of the Fall of
Sebastopol; either the Civil G.C.B. or a step in the Peerage--that of
Viscount.[84]

Lord Palmerston would perhaps, without delay, give his opinion
on these subjects to the Queen; the honours she would wish then
_personally_ to bestow upon the recipients, and she thinks the arrival
of the official Despatches the right moment for doing so.

[Footnote 83: Lord Hardinge, Lord Strafford, and Lord
Combermere were all made Field-Marshals.]

[Footnote 84: He received the G.C.B.]

_The Prince Albert to the Earl of Clarendon._

BALMORAL, _21st September 1855_.

MY DEAR LORD CLARENDON,--The Queen wishes me to send you the enclosed
letters, with the request that they may be sent by messengers to
Coblentz.[85]

I may tell you in the strictest confidence that Prince Frederic
William has yesterday laid before us his wish for an alliance with the
Princess Royal with the full concurrence of his parents, as well as
of the King of Prussia. We have accepted his proposal as far as we are
personally concerned, but have asked that the child should not be
made acquainted with it until after her confirmation, which is to take
place next Spring, when he might make it to her himself, and receive
from her own lips the answer which is only valuable when flowing
from those of the person chiefly concerned. A marriage would not be
possible before the completion of the Princess's seventeenth year,
which is in two years from this time. The Queen empowers me to say
that you may communicate this event to Lord Palmerston, but we beg
that under present circumstances it may be kept a strict secret. What
the world may say we cannot help. Ever yours, etc.,

ALBERT.

[Footnote 85: The Prince and Princess of Prussia were then at
Coblentz.]

[Pageheading: PRINCE FREDERICH WILLIAM]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

BALMORAL, _22nd September 1855_.

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I profit by your own messenger to confide to _you_,
and to _you alone_, begging you not to mention it to your children,
that _our_ wishes on the subject of a future marriage for Vicky _have_
been realised in the _most gratifying_ and _satisfactory_ manner.

On Thursday (20th) after breakfast, Fritz Wilhelm said he was anxious
to speak of a subject which _he_ knew his parents had never broached
to us--which _was to belong to our_ Family; that this had long been
his wish, that he had the entire concurrence and _approval_