The letters of Queen Victoria, vol. 3, 1854-1861

by Queen of Great Britain Victoria

Victoria R.

Footnote 59: The Memoirs of Varnhagen von Ense (1785-1858), who served for some years in the Austrian and the Russian Armies, and was later in the Prussian Diplomatic Service.

Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians.

Windsor Castle, 12th December 1861.

My beloved Uncle,—I can again report favourably of our most precious invalid. He maintains his ground well—had another very good night—takes plenty of nourishment, and shows surprising strength. I am constantly in and out of his room, but since the first four dreadful nights, last week, before they had declared it to be gastric fever—I do not sit up with him at night as I could be of no use; and there is nothing to cause alarm. I go out twice a day for about an hour. It is a very trying time, for a fever with its despondency, weakness, and occasional and invariable wandering, is most painful to witness—but we have never had one unfavourable symptom; to-morrow, reckoning from the 22nd, when dear Albert first fell ill—after going on a wet day to look at some buildings—having likewise been unusually depressed with worries of different kinds—is the end of the third week; we may hope for improvement after that, but the Doctors say they should not be at all disappointed if this did not take place till the end of the fourth week. I cannot sufficiently praise the skill, attention, and devotion of Dr Jenner,⁶⁰ who is the first fever Doctor in Europe, one may say—and good old Clark is here every day; good Brown is also most useful.... We have got Dr Watson⁶¹ (who succeeded Dr Chambers⁶²) and Sir H. Holland⁶³ has also been here. But I have kept clear of these two. Albert sleeps a good deal in the day. He is moved every day into the next room on a sofa which is made up as a bed. He has only kept his bed entirely since Monday. Many, many thanks for your dear, kind letter of the 11th. I knew how you would feel for and think of me. I am very wonderfully supported, and, excepting on three occasions, have borne up very well. I am sure Clark will tell you so. Ever your most devoted Niece,

Victoria R.

Footnote 60: Dr (afterwards Sir) William Jenner, K.C.B. (1815-1898), was at this time Physician-Extraordinary to the Queen.

Footnote 61: Afterwards Sir Thomas Watson (1792-1882), F.R.S.

Footnote 62: Dr. William Frederick Chambers (1786-1855) was well known as a consulting physician.

Footnote 63: Sir Henry Holland (1788-1873) was Physician-in-Ordinary to the Queen and the Prince Consort.