King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th April 1855_.

DEAREST UNCLE,--Your kindness will, I know, excuse any description of
all that has passed, and _is_ passing, and I leave it to Charles. The
impression is very favourable.[53] There is great fascination in the
quiet, frank manner of the Emperor, and _she_ is very pleasing, very
graceful, and very unaffected, but very delicate. She _is_ certainly
very pretty and very uncommon-looking. The Emperor spoke very amiably
of you. The reception by the public was _immensely_ enthusiastic. I
must end here. Ever your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 53: The Emperor and Empress of the French arrived
on the 16th of April, on a visit to England. They were
enthusiastically received both at Dover (notwithstanding a
dense fog, which endangered the safety of the Imperial yacht)
and on their progress from the South-Eastern terminus to
Paddington. In passing King Street, the Emperor was observed
to indicate his former residence to the Empress.]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _19th April 1855_.

DEAREST UNCLE,... I have not a moment to myself, being of course
entirely occupied with our Imperial guests, with whom I am much
pleased, and who behave really with the greatest tact.[54] The
Investiture went off very well, and to-day (we came from Windsor) the
enthusiasm of the thousands who received him in the City was immense.
He is much pleased. Since the time of my Coronation, with the
exception of the opening of the great Exhibition, I don't remember
anything like it. To-night we go in state to the Opera. In haste, ever
your devoted Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 54: A review of the Household troops in Windsor Park
was held on the 17th, and a ball was given at the Castle in
the evening. A Council of War on the 18th was attended by
the Prince, the Emperor, and some of their Ministers; in the
afternoon the Queen invested the Emperor with the Garter. On
the following day the Emperor received an address at Windsor
from the Corporation of London, and lunched at the Guildhall;
the Queen and Prince and their guests paid a State visit to
Her Majesty's Theatre in the evening to hear _Fidelio_. On the
20th the party, with brilliant ceremonial, visited the Crystal
Palace at Sydenham, and were enthusiastically received by an
immense multitude; another important