rn you my best thanks for it. I shall, before I say another
word, answer your question about the horses which I ride, which I do
the more willingly as I have got two _darlings_, if I may use that
word. They are, both of them, _quite perfect_ in every sense of the
word; _very handsome_, full of _spirit_, delightful easy-goers, very
quiet, and _never_ shying at anything. Is not this perfection? The one
called _Tartar_ (which belonged to Lord Conyngham), an Irish horse,
is a very dark brown, a beautiful creature; the other, which Lord
Uxbridge[11] got for me, is called _Uxbridge_; he is smaller than
Tartar, and is a dark chestnut, with a beautiful little Arabian
head. I am afraid I shall have bored you with this long account of my
horses.
I am going to Windsor to-morrow afternoon, and have got a great deal
to do in consequence....
Poor dear Louie[12] _lingers_ on, but, alas! I can only say _lingers_;
she does not gain strength. I cannot say how it grieves me, I am so
sincerely attached to the good old soul, who has known me ever since
my birth. But I still entertain a hope that she may get over it.
We shall have a fortnight's respite from our Political Campaign. I
trust we shall do as well as we have done when Parliament meets again.
Believe me always, your devoted Niece,
VICTORIA R.
[Footnote 11: Henry, Earl of Uxbridge, afterwards
second Marquis of Anglesey (1797-1869).]
[Footnote 12: Louisa Louis was born at Erbach in 1771.
The Queen erected a tablet to her memory in St
Martin's-in-the-Fields, where she is described as "the
faithful and devoted friend of Princess Charlotte of Wales,
and from earliest infancy honoured by the affectionate
attachment of Her Majesty Queen Victoria." See Reminiscences,
_ante_, p. 10. (Ch. I, 'Early Reminiscences')]
[Pageheading: PRINCE ALBERT'S EDUCATION]
_The King of the Belgians to Queen Victoria._
_13th April 1838._
... Concerning the education of our friend Albert, it has been
the best plan you could have fixed upon, to name Stockmar your
commissary-general; it will give _unite d'action et de l'ensemble_,
which otherwise we should not have had. I have communicated to him
what your uncle and the young gentleman seem to wish, and what strikes
me as the best for the moment. Stockmar will make a regular report to
you on this subject. They will return to Bonn at the beginning of May,
and remain till the end of August....
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