Pray, dearest Uncle, tell me what _could_ possess Joinville to write it, and still more to have it printed? Won't it annoy the King and Nemours very much? _Enfin c'est malheureux, c'est indiscret au plus haut degré_--and it provokes and vexes us sadly. Tell me _all_ you _know_ and think about it; for you _can_ do so with perfect safety by our courier.
I have written dearest Louise an account of my _old_ birthday, which will please you, I think. The weather is very fine. Ever your _truly_ devoted Niece and Child,
[Footnote 12: The _brochure_ was entitled, _Notes sur les forces navales de la France_. The Prince de Joinville wrote as follows to the Queen: "Le malheureux éclat de ma brochure, le tracas que cela donne au Père et à la Reine, me font regretter vivement de l'avoir faite. Comme je l'écris à ton Roi, je ne renvoie que mépris à toutes les interprétations qu'on y donne; ce que peuvent dire ministre et journaux ne me touche en rien, mais il n'y a pas de sacrifices que je ne suis disposé à faire pour l'intérieur de la Famille."]
_Queen Victoria to the Earl of Aberdeen._
If Lord Aberdeen should not have read the Prince de Joinville's pamphlet, the Queen recommends him to do so, as one cannot judge fairly by the extracts in the newspapers. Though it does not lessen the extreme imprudence of the Prince's publishing what must do harm to the various French Governments, it certainly is _not_ intentionally written to offend England, and on the contrary frankly proves _us_ to be immensely superior to the French Navy in every way.
_Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._
MY BELOVED UNCLE,--I gave Louise a long and detailed description of the Emperor,[13] etc. The papers are full of the details. A great event and a great compliment _his_ visit certainly is, and the people _here_ are extremely flattered at it. He is certainly a _very striking_ man; still very handsome; his profile is _beautiful_, and his manners _most_ dignified and graceful; extremely civil--quite alarmingly so, as he is so full of attentions and _politesses_. But the expression of the _eyes_ is _formidable_, and unlike anything I ever saw before. He gives me and Albert the impression of a man who is _not_ happy, and on whom the weight of his immense power and position weighs heavily and painfully; he seldom smiles, and when he does the expression is _not_ a happy one. He is very easy to get on with. Really, it seems like a dream when I think that we breakfast and walk out with _this_ greatest of all earthly Potentates as quietly as if we walked, etc., with Charles or any one. We took him, with the dear good King of Saxony,[14] who is a great contrast to the _Czar_ (and with whom I am _quite_ at my ease), to Adelaide Cottage after breakfast. The grass here is just as if it had been burned with fire. _How_ many different Princes have we not gone the same round with!! The children are much admired by the _Sovereigns_--(how _grand_ this sounds!)--and Alice allowed the Emperor to take her in his arms, and kissed him _de son propre accord_. We are always so thankful that they are _not_ shy. Both the Emperor and the King are _quite_ enchanted with Windsor. The Emperor said very _poliment_: "C'est digne de vous, Madame." I must say the Waterloo Room lit up with that entire service of gold looks splendid; and the Reception Room, beautiful to sit in afterwards. The Emperor praised _my_ Angel very much, saying: "C'est impossible de voir un plus joli garçon; il a l'air si noble et si bon"; which I must say _is very_ true. The Emperor amused the King and me by saying he was so _embarrassé_ when people were presented to him, and that he felt so "_gauche_" _en frac_, which certainly he is quite _unaccustomed_ to wear. If we can do anything to get him to do what is right by you, we shall be most happy, and Peel and Aberdeen are very anxious for it. I believe he leaves on Sunday again. To-morrow there is to be a great review, and on Thursday _I_ shall probably go with them to the races; _they_ are gone there with Albert to-day, but I have remained at home.