I must now conclude. Trusting soon to hear from you again. Ever your devoted Niece,
Victoria R.
My longing for dearest Louise seems only to increase as time goes on.
Queen Victoria to the Duchess of Norfolk.
Windsor Castle, 22nd November 1850.
My dear Duchess,—It is very remiss in me not to have sooner answered your letter with the enclosure, but I received it at a moment of great grief, and since then I have been much occupied.
I fully understand your anxiety relative to the proceedings of the Roman Catholic Clergy, but I trust that there is no real danger to be apprehended from that quarter, the more so as I believe they see that they have been misled and misinformed as to the feeling of this country by some of the new converts to their religion. The real danger to be apprehended, and what I am certain has led to these proceedings on the part of the Pope, lies in our own divisions, and in the extraordinary conduct of the Puseyites. I trust that the eyes of many may now be opened. One would, however, much regret to see any acts of intolerance towards the many innocent people who I believe entirely disapprove the injudicious conduct of their Clergy.
Hoping that you are all well, believe me, always, yours, affectionately,
Victoria R.