Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians

RESIGNATION OF PERSIGNY

Buckingham Palace, 23rd March 1858.

My dearest Uncle,—You will, I trust, forgive my letter being short, but we have only just returned from Aldershot, where we went this morning, and really have been quite baked by a sun which was hardly hotter in August, and without a breath of wind....

Good Marie has not answered me, will you remind her? I did tell her I hoped for her child's sake she would give up the nursing, as we Princesses had other duties to perform. I hope she was not shocked, but I felt I only did what was right in telling her so.

I grieve to say we lose poor Persigny, which is a real loss—but he would resign. Walewski behaved ill to him. The Emperor has, however, named a successor which is really a compliment to the Army and the Alliance—and besides a distinguished and independent man, viz. the Duc de Malakhoff. This is very gratifying.

In all this business, Pélissier has, I hear, behaved extremely well. I must now conclude. Ever your devoted Niece,

Victoria R.

Footnote 17: Marie Henriette, Duchess of Brabant, afterwards Queen of the Belgians; died 1902.

Footnote 18: Princess Louise of Belgium was born on the 4th of February.

Footnote 19: Formerly General Pélissier; see ante, p. 143, note 80.