[Footnote 31: It had been intended that the King should return to France, as he had come, by way of Portsmouth, crossing in the frigate _Gomer_, but, in consequence of the wet and stormy weather, he returned by Dover and Calais.] [Pageheading: DEPARTURE OF THE KING] _Queen Victoria to the King of the French._ OSBORNE HOUSE, _le 17 Octobre 1844._ SIRE, ET MON TRES CHER FRERE,--Votre Majeste m'a ecrit deux bien bonnes lettres de Douvres pour lesquelles je vous remercie de tout mon c[oe]ur. Les expressions de bonte et d'amitie que vous me vouez ainsi qu'a mon cher Albert nous touchent sensiblement; je n'ai pas besoin de vous dire encore, combien nous vous sommes attaches et combien nous desirons voir se raffermir de plus en plus cette _entente cordiale_ entre nos deux pays qui existe si heureusement entre nous personnellement. C'etait avec un vif regret que nous nous sommes separes de votre Majeste, et de Montpensier, et ce sera une grande fete que de voir renouveler une visite dont le souvenir nous est si cher. Albert se met a vos pieds, Sire, bien sensible ainsi que moi-meme de l'amitie et la confiance que vous lui avez temoignees. J'ose prier votre Majeste d'offrir mes plus tendres hommages a la Reine et a Madame votre S[oe]ur et de me rappeler au souvenir de Montpensier. Je suis pour la vie, Sire et mon cher Frere, de votre Majeste la bien affectionnee S[oe]ur et fidele Amie, VICTORIA R. [Pageheading: OPENING OF ROYAL EXCHANGE] _Queen Victoria to the King of the Belgians._ WINDSOR CASTLE, _29th October 1844._ MY DEAREST UNCLE,--I had the happiness of receiving your kind letter of the 26th while I was dressing to go to the City for the opening of the Royal Exchange.[32] Nothing ever went off better, and the procession there, as well as all the proceedings _at_ the Royal Exchange, were splendid and royal in the extreme. It was a fine and gratifying sight to see the myriads of people assembled--more than at the Coronation even, and all in such good humour, and so loyal; the articles in the papers, too, are most kind and gratifying; they say _no_ Sovereign _was more_ loved than I am (I am bold enough to say), and _that_, from our _happy domestic home_--which gives such a good example. The _Times_ you have, and I venture to add a _Chronicle_, as I think it very pretty; you should read the accounts. _I_ seldom remember being so gratified and pleased with any public show, and my beloved Albert was so enthusiastically received by the people. He is _so_ beloved by all the really influential people, and by _all_ right-thinking ones. We came back here yesterday evening. The accounts from Paris are excellent too. How long are the good Joinvilles to remain in the south, and where? By-the-by, dearest Uncle, have you read the continuation of Consuelo,[33] called the "Comtesse de Rudolstadt"? It is _dreadfully_ interesting.