Page:The Letters Of Queen Victoria, vol. 2 (1908).djvu/183

1848] Viscount Palmerston to Queen Victoria. CARLTON GARDENS, 5th March 1848. Viscount Palmerston presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and cannot see that there could be any objection to the King and Queen of the French coming to town to visit your Majesty, and indeed, on the contrary, it would seem under all the circumstances of the case natural that they should be anxious to see your Majesty, and that your Majesty should be desirous of receiving them.

Viscount Palmerston was sure that your Majesty would read with interest Mr Featherstonhaugh’s account of the manner in which he managed the escape of the King and Queen of the French. It is like one of Walter Scott’s best tales, and the arrangements and the execution of them do great credit to Mr Featherstonhaugh, who will be highly gratified to learn, as Viscount Palmerston proposes to inform him, that your Majesty has approved his conduct. Mr Featherstonhaugh has also probably rendered a good service to the Provisional Government, who would have been much embarrassed if their Commissioner had arrested the King and Queen.

Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians. BUCKINGHAM PALACE, 7th March 1848, My DEAREST UNcCLE,—Albert has written to you so constantly that I have little to add ; he just tells me this is not quite true. However, there is nothing very new except that we have seen the King and Queen; Albert went down to Claremont to see them on Saturday, and yesterday they came here with Montpensier. They both look very abattus, and the poor Queen cried much in thinking of what she had gone through—and what dangers the King had incurred ; in short, humbled poor people they looked. Dearest Vic I saw on Sunday ; she has also gone through much, and is so dear and good and gentle. She looked wonderfully well considering. They are still very much in want of means, and live on a very reduced scale.

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, 11th March 1848. My DEAREST UNCLE,—I profit by the departure of Andrews to write to you a few lines, and to wish you joy of the continued