at Brighton, but not sufficiently so to justify our
going there immediately; so we therefore intend going to Walmer with
the children, but a very reduced suite (as the house is considerably
smaller than Claremont), on the 10th, and to stay there till the 22nd
inst., when we shall go to Brighton and remain there till the 13th of
December. Now if dearest Louise would meet us there then, and
perhaps come back with us here for a little while _then_? Windsor is
_beautiful_ in December.

The news of Lord Melbourne, I am thankful to say, are _excellent_, and
he improves rapidly under Dr Holland's care, but his first seizure was
very alarming.[100] I shall not fail to convey your kind message to
this worthy friend of ours.

I am so pleased at your account of Nemours and poor Helene.
Tatane[101] is not your favourite, is he?

Lord Douglas's[102] marriage with Princess M. of Baden _is_ settled;
_I_ shall of course treat her as a Princess of Baden--I can't do
otherwise (it is like Aunt Sophie,[103] and Princess M. of Wuertemberg
who married Count Neipperg[104])--and him as Lord Douglas, which won't
please him.

I wish Clem's marriage was no longer a secret, now that it _is
settled_, as it is (forgive my saying it) really a fashion in our
family to have these _secrets de la comedie_, when one is almost
forced to tell a lie about what is true. I _own_ I dislike these
secrets; it was so with poor Marie and with Vecto. Now _adieu!_
dearest, kindest Uncle, and believe me, always, your most affectionate
Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 100: He had a paralytic seizure, and never regained
his former health or spirits.]

[Footnote 101: Duc de Montpensier.]

[Footnote 102: Afterwards eleventh Duke of Hamilton: he was
married to Princess Mary on 23rd February following.]

[Footnote 103: Sister of the Duchess of Kent and of the King
of the Belgians, and the wife of Count Mensdorff.]

[Footnote 104: Alfred, Count Neipperg, who died in 1865.]

[Pageheading: THE CROWN JEWELS]

[Pageheading: PROVISION FOR PRINCESS AUGUSTA]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

WHITEHALL, _11th November 1842._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and begs
leave to acquaint your Majesty that he brought under the consideration
of your Majesty's servants the questions relating to certain of
the Crown Jewels, and the claim upon them preferred by the King of
Hanover.[105]

In the cours