-and good old Clark is here every day; good Brown is also _most_
useful.... We have got Dr Watson[61] (who succeeded Dr Chambers[62])
and Sir H. Holland[63] has also been here. But I have kept clear of
these two. Albert sleeps a good deal in the day. He is moved every day
into the next room on a sofa which is made up as a bed. He has only
_kept_ his bed entirely since Monday. Many, many thanks for your dear,
kind letter of the 11th. I knew how _you_ would _feel_ for and think
of me. I am very wonderfully supported, and, excepting on three
occasions, have borne up very well. I am sure Clark will tell you so.
Ever your most devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 60: Dr (afterwards Sir) William Jenner, K.C.B.
(1815-1898), was at this time Physician-Extraordinary to the
Queen.]

[Footnote 61: Afterwards Sir Thomas Watson (1792-1882),
F.R.S.]

[Footnote 62: Dr. William Frederick Chambers (1786-1855) was
well known as a consulting physician.]

[Footnote 63: Sir Henry Holland (1788-1873) was
Physician-in-Ordinary to the Queen and the Prince Consort.]

_General Grey to Sir Charles Wood._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _13th December 1861_.

MY DEAR WOOD,--The Queen desires me to acknowledge the receipt of
your letter, and to say that she quite approves of the purport of your
despatch to the Governor-General, understanding it to be, not that
there is to be any reduction of the Artillery force which it had been
determined to leave permanent in India as the proper establishment
for that country, but simply that some batteries which it had been
resolved to bring home, at all events, are to return somewhat sooner
than had been intended, etc., etc., etc.,

GREY.

[Pageheading: DEATH OF THE PRINCE]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

OSBORNE, _20th December 1861_.

MY _OWN_ DEAREST, KINDEST _FATHER_,--For as such have I _ever_ loved
you! The poor fatherless baby of eight months is now the utterly
broken-hearted and crushed widow of forty-two! My _life_ as a _happy_
one is _ended!_ the world is gone for _me!_ If I _must live_ on (and I
will do nothing to make me worse than I am), it is henceforth for our
poor fatherless children--for my unhappy country, which has lost _all_
in losing him--and in _only_ doing what I know and _feel_ he would
wish, for he _is_ near me--his spirit will guide and inspire me! But
oh! to be cut off in the prime of life--to see our pure, happy,