Given at Gaëta, the 4th day of December 1848, in the third year of our Pontificate.
Pius PP. IX.50
Footnote 49: Official translation.
Footnote 50: This letter was suitably acknowledged in general terms. See [p. 210].
Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.
LOUIS NAPOLEON
Osborne, 13th December 1848.
My beloved Uncle,—Pray accept my warmest and best wishes for many, many happy returns of your birthday—a day so dear to so many, and which will be hailed with such joy in Belgium. You have indeed reason to look with satisfaction on all around you, though it is a painful thing to think how many have been ruined and made miserable since this day twelvemonths. Let us hope that another year may bring many things round again.
The weather is beautiful, and I wish much we could fly over to pay our respects to you on your dear birthday.
The papers are just come, and I see there is no doubt of Louis Napoleon's election, which I am very glad of, as it is a sign of better times. But that one should have to wish for him is really wonderful.