stress on the following words which he pronounced to me immediately
after the investiture of the Order of the Garter: "_C'est un lien de
plus entre nous, j'ai prete serment de fidelite a votre Majeste et
je le garderai soigneusement. C'est un grand evenement pour moi, et
j'espere pouvoir prouver ma reconnaissance envers votre Majeste et son
Pays._" In a letter said to be written by him to Mr F. Campbell, the
translator of M. Thiers's _History of the Consulate and Empire_, when
returning the proof-sheets in 1847, he says "Let us hope the day may
yet come when I shall carry out the intentions of my Uncle by uniting
the policy and interests of England and France in an indissoluble
alliance. That hope cheers and encourages me. It forbids my repining
at the altered fortunes of my family."

If these be truly his words, he certainly has acted up to them, since
he has swayed with an iron hand the destinies of that most versatile
nation, the French. That he should have written this at a moment when
Louis Philippe had succeeded in all his wishes, and seemed securer
than ever in the possession of his Throne, shows a calm reliance in
his destiny and in the realisation of hopes entertained from his very
childhood which borders on the supernatural.

These are a few of the many reflections caused by the observation and
acquaintance with the character of this most extraordinary man, in
whose fate not only the interests of this country, but the whole of
Europe are intimately bound up. I shall be curious to see if, after
the lapse of time, my opinion and estimate of it has been the right
one.

VICTORIA R.

_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Clarendon._

BUCKINGHAM PALACE, _10th May 1855_.

The Queen returns these interesting letters to Lord Clarendon. When
the Emperor expresses a wish that positive instructions should be sent
to Lord Raglan to join in a general forward movement about to take
place, he should be made aware that Lord Raglan has been ready and
most anxious for the assault taking place on the 26th, and that he
only consented to postpone it for a few days at General Canrobert's
earnest desire, who wished to wait for the army of Reserve. It should
be kept in mind, however, that the English cannot proceed farther as
long as the Mamelon has not been taken, and that as long as the
French refuse to do this they must not complain of Lord Raglan's not
advancing. The refusal to undertake this has, the Queen is sorry to
sa