Chapter 1

Transcriber's note:

[ae] and [oe] are used for the diphthongs/ligatures in (mostly) French words. (e.g. c[oe]ur, heart; s[oe]ur, sister; ch[oe]ur; choir).

The original page headings have been retained and moved to appropriate positions at the beginning of letters and text to which they refer, so as not to interrupt the flow of the text. Thus, a long letter may be prefaced by two, or even three page headings. Likewise, footnotes have been moved to the end of the appropriate letter, or the appropriate paragraph in the case of longer pieces of text.

In the text file version, for "See _ante_/_post_, p. xyz", the date and note number (where applicable) have been given instead of the page number, for easier reader look-up.

INDEX

Page numbers have been adjusted to allow for the re-positioning of footnotes. Other (numerous) page numbering errors have been corrected.

A list of corrections will be found at the end of the text.

THE LETTERS OF QUEEN VICTORIA

A Selection from Her Majesty's Correspondence between the Years 1837 and 1861

Published by Authority of His Majesty The King

Edited by

ARTHUR CHRISTOPHER BENSON, M.A. and VISCOUNT ESHER, G.C.V.O., K.C.B.

In Three Volumes

VOL. III.--1854-1861

London John Murray, Albemarle Street, W. 1908

_Copyright in Great Britain and Dependencies, 1907, by_ H.M. THE KING.

_In the United States by_ Messrs LONGMANS, GREEN & CO.

_All rights reserved._

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