Lord Melbourne told me that he had it written on purpose in a clear hand, by one of his secretaries, as he thought and feared you would not be able to read his own hand, which I daresay would have been the case, as he writes a very peculiar hand; he has therefore only signed it.
I saw to-day the Duke of Cambridge, who has shown me your letter, with which he is quite delighted--and, indeed, it is a very nice one.

The Duke told Lord Melbourne he had always greatly desired our marriage, and never thought of George; but that _I_ do not believe.
I must conclude, my dearest, beloved Albert.

Be careful as to your valuable health, and be assured that no one loves you as much as your faithful VICTORIA.
INTRODUCTORY NOTE TO CHAPTER IX The marriage of the Queen and Prince Albert took place amid great splendour and general rejoicings on the 10th of February; the general satisfaction being unaffected by the tactless conduct of Ministers who, by not acting in conjunction with the Opposition, had been defeated on the question of the amount of the Prince's annuity, the House of Commons reducing it from L50,000 to L30,000.
At home, the Privilege Question aroused great interest, a point which for months convulsed the Courts and Parliament being whether a report, ordered by the House to be printed, of a Committee appointed by the House, was protected by privilege against being the subject of an action for libel.

The Courts having decided that it was not, an Act was passed to alter the rule for the future, but meanwhile the sheriffs had been imprisoned by the House for executing the judgment in the usual course.
The Ministry tottered on, getting a majority of nine only on their China policy, and twenty-one on a direct vote of confidence.

The Bill for the union of the two Canadas was, however, passed without difficulty.
An attempt by a barman named Oxford to assassinate the Queen on Constitution Hill fortunately failed, and Oxford was committed, after trial, to a lunatic asylum.