.

The King of the Belgians to the Princess Victoria. BRUSSELS, 22nd May 1832.

My pearest Love,—Let me offer you my sincerest and best wishes on the return of the anniversary of your birthday.

1 The Princess Feodore of Leiningen, the Queen’s half-sister, had married, in January 1828, the Prince (Ernest) of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. VOL. I 2