The Duke of Orleans is quite well again, I am happy to hear from Aunt Louise.

Now I must conclude, begging you to believe me, always, your most truly attached and really devoted Niece, VICTORIA.
[Footnote 8: See Introductory Note for the year, _ante_, p.

44.
(to Ch.

V)] [Footnote 9: The civil war was favourable to the Carlists at this time, General Gomez obtaining a victory on 30th August.
By the end of the year he had twice traversed the kingdom, hampered with plunder and prisoners, and surrounded by armies greater than his own, and in no district did he find the inhabitants disposed to act against him.] [Footnote 10: Step-mother of the Queen of Portugal.] [Footnote 11: Ferdinand II., commonly named "Bomba." He married _en secondes noces_, the Archduchess Theresa of Austria.] [Pageheading: A FAREWELL LETTER] _The Princess Victoria to the King of the Belgians._[12] CLAREMONT, _21st September 1836._ MY MOST DEARLY BELOVED UNCLE,--As I hear that Mamma is going to send a letter to you which will reach you at Dover, and though it is only an hour and a half since we parted, I must write you one line to tell you how _very, very sad_ I am that you have left us, and to repeat, what I think you know pretty well, _how_ much I love you.

When I think that but two hours ago we were happily together, and that now you are travelling every instant farther and farther away from us, and that I shall with all probability not see you for a _year_, it makes me cry.
Yes, dearest Uncle, it is dreadful in this life, that one is destined, and _particularly unhappy me_, to be almost always separated from those one loves most dearly.