Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians

THE QUEEN'S FIRST GRANDCHILD

Buckingham Palace, 2nd February 1859.

My dearest, kindest Uncle,—Accept my warmest thanks for your most kind letter of the 28th. I know how pleased you would be at the safety of our dear Vicky, and at the birth of our first grandson! Everything goes on so beautifully, Vicky recovering as fast and well as I did, and the dear little boy improving so much and thriving in every way.... The joy and interest taken here is as great almost as in Prussia, which is very gratifying.

I think that the Speech will do good, but it has not been easy to frame it, as the feeling against the Emperor here is very strong. I think yet that if Austria is strong and well prepared, and Germany strong and well inclined towards us (as Prussia certainly is), France will not be so eager to attempt what I firmly believe would end in the Emperor's downfall! Old Malakhoff himself said to the Duchess of Wellington that if the French had the slightest defeat ce serait fini avec la Dynastie! A pretty speech for an Ambassador, but a very true one!

Pray say everything most kind to your dear children and believe me ever, your devoted Niece,

Victoria R.

We are just arrived here, and go back to Windsor to-morrow afternoon.

Footnote 9: Frederick William Victor Albert, now German Emperor, born on the 27th of January.