-The cabinet was on matters of great importance
connected with Denmark, and has decided rightly to seek the
co-operation of France and other powers before talking about the
use, in any event, of force.(77) Lord Palmerston has gout sharply
in the hand. The Queen wrote a letter, which I think did her great
credit. Her love of truth and wish to do right prevent all
prejudices from effectually warping her.

The Queen talked much about the Danish question, and is very
desirous of a more staid and quiet foreign policy. For the first
time I think she takes a just credit to herself for having
influenced beneficially the course of policy and of affairs in the
late controversy.

_Balmoral, Sept. 28._--I thought the Queen's state of health and
spirits last night very satisfactory. She looks better, more like
what she used to look, and the spirits were very even; with the
little references to the Prince just as usual. Whenever she quotes
an opinion of the Prince, she looks upon the question as
completely shut up by it, for herself and all the world. Prince
Alfred is going to Germany for nine weeks--to study at Bonn, and to
be more or less at Coburg. The Queen asked for you, of course. She
has not said a syllable about public affairs to me since I came,
but talked pleasantly of all manner of things.

_Sept. 29._--The Queen sent to offer a day's deer-stalking, but I
am loth to trust my long eyesight.

_Oct. 2._--At dinner last night there was a great deal of
conversation, and to-day I have been near an hour with the Queen
after coming back from Ballater. She was as good and as gracious
as possible. I can hardly tell you all the things talked
about--Prince Humbert, Garibaldi, Lady Lyttelton, the Hagley boys,
Lucy, smoking, dress, fashion, Prince Alfred, his establishment
and future plans, Prince of Wales's visit to Denmark, revenue,
Lancashire, foreign policy, the newspaper press, the habits of the
present generation, young men, young married ladies, clubs,
Clarendon's journey, the Prince Consort on dress and fashion,
Prince of Wales on ditto, Sir R. Peel, F. Peel, Mrs. Stonor, the
rest of that family, misreading foreign names and words, repute of
English people abroad, happy absence of foreign office disputes
and quarrels.

_Oct. 3._--I am just in from a sixteen mile walk, quite