I agree with this, as nothing
enlarges the mind so much as travelling. But Stockmar will best treat
this affair verbally with you. The young gentlemen wished to pay me
another visit at the beginning of May, prior to their return to Bonn.
Nothing definite is, however, as yet settled about it. On one thing
you can rely, that it is my _great anxiety_ to see Albert a _very
good_ and _distinguished young man_, and _no pains will be thought too
much_ on my part if this end can be attained....

_Viscount Melbourne to Queen Victoria._

(_Undated._)

Your Majesty will perceive by this box, which I received this morning
but had not time to open, that Marshal Soult, Duke of Dalmatia,[13]
has been appointed Ambassador to the Coronation....

[Footnote 13: Soult entered the French army in 1785, and
became Marshal of France in 1804. After distinguishing himself
at Austerlitz in 1805, he was made Duke of Dalmatia in 1807.
Serving in the Peninsular War, he pursued Moore to Corunna,
and became Commander-in-Chief in Spain in 1809. Subsequently
he conducted the French retreat before Wellington in Southern
France, 1813-14; was banished, but recalled and created a
peer. He was Minister of War 1830-34.]

[Pageheading: OLD SERVANTS]

_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._

WINDSOR CASTLE, _17th April 1838._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--... You will by this time have learnt the _sad_
loss we have all sustained in the death of _dearest_, _faithful_,
_excellent_ Louie, who breathed her last, without a struggle or a
suffering, on Sunday night at nine o'clock. I don't think I have
_ever_ been so much overcome or distressed by anything, almost, as by
the death of this my earliest friend; it is the first link that has
been broken of my first and infantine affections. I always loved
Louie, and shall cherish her memory as that of the purest and best of
mortals as long as I live! I took leave of her before I left London on
Wednesday, and _never_, _never_ shall I forget the blessing she gave
me, and the grasp she gave my hand! I was quite upset by it! And I
feared and felt I should behold her on earth no more; it was, however,
a beautiful lesson of calmness and contentment and resignation to the
will of her God! Prepared as she was at every moment of her life to
meet her heavenly Father, she was full of hope of recovery, and quite
unconscious of her approaching end. You will, I am sure, dearest
Uncle