Volume I Part 4 (1/2)

MY DEAR LITTLE HEART,--I hope you are well and don't forget Aunt Adelaide, who loves you so fondly.

Loulou and Wilhelm[1] desire their love to you, and Uncle William also.

G.o.d bless and preserve you is the constant prayer of your most truly affectionate Aunt,

ADELAIDE.

[Footnote 1: Princess Louise and Prince William of Saxe-Weimar, children of d.u.c.h.ess Ida of Saxe-Weimar (sister of the d.u.c.h.ess of Clarence). They were the eldest brother and sister of Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar.]

_The d.u.c.h.ess of Clarence to the Princess Victoria._

_24th May 1822._

Uncle William and Aunt Adelaide send their love to _dear little Victoria_ with their best wishes on her birthday, and hope that she will now become a _very good Girl_, being now _three years old_. Uncle William and Aunt Adelaide also beg little Victoria to give dear Mamma and to dear Sissi[2] a kiss in their name, and to Aunt Augusta,[3]

Aunt Mary[4] and Aunt Sophia[5] too, and also to the _big Doll_. Uncle William and Aunt Adelaide are very sorry to be absent on that day and not to see their _dear, dear_ little Victoria, as they are sure she will be very good and obedient to dear Mamma on that day, and on many, many others. They also hope that dear little Victoria will not forget them and know them again when Uncle and Aunt return.

To dear little Xandrina Victoria.

[Footnote 2: Princess Feodore, the Queen's half-sister.]

[Footnote 3: Augusta, daughter of Frederick, Landgrave of Hesse-Ca.s.sel, wife of the Duke of Cambridge.]

[Footnote 4: Princess Mary, a daughter of George III., married to her cousin the Duke of Gloucester.]

[Footnote 5: Princess Sophia, daughter of George III.]

[Pageheading: EARLY LETTERS]

[The following is the earliest letter preserved of the long series written by the Queen to King (then Prince) Leopold. The Princess was then nine years old.]

KENSINGTON PALACE, _25th November 1823._

MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I wish you many happy returns of your birthday; I very often think of you, and I hope to see you soon again, for I am very fond of you. I see my Aunt Sophia[6] often, who looks very well, and is very well. I use every day your pretty soup-basin. Is it very warm in Italy? It is so mild here, that I go out every day. Mama is tolerable well and am quite well. Your affectionate Niece,

VICTORIA.

_P.S._--I am very angry with you, Uncle, for you have never written to me once since you went, and that is a long while.