your kind long letter, which I
received yesterday, dated 23rd. I can report very well of ourselves.
We are all well. The dear day of yesterday[24] we spent very quietly
and happily and full of gratitude to Providence for so many blessings.
I can only pray for the continuance of our present happiness.

The impending political cloud, I hope and trust, looks less black and
lowering. But I think it very unwise in Guizot not to have at once
disavowed D'Aubigny for what you yourself call an "outrage,"[25]
instead of letting it drag on for _four weeks_ and letting our people
get excited. The Tangiers Affair[26] is unfortunate, and I hope that
in future poor Joinville will not be exposed to such disagreeable
affairs. What _can_ be done will be, to get him justified in the eyes
of the public here, but I fear that at first they will not be very
charitable. Those letters in the _Times_ are outrageous, and all that
abuse very bad taste.[27] There is to be an investigation about the
three officers, whose conduct is unworthy of Englishmen. Now, dearest
Uncle, believe me always, your most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 24: The Prince Albert's birthday. Prince Alfred was
born on 6th August of this year.]

[Footnote 25: The assumption of French sovereignty over
Tahiti.]

[Footnote 26: Hostilities had commenced between France and
Morocco, and Tangiers was bombarded.]

[Footnote 27: A series of letters had appeared in the _Times_,
written by British naval officers who had witnessed the
bombardment of Tangiers, and accused the French Admiral and
Navy of being deficient in courage. The _Times_ was much
criticised for its publication of these letters.]

[Pageheading: ENGLAND AND FRANCE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BLAIR ATHOL, _15th September 1844._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I received your kind letter of the 6th the day we
arrived here, and thank you very much for it. As I have written an
account of our journey to Louise, I will _not_ repeat it here.

The good ending of our difficulties with France is an immense
blessing, but it is really and truly necessary that you and those
at Paris should know that the danger was _imminent_, and that poor
Aberdeen stood _almost alone_ in trying to keep matters peaceable.
We must try and prevent these difficulties for the future. I must,
however, clear _Jarnac_[28] of all blame, for Aberdeen does nothing
but pr