Footnote 13: General Jonathan Peel, brother of Sir Robert Peel (the Premier), and Secretary of State for War.
Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.
THE EMPEROR'S SPEECH
Buckingham Palace, 15th February 1859.
My dearest Uncle,—We came here to settle yesterday—and also here Spring seems wonderfully forward! It can't last—and frost is sure to follow and cut off everything. At Windsor and Frogmore everything is budding—willow I see is green—rose-leaves out, and birds singing like in May!
Accept my warmest thanks for your kind letter of the 11th. I still hope that matters will cool down—the Emperor personally expressed regret to Hübner for his words, disclaiming the construction put upon them, and saying that no one could dispute the right of Austria to her Italian possessions.14 He has not written to me lately, but I wrote him ten days ago a long friendly letter, speaking out plainly our fears for the future, and urging him to aid us in averting the calamity of War....
Our Parliament is as quiet as possible as yet, but it will soon have more cause for action and excitement....
Bertie's interview with the Pope went off extremely well. He was extremely kind and gracious, and Colonel Bruce was present; it would never have done to have let Bertie go alone, as they might hereafter have pretended, God knows! what Bertie had said.... With Albert's love, ever your devoted Niece,
Victoria R.
Footnote 14: See ante, [p. 310], note 2.