as grieved us.

I am much amused at what you say about Charles, and shall tell it him,
when I write to him. Believe me, always, your most affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 114: The infant Duc de Chartres.]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _19th December 1842._

The Queen is very desirous that something should be done for Major
Malcolm[115] (who was the bearer of "the news of Victory and Peace"),
either by promotion in the Army or by any other distinction. He is a
very intelligent and well-informed officer, and has been employed
in China both in a Civil and Military capacity, and has made, and is
going to make again, a long journey at a very bad time of the year,
though suffering severely at this moment from ague.

[Footnote 115: In such cases it has been usual to confer some
distinction.]

_Queen Victoria to Sir Robert Peel._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _26th December 1842._

The Queen thanks Sir Robert for his letter of the 23rd. She thinks
that Major Malcolm's going back to China the bearer of verbal
instructions as well as written ones will greatly facilitate the
matter and prevent misunderstandings, which at such a great distance
are mostly fatal. The Queen joins in Sir Robert's opinion, that before
coming to a final arrangement it will be most valuable to have Sir H.
Pottinger's opinion upon your present message, and thinks it much
the best that Sir H. should in the meantime be entrusted with
the _extraordinary_ full powers for concluding any provisional
arrangements, as she believes that very great confidence may be placed
in him. Lord Stanley's suggestions strike the Queen as very judicious
and calculated to facilitate the future Government of Hong-Kong.

The Queen hopes to hear more from Sir Robert when she sees him here,
which she hopes to do from Monday the 2nd to Wednesday the 4th.

[Pageheading: THE SCOTCH CHURCH]

_Sir Robert Peel to Queen Victoria._

DRAYTON MANOR, _26th December 1842._

Sir Robert Peel presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and with
reference to enquiries made by your Majesty when Sir Robert Peel
was last at Windsor, on the subject of the Scotch Church and the
proceedings of the last General Assembly, begs leave to acquaint your
Majesty that the Moderator of the Assembly has recently addressed a
letter to Sir Robert Peel, requiring an answer to the demands urged by
the General Assembly in a document entitled a Prot