‘You, who were so devoted a wife to him, must, even in this hour of overwhelming grief, be gratified by the universal expression of respect and regret on this sad occasion. ‘That He Who alone can give consolation and peace in the hour of affliction may support you, is the earnest wish of yours sincerely, ‘(Signed) VICTORIA, R. AND I.’ [Illustration: Facsimile of a letter from Queen Victoria to Mrs. Fawcett.] ‘SANDRINGHAM, ‘KING’S LYNN, _November 8th, 1884._ ‘DEAR MRS. FAWCETT,—You are certain to receive many letters expressing sympathy with your present grief, and although I hardly like intruding so soon on your great sorrow, yet I am anxious to express how deeply both the Princess and myself sympathise with you in this severe hour of trial. Mr. Fawcett cannot fail to be deeply mourned and regretted by all who knew him—but he has left a name, which will ever be remembered among England’s distinguished men.—Believe me, dear Mrs. Fawcett, truly yours, ‘(Signed) ALBERT EDWARD.’ [Illustration: Facsimile of a letter from the Prince of Wales (King Edward VII) to Mrs. Fawcett] [Sidenote: What Gladstone wrote.] Mr. Gladstone wrote to Fawcett’s father. Miss Fawcett has kindly given us permission to reprint the letter. ‘10 DOWNING STREET, ‘WHITEHALL, _November 25th, 1884_. ‘DEAR SIR,—Will you allow me to intrude upon you for a moment by offering to you in private my assurances of deep sympathy under the grievous loss you have sustained, and to repeat also the testimony which I have endeavoured to render in public to your distinguished son. There has been no public man in our day whose remarkable qualities have been more fully recognised by his fellow-countrymen, and more deeply enshrined in their memories. There they will long remain now that they form the subject of recollection only and are no longer associated, as they were until the sad event, with sanguine and brilliant hopes. ‘He has left a record of some qualities which are given to few; but of others, perhaps yet more remarkable, which all his fellow-countrymen may in their degree emulate and follow; for integrity so high, and courage so far beyond the common range, aid more often than his great powers of intellect and memory to profitable imitation, and will, I trust, give to thousands a powerful incentive to honourable imitation and a means of real advancement. ‘Heartily wishing to you, dear Sir, both in retrospect and in prospect every consolation,—I remain, faithfully yours, ‘W. E. GLADSTONE. ‘W. FAWCETT, Esqr.’