m quite sad to leave this fine place, where,
if it had not been for the meeting of Parliament _so_ early this year,
I would have remained till November. I have passed _such_ a pleasant
time here, the _pleasantest summer_ I have _ever_ passed in my life; I
have had the _great_ happiness of having you and my beloved Aunt here,
I have had pleasant people staying with me, and I have had delicious
rides which have done me more good than anything. It will be such a
break-up of our little circle! Besides my own people, Lord Melbourne
and Lord Palmerston are the only people who have been _staying_ here,
and this little party was very social and agreeable. The Princess
Augusta of Saxony[69] has been here for two nights; she is neither
young nor handsome, but a very kind good person.

The news from Portugal are bad which I got this morning. The Civil War
is _ended_, and the _Chartists_ have been _completely defeated_; this
is sad enough, but I was fearful of it: a counter-revolution _never_
does well.[70]

_En revanche_, the news from Spain are by far better....

Believe me always, in haste, your devoted and affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA R.

[Footnote 69: Daughter of King Frederick Augustus of Saxony.]

[Footnote 70: On July 1st a new Ministry had come into
power in Portugal. The finances of the country were in great
confusion, a military insurrection broke out in the North at
Braga, the Ministry resigned, and a new Ministry came into
office in August. On the 18th August, the Duke of Terceira,
followed by many persons of distinction, joined the
insurgents, and, establishing himself at Mafra, advanced upon
Lisbon with the Chartist troops, issuing a proclamation of
provisional regency. A Convention was eventually signed, and
the Cortes proceeded to discuss measures of Constitutional
Reform.]

[Pageheading: RECEPTION AT BRIGHTON]

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

_6th October 1837._

Lord Melbourne presents his humble duty to your Majesty, and in
acknowledging your Majesty's gracious communication, of yesterday
returns his thanks for the very lively account which your Majesty has
given of the journey and the entrance into Brighton. Lord Melbourne
entirely partakes in the wish your Majesty has been graciously pleased
to express that he had been there to witness the scene; but your
Majesty will at once perceive that it was better that he was not, as
in that